Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-08-20
a LESSON FROM THE WOODS.

A LESSON FROM THE WOODS.
How a woodcock Protected Her Young
from y Dog.
Unable to resist tie subtle influence
of the balmy south wind Of yesterday.
redolent with cherry blossoms and fore
runner of many such days to come, l
was strolling along one of the less fire.
quented roads in the immediate vicinity
of the village. My four-footed COM
panion-a satin-skinned pointer, asso-
ciate of many happy day, with ruling
passion strong, explored every copse
and thicket, regardless he of scratched
BODY and bleeding tail, could he but
gain one Whit of that intoxicating odor,
far dearcr to him than all the ''Sabean
odors from the spicy shore of Arabic
the best" After an absence somewhat
more protracted than usual. casual
search in the direction had last seen
him, revealed him pointing as l ex-
pected. The character of the ground,
a rough hillock. covered with tangled
cat br.ers and white birches. and coz
tiguous to deep alder swamp. left lit
tie doubt as to the nature of the game,
while the glazing eyes. the quivering
nostrils and the rigid stern left equally
little doubt as to the few feet or perhaps
inches that separated the educated ami
NAL fsom his natural prey.
While admiring the beautiful picture
and hesitating to interfere. very large
hen bird Topped heavily up. clearing
the brier with difficulty, only to drop
with sounding thud yard or two in
advance. Almost at the same second
the smaller but more vigorous cock
bird with the familiar ringing whistle
sprang twenty feet into the air and
away over the tops Of the budding
birches, across the brook, skirting
wide meadow, nor pausing nor falter-
ing, until with sudden dart and a
turn he wheeled sharply into copse OF
alders and swamp naples, quite diff
ferent species of bird apparently from
his iluttering mate. The latter, natur-
ally shy and retiring bird, appeared
to have lost all fear of man or beast in
her anxiety for her little family's well
fare, each one of whom had doubtless
sought shelter at once under some pro-
tecting dead leaf at the very first indi-
cation of danger. So thoroughly, in
deed, were the little youngsters slowed
awav that, although the rude nest con-
tanning the four broken shells were in
plain sight. no trace of them did a
rather careful search reveal. And now
began series of amusing antics on the
part of that devoted parent that must
be seen to be appreciated Around and
waddled, feathers distorted, and quack-
ing for all the world like dusky duck
in the cleaning of the autumn evening
as he fearlessly prepares to alight on
his favorite feeding-ground.
After several minutes thus consumed
in completing the circles, of which the
sorely-tempted canine was the interest
ing center, finding all her wiles fail to
move him other than an agOnizng
twist of his head upon its axis, she sud-
denly changed tactics, and. with ruffled
plumage and open bill, boldly charged
the intruder, until but few inches at
most separated her from the jaws which
there is some reason to believe may be
uCI Nd9 WI
IDENTIFY ceasing to be virtue on the
poor brute's part, and fearing dire re-
aults to that little family of innocents in
case of sudden half orphanage, as
serted my share il the tragedy by step
ping slightly in advance. As the de-
lighted mother led me step. by step
away from danger, it was with Pc
nliar satisfaction l almost fancied l
could see in her big expressive eyes the
elief it furnished her. Over the hill,
back to the road, and a hundred yards
down the same she gently drew us, and
when with an utterly exhausted flap
she appeared to al;ght for the last time,
was not less surprised than pleased to
catch glimpse OF her. completely re-
stored as if by miracle, whirling over
the dense cedarS and tall timber on a
hilltop until she reappeared by long
circuit close to the original spot where
first surprised her.
Retracjng my steps. there she was
sure enough. going through the same
old game as before. Calling off the
disguised dog with much difficulty, 1
left her there and continued my walk
he full of regrets, doubtless. at what he
regarded as an exceedingly unsatisfac-
tory termination to so much trouble,
and his master, with murder most
foul and most unnatural in his heart
to marvel at the mysterious working of
mans heart, which, while moved to
pity and admiration at a mother love,
can at the self-same moment resolve on
the subsequent complete humiliation
of not only that mother, but "all her
pretty chickens, too, at one fell swoop."
Verify, how all-consuming must be that
passion for the chase, which warps our
sympathies, and which knows no right
but the law of might.-F'orest and
Stream.