�ݬ� �� A Country Mile

July 3, 1995

�ݬ� �� By Jean Hughes

��Spring has been a season of flowers and showers, the nestings of birds and wild animals, and pink twilights. Now, at

the time of the celebration of the birth of the USA, the wildlings are also being born and many are making their first trips

away from home.

��This morning, two baby chipmunks race up and down my back yard tree. They can be doing nothing but playing, for

they move to fast to accomplish any task. They are celebrating life. They are free!

��Although the woods has many hazards to these little creatures, it is their home, and is a good place to live. That is also

true of our country. It is not perfect, but is the best system of living together that man has devised, so far.

Our country is beautiful and productive, and if we treasure it and care for it, many generations will enjoy its freedom and

its blessings.

��Let us give thanks this Fourth of July for our Constitution and the foresight of our forefathers in drafting such a

document. And let us pray that we live up to its moral as well as its political philosophies and rules.

��While on my vacation this spring, I traveled on state and local highways, rather than on the Interstate. I enjoy going

through small towns, and driving in a more leisurely manner. I do not hurry.

��Because I was in Indiana, where most of the roadsides are left wild, I got to see another baby fox and, for the first time,

a baby ground hog. As it waddled along the road, it stole my heart away. I thought it was about the sweetest thing I had

ever seen.

��But, in spring and summer, each hour and day has its serendipitous moments. This afternoon, I was riding not far from

home when a killdeer ran across the road in front of my car. I had just gotten slowed down when across the road skittered

a tiny ball of feathers. My heart jumped to my throat. It was a baby killdeer that, even with its feathers blowing in the

wind, was no bigger than a golf ball. It fairly flew along. Its toothpick legs were almost invisible, like a hummingbird's

wings when it is in flight.

��If you have never seen a baby killdeer run with all its might, you have missed one of the most touching sights on this

earth. This little free spirit is marked like its parents and has the innocents eyes of all babies.

��Like all young animals, this baby is in summer school. It must learn to hide, run, fly, land, and heed the warnings and

teachings of its parents.�� It must learn about its territory and who it must fear. Much is instinctive, but there are many

learned lessons, too.��

��This year, I have been blessed with seeing many wild babies. They give me great joy. I appreciate it every time one

runs or flies into my life.

�ݬ� �� 1995 Jean Hughes

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