The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-08-29
TOMMY HARMoN's LAsso.

HI. Elliott Mcbride. IA Golden Days.
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TOMMY HARMoN'S LASSO.
How the Joke Of the Farm Was Held In
Making IN Important Capture.
For long time Tommy Harmon's
lasso was the joke Of the farm He had
read somewhere of the wonderful do
ings Of Western cowboys with the lasso,
and from a description given in that ac-
count he had made himself very fair
specimen.
The fact that there was no earthly
use for such thing as lasso on the
New York farm where he lived made
no difference in Tommy's enthusiasm,
and with great impartiality he went
about lassoing-or lassoing at-every-
thing. Gate post, dog, cat or calf was
welcome alike TO Tommy, and he mind
ed neither failure nor laughter.
BY and by the day Of Tommy's tri-
umph came. 1t came quite unexpect-
eddy, and without any help from him,
except in the way Of what Matt, the
hired man. called silly suggestion.
1t happened in this way; A fox had
been stealing Mrs Harmon's chickens.
until that good lady lost patience and
insisted that a trap should be set for the
thief.
Tommy. accordingly. baited steel
trap with nice young chicken, and set
it between the barn and the wood lot.
where Master Fox was supposed to hide
during the day Then Tommy went
away, intending to visit the trap the
next morning.
About an hour later, however, he saw
half-dozen crows angrily futtering
over the spot where he had set the trap,
and 1t occurred to him at once that the
fox had already been caught, and was
being attacked by the crows
he caught up stick and ran hastily
toward the trap, more sorry at each
step that he did not have his lasso with
him. As he drew near the spot he
could hear the angry cav, cav OF the
crows, and could see them furiously
swoop aad rise again. all of which
made him think that the fox was fight
ing hard for his life.
But just imagine his surprise, when
he had gotten through the corn field
and could see the trap, at discovering
that instead of fox an eagle was
caught He could now understand
what the crows were so angry about
Crows hate hawks and eagles, and take
every opportunity to injure them.
They seemed to know that this eagle
could not defend himself very well,
and they went at him on every side,
making the feathers fly at every attack.
The eagle could easily have carried
away the stcel-trap il it had not been
fastened by chain to o stake. As II
was, the captured bird struggled madly
at the end of the chain In his efforts 10
beat off the crows.
Tommy at once became greatly OK
cited, and with visions of stuffed eagles
floating through his mind, ran at the
great bird, intending to kill it with a
blow Of his stick, and then carry II
home.
This would have been an excellent
plan II the eagle bad only stood still
and stretched out Its neck for Tommy
to hit But It did not, and before
Tommy knew it he was on the ground,
with torn clothes and bleeding face. II
was very well for him that he had moi
fallen within reach Of the angry eagle,
or Tommy might not have lived 10
laugh over the triumph OF his lasso.
Fortunately the eagle could not reach
him. and Tommy was able to scramble
to his feet and run toward the house q
great deal more quickly than he had
run to the trap.
Near the wagon-house he met Matt,
and breathlessly explained matters &c
him. Tommy's appearance showed
that be was not telling big story. and
Matt, only stopping to ask where the
trap was, started off at run.
Tommy darted into the wagon-house,
snatched his beloved lasso from it's peg,
and followed after Matt as quickly al
his tired legs could take him. Exactly
what he intended to do with the lassc
he did not know. He took it because
it was sort of second nature to do So
When he reached the field he found
that Matt was as badly off as he had
been. The eagle had contrived to pull
up the stake. and was struggling witt
claws and beak to tear out Matt eyes
while Matt was trying hard to gel
away, beating at the bird with biz
hands to keep it from his face. In
Tommy's excited mind there was bu
one thing to do.
"Lasso it, Matt! lasso 1T" he cried
thrusting his lasso into Mats hands
Anything to beat the savage bin
with. Matt whirled the lassO In bill
hands. and struck blindly at the eagle
which fell back for moment
'1asso it! lasso it!'' shrieked Tommy
dancing up and down.
The rope was cooled In readiness I,
throw, and without intending 1t, Mat
cast it ct the eagle. BY great goot
luck the moose fell over one Of tn
birds outstretched wings, and Tomm,
fairly yelled with delight as he spranl
forward and drew the lasso tight
They still had some trouble In subdu
ing the mighty bird, but they did sue
coed finally in capturing it alive. The,
sold It for fifteen dollars; and now
when anybody seems inclined to laugl
ct Tommy's lasso, he shows then
Mats new hat and hts new suit o
clothes, and explains how they got th'
money to buy them with.-Jokn n
l r. = g..