88 IN WINTER. . 



evidently held the mouse in bondage. Then I 

 moved suddenly, but the creature merely looked 

 up, as if surprised at so much energy on my part. 

 This was irritating, so I sprang cat-like to the 

 ground, but only to find the mouse just out of 

 reach and evidently not alarmed. Climbing 

 again into the maple, I awaited further develop- 

 ments, and saw at last a white-footed or deer- 

 mouse that seemed to me to drop from branch to 

 branch, as it descended from its bush nest, a 

 dozen feet from the ground. This was indeed 

 discouraging. Usually there is no more grace- 

 ful sight in the woods, during autumn or winter, 

 than that of this dainty mammal, picking its way 

 a-down a crooked highway of a tangled brier- 

 patch. It is a sight sure to be recorded in full in 

 my note-books, as every time I witness it some 

 new grace marks the event, so I anticipated the 

 old delight when I caught my first glimpse of the 

 mouse, and such a result ! 



It is true that if one's feelings are out of tune, 

 there may be a distorted vision, but not so to-day. 

 The world was askew, and has been since the 

 first frost, for whoever knew the crows to be si- 

 lent positively silent, as compared with crows 

 on a crisp, frosty morning ? There were forty, 

 by count, that flew over the maple, and only one 

 gave tongue. Here I may be charged with 

 fancy, but that one crow gave out no ringing caw t 



