RECREATION. 



XXIX 



DAD'S WOODCHUCK HUNT. 



FRANK CORLIS. 



My dad was one of the old time sports- 

 men and had a muzzle loading rifle which 

 he prized highly. The clover blossoms 

 were nicely headed when dad sent an invi- 

 tation to some old friends to join him in 

 a grand woodchuck hunt. Colonel Brown, 

 Mr. Evans and Judge Green came. 



While they were out on the veranda 

 waiting for dinner and discussing the good 

 qualities of their respective guns, I slipped 

 around to the barn and took down an old 

 woodchuck skin that had been tacked there 

 a long time. Having stuffed it roughly 

 with straw, I took it up on the hill just in 

 sight of the house and tied it with a string 

 to a fence stake so the wind would move 

 it around just above the ground. 



By that time they were at dinner. I 

 rushed into the house and said, "Dad, it 

 'peers like there is a chuck up by the old 

 stump lot." Dad went out on the stoop 

 and put up his hands for a telescope. 



"By gravy," said he, "there is a shore 

 enough chuck. I can see him move." 



Each of the party tried to be very polite, 

 and urged the others to shoot first. I 

 think each was afraid of missing, and that 

 the other would have the laugh on him. 

 Mr. Evans shot first. He claimed the 

 woodchuck moved just as he pulled. A 

 clean miss any way. Next came Dad's 

 turn with his old 14-pounder. The dirt 

 flew 10 rods this side the chuck. You 

 should have seen Dad screw up that rear 

 sight. He ran it high enough to shoot over 

 the hill. Next the Colonel leveled his Win- 

 chester through the pines and unhitched 

 it. 



I saw straw fly out of the skin and 

 knew, of course, they must soon catch on. 

 I separated from their company and started 

 for the barn. They fired 2 or 3 rounds 

 more and then went up the hill to 

 see what they had been shooting at. When 

 they came by the barn I peeked through a 

 crack. They looked like a lot of cows 

 turned out of a turnip field. I sneaked up 

 the back stairs to bed that night; I didn't 

 want to see Dad for anything particular. 



Big Game Hunting in Mexico. — I 

 should like to correspond with a few gen- 

 tlemen who enjoy big game hunting and 

 who would assist me financially in estab- 

 lishing several first class hunting lodges, 

 with all necessary accessories, transpor- 

 tation, etc. Or will some person with capi- 

 tal join me in such a business? Am fully 

 competent to manage such business. Am 

 an old hunter with gun and hounds. I 

 speak Spanish, and my former relations 

 with the Mexican Government would in- 

 sure me concessions that few men could 

 get. Can give unquestionable references 

 as to reliability and integrity. Bear, deer, 

 antelope, mountain sheep, turkeys, pec- 

 caries, wolves, coyotes, cougars, leopards, 

 tiger cats, bob cats, and small game. 

 Capt. L. L. Goodrich, San Antonio, Tex. 



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