The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-10-16

and helpless, the thought suddenly occur
red to me by what right had i thus act
cd. / belonged to the most ferocious o
all animals-(whcn his passions arc no
properly curbed) mdn--who not only fo
his own necessities, but often in wanton
sport, destroys myriads Of useful and in
nocent beings. This reflection worried
depressed and made INC feel rs il | had
acted amiss However, soon became
rcassurcd when It occurred to me that
the Giver Of all good had allowed man
the use but not the abuse OF all created
beings, and the most cstimablo of all vir-
tues, charity, urges tho protection Of the
weak and helpless by the strong and
1t seemed that this day was not to
pass without further adventure. Several
hours after returned home, late in the
day, wSptto that part ofmy farm where
my peoplewere atwork. seated myself
on a knoll overlooking SMALL marsh
and ndincontinently fel! into a snooze--whcn
| was suddenly startled half awake with
the painful pea, pea, pea. Atiint | tho't
it was dream-tlen again il suddenly
occurred to me that il was the ghost OF
the defunct chicken haunting me for the
inefficient efforts l had made to save it.
However, when wide awake, by listening
attentiyely, / could, ut long intervals,
just perceive the horrid cry Of pea, pea,
in q sepulchral and very weak voice. .I'
Immediately arose, called one Of my
men and directed him to examine rom
whence tho sound came. We soon got
to the vicinity of the cry, every moment
becoming weaker and weaker, and the
intervals longer and longer, occasionally
seeming rs it the suffering animal was
strangling, although the sound could still
be heard. On account Of this part Of the
mash-which was comparatively firm
being thickly covered with grass, nothing
could be perceived. A sythe was obtain
cd aud the grass moved off; after which
by strict examination, the bill, one eye
and part of nearly full grown chicken,
was perceived, the whole body buried,
and very slowly the small part above
ground disappearing. Immediately
seized the head, after removing the earth
around tho neck, but found should pull
it off without disinterring tho fowl 1t
seemed to bc held as if in a vice by some
thing. a mattock was sent for and the
surrounding earth removed, when 10.
and behold, the cause of the catastrophe
was soon discovered in an enormous
swapping turtle, who had firm grip on
the middle toe OF. tho fowl, and had grad
ually worked himself deeper and deeper
in the swamp until he had nearly entomb.
cd the luckless chicken. He seemed
belligcrcnt, and fcrocious at being dis
turbed in his little work Of charity, and
kept determined and rnhinching hold.
He was decapitated, but yet all in vain
to make him loose his hold; the jaw had
to be luxatel before his victim could be
relieved. Doubtless he was thus mad
dencd from disappointment, he having
intended to luxuriatc with all the gusto
of an epicurc on delicate chicken meat
but as It is an'old provcrb, yet a true one,
that "thcrc is many a slip between the
tho cup and the lip so in this case, in
stead Of being the cater, he was the eat
en-, for the next day | had for dinner a
luscious bowl Of turtle soup concoctcd
from his carcass. ...... ......,. .I