Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-01-21
Ar Unwilling Baby A.fonaut.

A Nashville paper of January first
gives an account of L child having been
caught up and carried OFF two miles 10y
an eagle, from farm house HEAR Meigs-
wife, Jackson county, Tenn, OH the
afternoon of the day before Christmas
1t seems that ,iuring its parents absence
from home, the child of Mr. White
side, just old enough To walk little,
was left asleep In-its cradle 10y the ser
want for few minutes, while she Was
milking at the barn, and, waking, made
It's way out of doors, when large grey
eagle, passing over, made downward
swoop, and, just rs the servant came out
OF the barn, took il up with apparent
difficulty, and flew across the tree-tops
of a neignborfng wood, tow lrd the Cum
berland river which was about two miles
away, The girl grew dizzy, it is stated.
at the dreadful sight, and feii, but the
chill wind blowing into her face soon
revived her, just as the eagle was dIsap'
peariug across the woods. a wlld I'M
pulse OF affection at once Seized her TO
save the child, and she made her way
like deer across the fences and into
the thick and tangled wood, and feeling
that the eagles flight would lie in q
straight line, she took straight course
also, without looking for footpaths. The
woods. it is st ited, was fully mile and
a half wide; but she made the run {" the
further edge without feeling fatigue
Beyond it, and between it and the river
lay space of cleared ground, partly
marsh, and partly rornfield full of old
stumps. EnteIing this open ground,
and having a clear view, she saw the
eagle showing signs of alighting with
his burden somewhere near the river
This gave her new hope aud courage,
and she ran forward with fresh speed
1t luckily happened that there Was a
man hunting in the neigbbor:ng marsh
es. and that just at the instant the eagle
touched the ground "a shot was heard SO
near him flor the hunter was behind a
clunp of bushes twenty yards away,
with his back toward the spot where
the eagle descended) that he rose into
the air again suddenly without the
child. The girl in pursuit was filled
with joy, but fearing the eagle would
return TO its prey, she. began a vigorous
shouting as she ran, which attracted the
hunters attention in that direction, and
he. seeing the eagle quite near him, a
woman rushing toward him with stream
ing hair and garments, and wildly
shouting concluded at once that there
was something wrong, and thereupOn
bCc5ah hCiNSiy ohN he1oeity
loading his gun. This caused the eagle |
to hesitate, and then wheel around |
swing himself away across the river and |
disappear. When the girl came up TO |
the hunter she fell helpless, and was !
not able TO indicate to him what was
the matter. But while he was endeav- |
Oring to restore her he heard the crying /,
of child, and going toward the place |
from which it came he found fine, |
healthy, rosy boy, with torn clothes, |
but unhurt, trying to rise up on his lit !
tie feet, and with tears running down /
his piteOus cheeks. The hunter took up /
the baby and carried it to the girl, who /
was now sufficiently recovered to under |
stand that it was safe, and she clasped /
it to her bosom, kissed it over and over, /
and with joy. Meanwhile the parents !
of the child came home, and finding it I
empty, with no sign TO indicate where |
the inmates were gone, and bucket of
spilled milk out near the barn, which I
the servant had dropped in her flight,
they naturally became anxious: but the {
return of the servant, with the little /
sefonaut. .swho had the most
thrilling adyen, ure for future relation.
quieted their uneasiness, and Christmas !
was merry and happy.