LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
129 
planter to shoot these little truants. A rifle-ball, 
or a charge of powder, is worth more here than 
a pound or two of meat. They are incorrigible 
robbers. They appear to imagine that the planter’s 
corn is sown exclusively for them, and fail not to 
make all the use they can of his liberality. Morn- 
ing, noon, and eve, Squggy is in the corn-field; 
from the time that the young and tender grain 
begins to form within the enveloping sheath, till 
.it has grown large, and hard, and yellow, and is 
housed (at least what remains of it) in the barn. 
But especially does the Squirrel like it (and unre- 
mittingly he pays his devotions to it) when the 
grain is of that plump but^soft and pulpy substance 
that resembles cream ; when the planter’s palate, 
foo, is particularly pleased with it, and when he 
plucks the ears, and, just parching them over the 
fire, brings them to table under the appellation 
of Toseneers^ q, d. roasting ears. This similarity 
of taste between planter and squirrel induces 
rivalry, and the result is as I have stated — vcb 
victis. 
Some time ago a very clever fellow announced 
that he had discovered an infallible preventive of 
the depredations of the Squirrels. So important a 
declaration was of course received with open ears ; 
a considerable remuneration was collected for the 
secret, and the planters of the neighbourhood met 
him to be instructed. The sage received the cash, 
buttoned his pockets, and bowed. “Gentlemen,” 
he said, “my scheme is simple, but effective. I 
have observed that the Squirrels invariably begin 
their attacks on the ontside roiv of corn in the field. 
Omit the outside row^ and they won’t know where 
to begin ! ’’ The door was open— the speaker was 
