8 The Woodchuck 



from the meadows, while a great burst of music 

 saluted their ears, which were now really open for 

 the first time. The wrens were singing in the old 

 apple tree; the bobolinks were "running down" 

 their "brooks of laughter" through the air; the 

 meadow larks were whistling on all sides, while 

 myriads of insects added their murmuring music to 

 the general symphony. 



The mother knew that all of these sounds were 

 only a part of her world and meant no harm, but 

 she listened very attentively for any unusual sound be- 

 fore she ventured from the entrance. When satisfied 

 that there was no danger lurking in the fair clover 

 fields or in the blossoming apple trees above, she 

 led the way into the grass, followed by her little brood, 

 which tumbled frantically along in their haste to 

 keep close to her. They tried to imitate her in every- 

 thing, and when she nibbled a clover leaf they fol- 

 lowed her example, and soon the sharp little teeth 

 had learned to cut the juicy leaves. 



The real object of their first outing, that of fillin g 

 their little stomachs, was soon accomplished, and 

 then they began playing about in the grass very 

 much like puppies; but the watchful mother was 

 careful not to let them wander far from the entrance 

 of their home. Suddenly her trained ear caught the 



