Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-10-08

him the spur, but atill resounded in ny ears
the melancholy cry-pea-pea-pea; strong
at first, but gradually weaker and weaker,
as limb was torn from limb, till finally it
ceased to cry only with the last throe of vi
tally. | have never in long life felt so
miserable, depressed and unhappy from so
Iinconsiderable and common an occurrence,
and even TO this time, when remembrance
brings back the days of aud lang sy's, the
hopeless pes-pea-pea of this poor chicken
reverberates through my brain, and makes
me feel dsDreSsed and wreiched.
| | gave MY horse the whip, lede hastily
home, got my douOle-bgrreled Msnton and
returned. When ! arrived I found the
bloody feast over, and the slayer OF the in
nocent victim sitting on ths limb of an ad-
joining tree, apparently gorged and asleep.
| rode Hear,and the 6rst fire brought him TO
the ground with the remains of his prey un-
digested in his stomach. How i triumphet
it would be unchris,ian TO say,in the slaugh-
ter of this ferncious bird of prey, whose lie
s sustained by the destruction of other
more useful anc innocent animals.
As bore nv prize home, rejoicing in
having slain tbe slayer of The harmless and
helpless, the thought suddenly occurred to
me, bv what right had thus acted. be-
longed to the most ferocious OF el' ANIMALS
-(when his passions are not properly curoed)
man-xho not only for his own necessities,
but often, in wanton sport. destrys myriaIs
of useful beings This reflection worried,
and made me feel as il had
acted amiss. However, | soon became re-
assured when it occurred TO me that the
Givor of all good had allowed man the use
but not the abuse of all created beings, anc
that most estimable of all virtues, charity,
urges the protection Of the weak and help
less by the strong ard powerful.
1t seemed as if this day was not to pass
without further adventure. Several hours
after | returned home, late in the day, |
went to that part of the farm where my
people wefe at work. / seated myself on
knoll oyer looking small marsh, and incon-
tinently fell iEto snooze-when was sud-
denly startled half awake by the painful
pCdy PGdJ pc6s AT "oo
iream--then again it suddenly occurred to
ne that it was the ghost of the defunct
chicken haunting me for the inefficient ef-
forts had made to save it. However, when
vide awake, by listening attentiyely, could
1t loEg Intervals, just perceive the horrid
;ry of pea-pea-pea, in sePulchrsi and
'ery weak voice.
| Immediately srose, called one of my
men and directed him to examine from
whence the sound came. We soon got to
he yicini,yof the cry, every moment be-
coming weaker and weaker, and the inter-
'als longer and longer, occasionally SEEM
ng as il the suffering animal was strsngl-
ng, although the sound could still be heard.
On account of this part Of the marsh
which was comparatively irm--beiDg thick
y covered with grass, nothing could be per-
.eiyed. A scythe was obtained and tie
the bill, one eye and part of the
'ead OF nearly fuil-grown chicken, was
Ierceiyed, the whole body buried, and very
lowly the small part above ground disaP-
'earing. Immediately seized the head,
fter removing the earth around the neck,
'ut found should pull it off without dis
nterring the fowl. 1t seemed to be held as
N wise by something. A mattock was.sent
or and the surrounding earth remoyed,w when
D! and behold, the cause of the catastrophe
Vas soon discovered in an enormous snap
ing turtle, ho had firm grip on the mid
lie toe of The FOWL, and had gradually work
d hims If deeper and deeper in the swamp
iii he had nearly enlombed the uckless
hitken. He seemed bellgerent and fere-
ious at being disturbed in his little work of
harity, and kept determined and urfinch-
ng hold. He was decapita;ed, but yet all
n VAIN 20 make him loose his hold; the Jaw
ad TO be luxatei before the victim could be
eiieved. Doubtless he was thus maddened
rom dissppoinlmeni, lie. having intended to
Ixuriate with al the gusto of an epicure on
elicate chicken meat;but,as il is an old pro-
erb, vet u true one, that "there is many
lip between The cup and lip" so in this
ase, inste-d Of being the eater. he was the
aIen, for the next day had for dinner a
lscicns bowl OF turtle soup cOncocted from
is carcass.