1x A NATURAL NEW ENGLANDER 267 
shake their heads and remark that it is a “ ground- 
hog case,’ — that is, a useless proceeding. 
When the meadows have been mowed, and from 
the stubble springs up a magnificent crop of 
clover, comes the heyday of the woodchuck’s 
year. His midsummer housework is done, his 
mind is free from care, and he may eat all he 
wants of this daintiest of food. There is nothing 
he likes so well and nothing that does him so much 
good. His cheeks widen, his ribs are distended, 
and his loose skin is stretched out sleek with fat- 
ness. At last the ’chucks can hold no more, and 
need only loaf in the September warmth and doze 
away the time until the sun crosses the equinoctial 
line at the end of the month. This is the blessed 
date when etiquette permits them to refuse longer 
to tax themselves with social amenities, and to 
begin their Lenten fast. 
One after another each pair of woodchucks 
retreat dozily to their beds, curl up side by side 
into two balls of warm fur, and fall fast asleep. A 
week later the most diligent searcher will not once 
hear the “chuckling diminuendo of the wood- 
chuck’s whistle” of which Mr. Robinson speaks, 
for not a single szffeur is to be found on top of 
the ground. Warm sunny days may succeed one 
another, frost and snow may hold off for weeks, 
but the woodchuck pays no heed. His rule en- 
joins him to go to sleep by the first of October ; 
therefore to sleep he goes, and stays there with 
