 | Sketches of Natural History |  |
61
THE MIGRATION OF THE GREY SQUIRRELS.
When in my youth I travelled
Throughout each north countrie,
Many a strange thing did I hear,
And many a strange thing see.
Throughout each north countrie,
Many a strange thing did I hear,
And many a strange thing see.
I sate with small men in their huts,
Built of the drifted snow;
No fire had we but the seal-oil lamp,
Nor other light did know.
Built of the drifted snow;
No fire had we but the seal-oil lamp,
Nor other light did know.
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For far and wide the plains were lost
For months in the winter dark;
And we heard the growl of the hungry Bear,
And the blue Fox's bark.
For months in the winter dark;
And we heard the growl of the hungry Bear,
And the blue Fox's bark.
But when the sun rose redly up
To shine for half a year,
Round and round through the skies to sail,
Nor once to disappear,
To shine for half a year,
Round and round through the skies to sail,
Nor once to disappear,
Then on I went, with curious eyes,
And saw where, like to man,
The Beaver built his palaces;
And where the Ermine ran.
And saw where, like to man,
The Beaver built his palaces;
And where the Ermine ran.
And came where sailed the lonely Swans
Wild on their native flood;
And the shy Elk grazed up the mossy hills
And the Wolf was in the wood.
Wild on their native flood;
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And the Wolf was in the wood.
And the frosty plains like diamonds shone,
And the iced rocks also,
Like emeralds and like beryls clear,
Till the soft south wind did blow.
And the iced rocks also,
Like emeralds and like beryls clear,
Till the soft south wind did blow.
And then upsprang the grass and flowers
Sudden, and sweet, and bright;
And the wild birds filled the solitude
With a fervour of delight.
Sudden, and sweet, and bright;
And the wild birds filled the solitude
With a fervour of delight.
But nothing was there that pleased me more
Than when, in autumn brown,
I came in the depths of the pathless woods,
To the Grey Squirrels' town.
Than when, in autumn brown,
I came in the depths of the pathless woods,
To the Grey Squirrels' town.
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There were hundreds that in the hollow boles
Of the old, old trees did dwell,
And laid up their store hard by their door
Of the sweet mast as it fell.
Of the old, old trees did dwell,
And laid up their store hard by their door
Of the sweet mast as it fell.
But soon the hungry wild Swine came,
And with thievish snouts dug up
Their buried treasure, and left them not
So much as an acorn-cup!
And with thievish snouts dug up
Their buried treasure, and left them not
So much as an acorn-cup!
Then did they chatter in angry mood,
And one and all decree,
Into the forests of rich stone-pine
Over hill and dale to flee.
And one and all decree,
Into the forests of rich stone-pine
Over hill and dale to flee.
Over hill and dale, over hill and dale,
For many a league they went;
Like a troop of undaunted travellers
Governed by one consent.
For many a league they went;
Like a troop of undaunted travellers
Governed by one consent.
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But the Hawk and Eagle, and peering Owl,
Did dreadfully pursue;
And the farther the Grey Squirrels went,
The more their perils grew.
When lo! to cut off their pilgrimage,
A broad stream lay in view.
Did dreadfully pursue;
And the farther the Grey Squirrels went,
The more their perils grew.
When lo! to cut off their pilgrimage,
A broad stream lay in view.
But then did each wondrous creature shew
His cunning and bravery;
With a piece of the Pine-bark in his mouth,
Unto the stream came he,
His cunning and bravery;
With a piece of the Pine-bark in his mouth,
Unto the stream came he,
And boldly his little bark he launched,
Without the least delay;
His bushy tail was his upright sail,
And he merrily steered away.
Without the least delay;
His bushy tail was his upright sail,
And he merrily steered away.
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Never was there a lovelier sight
Than that Grey Squirrels' fleet;
And with anxious eyes I watched to see
What fortune it would meet.
Than that Grey Squirrels' fleet;
And with anxious eyes I watched to see
What fortune it would meet.
Soon had they reached the rough mid-stream,
And ever and anon,
I grieved to behold some small bark wrecked,
And its little steersman gone.
And ever and anon,
I grieved to behold some small bark wrecked,
And its little steersman gone.
But the main fleet stoutly held across;
I saw them leap to shore;
They entered the woods with a cry of joy,
For their perilous march was o'er.
I saw them leap to shore;
They entered the woods with a cry of joy,
For their perilous march was o'er.
W. H.
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