When the fall of 1879 came, the
muskrats were very tardy about beginning their house, laying the
corner-stone--or the corner-sod-about December 1st, and continuing the
work slowly and indifferently. On the 15th of the month the nest was
not yet finished. This, I said, indicates a mild winter; and, sure
enough, the season was one of the mildest known for many years. The
rats had little use for their house.
Again, in the fall of 1880, while the weather-wise were wagging their
heads, some forecasting a mild, some a severe winter, I watched with
interest for a sign from my muskrats. About November 1st, a month
earlier than the previous year, they began their nest, and worked at it
with a will. They appeared to have just got tidings of what was
coming. If I had taken the hint so palpably given, my celery would not
have been frozen in the ground, and my apples caught in unprotected
places. When the cold wave struck us, about November 20th, my
four-legged "I-told-you-so's" had nearly completed their dwelling;
it lacked only the ridge-board, so to speak; it needed a little
"topping out," to give it a finished look.
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