THE OLD FARM'S WOOD-PILE. IQI 



the sea-coast, But it has not been long since 

 the raccoon was regularly hunted during the 

 moonlit winter nights and the opposum found 

 security in half the hollow trees along the hill- 

 side. The dreaded skunk was then abundant. 

 None of these, however, can be said to be of 

 common occurrence now, and their discovery 

 produces a ripple of excitement at present, while 

 in my early days their capture excited scarcely a 

 word of comment. Then the old wood-pile was 

 not infrequently the hiding-place of one or more 

 of these " varmints," which raided the hen-roost, 

 kept the old dog in a fever of excitement, and 

 baffled the trapping skill of the oldest " hands " 

 upon the farm. Now, at best, when the last 

 sticks are cut and stored in the woodshed, the 

 burrow of a rat is all we find. 



With what glee do I still recall an autumn 

 evening, years ago, when the unusually furious 

 barking of the old mastiff brought the whole 

 family to the door ! In the dim twilight the dog 

 could be seen dashing at and retreating from the 

 wood-pile, and at once the meaning of the hubbub 

 was apparent. Some creature had taken refuge 

 there. A lantern was brought, and as every 

 man wished to be the hero of the hour, my aunt 

 held the light. The wood-pile was surrounded ; 

 every stick was quickly overturned, and finally a 

 skunk was dislodged. Confused or attracted by 



