24 The Woodchuck 



keep close to her. They tried to imitate her in every- 

 thing, and when she nibbled a clover leaf they fol- 

 lowed her example, and soon the sharp little teeth 

 had learned to cut the juicy leaves. 



The real object of their first outing, that of filling 

 their little stomachs, was soon accomplished, and 

 then they began playing about in the grass very 

 much like puppies; but the watchful mother was 

 careful not to let them wander far from the entrance 

 of their home. Suddenly her trained ear caught the 

 sound of something approaching and she lost no 

 time in hustling the little ones into the burrow, for 

 it might be old Rover racing across the meadow, and 

 possibly he would turn their way or wind them if 

 he came close. Sure enough! they were scarcely safe 

 when the dog appeared in full sight over a knoll, 

 making straight for them! The cubs could have 

 traveled only a part of the tunnel before they heard 

 the deep breathing of the dog at the mouth of the 

 burrow. The exertion and the excitement must have 

 made their tiny hearts beat fast, as for the first time 

 in their lives they learned what it is to be frightened. 



This was only the beginning of their education, for 

 day after day they came out of their burrow and 

 when they scrambled back, something had been 

 added to their little stock of woodchuck knowledge. 



