THE STORY OF SCRAGGLES
GEORGE WHARTON JAMES

The Story of Scraggles

Scraggles and “The ’Fessor.”

The Story of Scraggles

By
George Wharton James
Author of
“In and Around the Grand Canyon,”
“In and Out of the Old Missions of California,”
“The Wonders of the Colorado Desert,” etc.

Illustrated from Drawings by Sears Gallagherand from Photographs

Boston
Little, Brown, and Company
1906

Copyright, 1906,
By Edith E. Farnsworth.
———
All rights reserved

Published October, 1906

THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.

INTRODUCTION

Most of our Indians have a tradition that in the days of old animalsand man had a common speech. Each was able to understand the other,and thoughts and language were common to all. It was not until manbegan to regard himself as superior to the animals and think of themas “lower” that this oneness of speech and relationship was lost.Since then envy, jealousy, anger, on one side, and conceit, pride, andcontempt on the other have widened the breach, while Love has stoodwith tearful eyes looking on at the sad and unnatural estrangement.

But in these latter days prophets among the white race have risen upto awaken again within man the desire for brotherhood with thehumbler creations of God. Thoreau, John Burroughs, John Muir, ErnestThompson Seton, W. J. Long, Elizabeth Grinnell, and many others, areshowing us our kinship to the birds, buds, bees, blossoms, and beasts.It is with the two thoughts before me of the common speech andunderstanding existent between the animals and man, and of the kinshipthat affection shows us does really exist, that I have written the“Story of Scraggles” from her viewpoint, with the confidentanticipation that young and old alike will enjoy this truthful recordof a sweet and beautiful little life.

While, of course, the thoughts put into Scraggles’ words are mine,the statements of fact are literally true. I have told the story asnearly in accord with the incidents as they actually occurred, as thismethod of telling the story would permit.

GEORGE WHARTON JAMES

1098 N. Raymond Ave.

Pasadena, California

Feb. 23, 1906

CONTENTS