IX 
A NATURAL NEW ENGLANDER 
WHETHER one considers the woodchuck in its 
relation to New England, or New England with 
reference to the woodchuck, the singular adaptabil- 
ity of each to the other is at once apparent. It is 
the foremost success and pride of the Yankee that 
he uses his means and material to the best advan- 
tage, — gets the utmost effect out of the least 
expenditure. It is the boast of the woodchuck 
that he has reduced the life of a quadruped in a 
northern climate to its lowest terms, and takes 
less trouble and worry, in the course of a fat and 
happy year, than any other beast of the field. 
This is true, and he and the Yankee manage 
to thrive together, coming out about even when 
the books are annually balanced in October. Each 
reflects upon the other’s qualities with growing 
respect, while separated by winter; and studies 
over the next move in the discussion of the 
question, “Who owns the clover-patch?” Then, 
some fine spring morning, the man finds only 
gnawed stubs in the place of certain succulent 
young vegetables he had selfishly saved for his 
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