PRAIRIE-DOGS.
Annie and her baby-brother went to ride with their papa and mamma. They crossed the river on a long bridge; and beyond it they saw horses and cows feeding on the green prairie.
"What are all these heaps of dirt for?" said Annie.
"We are just entering 'dog-town,'" said her papa; "and those are the houses of the inhabitants. Do you see the two little fellows sitting up on that mound?"
"Yes," said Annie; "but they look like little fat squirrels; don't they, mamma?"
Baby pointed his little chubby finger, and said, "Ish!"
"They are prairie-dogs," said mamma; "but are sometimes called the 'wish-ton-wish' and 'prairie marmot,' and sometimes 'prairie marmot squirrel.' It is like the marmot because it burrows in the ground, and like the squirrel because it has cheek-pouches."
"Well, what do they call them dogs for?" said Annie.
"Let us stop and watch them," said her papa. "Hark! do you hear them bark?"
"Yes: it is a little squeaking bark," said Annie. "It sounds like 'chip-chip-chip.'"
"Now see," said her papa, "how funnily that little fellow sits up, with his fore-paws hanging down, and watches us."
Annie shook the whip; and the prairie-dog scampered into his hole. Up he popped his head again in a moment, and jerked his short tail, and barked.
This seemed a signal for the whole town. On almost every mound appeared two or three dogs; and they set up such a barking and jerking of tails, that everybody in the wagon laughed and shouted.
"Now we will ride up close to the mound," said papa, as he started up old Fox, and sung a bit of the old song:—
"The prairie-dogs in dog-town
Will wag each little tail,
And think there's something coming
Riding on a rail."
There were several bushels of dirt in the mound. In the centre of it was the hole, which was very large at the entrance. The earth all around was worn very smooth and hard.
Here the little dogs sit and bark and jerk, ready to dodge into their hole in a moment. They all looked fat and clumsy. Their color is reddish-brown. Owls and rattlesnakes are often found living with them; but Annie did not see any.
Mrs. O. Howard.
Out where the golden-rod
Bends on its stalk,
And the wild roses
Gladden our walk;
Where amid bushes
Hidden but heard,
Joyous and grateful
Sings many a bird.
Out where the waters,
Merry and sweet,
Ripple and tinkle
Close by your feet;
Where all things happy,
Fragrant, and fair,
In the bright morning
Welcome you there!
Mathias Barb.
