IX A MATURAL NEW ENGLAMDER 2^1 



until the seasons have slipped back, and now the 

 animal goes to sleep long before he need, and 

 wakes up a month or two before he ought. 



An astronomer tells me that there is much 

 force in this theory, but points out a trifling diffi- 

 culty in the fact that it is wrong end to, since the 

 effect of the /recession of the equinoxes is to 

 advance, rather than retard, the /recession of the 

 seasons ! You can study the matter out for your- 

 self and welcome. The woodchucks have shown 

 themselves otherwise possessed of so much clear- 

 headedness and philosophic wisdom, that I expect 

 soon to hear of their calling a council like that 

 which reformed our human calendar, and setting 

 this matter straight. That done, I see nothing left 

 for the most captious woodchuck to desire, and the 

 rest of us may then admire one bit of the world 

 perfected ! 



