Page:Babyhood of Wild Beasts.djvu/113



T was a gala occasion, that bright spring day in early May, when Papa and Mamma Woodchuck took their four toddling babies out of the nest and up the long, dark tunnel to inspect the beautiful green world. The little fellows clung timidly to their mother's brown fur coat.

The journey was so exciting they stopped every few minutes to inspect their surroundings and catch their breath. Their little hearts were beating madly with the excitement of the journey.

When they emerged into the bright spring sunshine, they blinked their brown eyes and opened their small, fur-muffled ears to catch the wonderful sights and sounds of the beautiful fairyland they had just tumbled into.

The singing birds and droning insects made sweet music for the little 'chucks; and I wouldn't 91