Frank and Fanny | Page 2

was perched upon
the cedar bush.
The stone wall which surrounded the orchard, afforded shelter to a
great number of striped squirrels, whose nimble motions it was the
delight of Frank and Fanny to watch, as they scampered over the wall,
or ran along on its top, or sought a safer retreat in the thick branches of
the apple trees. This last retreat, however, was not often sought, as the
striped squirrel is not fond of trees. His nest is in a hole under a stump,
or stone wall; he seeks his living on the ground, and is the most playful,
elegant little animal I ever saw. He is called in different parts of the
country, Ground Squirrel, Chipping Squirrel, and Chipmuck, the last
being probably his Indian name. Frank and Fanny loved the striped
squirrel; but never threw stones at him, or sought to make him a
prisoner.
[Illustration: THE STRIPED SQUIRREL.]
The foot of the orchard was bounded by a clear, wide brook, shaded by
willows, and the fish plashed about in troops in the cool shade.
Here upon the margin of the water, seated upon a little stump, watching
for his finny prey, the children used often to peep at the Belted King
Fisher, in his bluish coat, white collar, and prettily marked wings. This
bird's delight is to dwell on the borders of running rivulets, or the bold
cataracts of mountain streams, which abound with small fish and
insects, his accustomed fare. When the fish do not approach his station,
he flies along, just over the water, and occasionally hovers with rapidly
moving wings over the spot where he sees a trout or minnow. In the
next instant, descending with a quick spiral sweep, he seizes a fish,
with which he rises to his post and swallows it in an instant. All these
proceedings were watched frequently by the children, with intense

delight, as they stood concealed among the bushes, not daring to move
for fear of disturbing the bird.
[Illustration: THE KING FISHER.]
On the other side of the brook was a cranberry marsh, with a raised
road passing through to the pine forest, still beyond, where the children
gathered the ground pine, and hunted for the bright scarlet berries of the
winter-green. When the children resorted to the cranberry marsh to
obtain a supply of berries for their mother, they often saw the beautiful
meadow lark, crouching among the reeds, or flying slowly and steadily
away, as they approached her, uttering her lisping, melancholy note,
which sounded like, "_et-se-de-ah_," and sometimes, "_tai-sedilio_."
This bird was much admired by Fanny, who was dreadfully grieved
when a neighboring sportsman shot a number of meadow larks for the
sake of their flesh, which is almost equal in flavor to that of the
partridge.
[Illustration: THE MEADOW LARK.]
[Illustration: THE AMERICAN AVOSET.]
In this marsh, too, the children sometimes saw that singular bird, the
Avoset, with its curious curved bill, its noisy clamor, and its long legs,
bending and tottering under him, as he ran about the marsh or waded
into its pools. He was a great curiosity in his way.
Thus the cranberry marsh had its pleasures for Frank and Fanny.
But this was not their favorite resort. They loved best to cross the
meadows in front of the house, to a forest, where the woods were more
open, and where trees of every variety, cast their shadows upon the
green turf, and wild flowers grew upon every hillock, and peeped out
from every mossy glade. There were little wildernesses of
honey-suckles, too, scattered through the woods, and long, pale green
fern leaves, fit for a fairy to sway to and fro upon; and there were vines
of wild grapes, with branches so strong, that they often made swings of
them.

Sometimes in their rambles in the woods, they started a wild hare,
which they called a rabbit, who fled away from them with long leaps,
and was soon out of sight, so that they could hardly catch a glimpse of
him in his rapid flight. But they were always greatly excited with a
view of him, and lamented that they had no means of catching him.
[Illustration: THE RABBIT.]
Some of Frank's school fellows, however, were more skilled in hunting.
They knew how to set snares for the poor rabbits, and were very often
successful in catching them. By means of an elastic branch, or sapling,
bent over, and furnished with a snare of strong twine, they contrived to
catch the poor rabbit by the neck, and string him up in the air, like a
criminal convicted of murder. It was no misfortune to Frank to be
ignorant of this hunting craft.
[Illustration: BOYS SNARING RABBITS.]
Another curious animal, which the children sometimes saw, and which
may be