The National tribune., 1885-06-04
A New Jersey Boy and His Trained Eel.
philadelphia Time,

This little village (Greenburg, N. j. is excited
just now over Billy Bensons trained eel. Billy
is the 16-year- old son of Farmer Benson, who
has a goodly number Of acres right along the
banks of the Delaware. He has been famous
eel-catcher for several years Old Assembly
man Wildrick, up in Warren County, who had
an eel dinner gwen him by his fellow members
of the House last year, hasn't an eel. nor can
he tell of one, that equals the Benson eel. Billy
is young naturalist as well as angler. lie
made up his mind some months ago that an eel
could be trained. Accordingly. he spared the
life of the first that he caught. He took it
home and put it in box, with glass over it.
After the reptile became quiet, Billy fed it
from his own hand. Gradually the eel took lik
ing to the boy 1t would wind around the lads
arm and rub its head gently over his sleeve
Then it got so it would come out of the box
and coil itself at Blly's feet and go to sleep
1t made no effort to escape. Then it learned to
follow the boy around. First it followed him
around the room. Then it glided up stairs
after him and early in the Spring took to sleep
ing on the pillow beside him.
Billy became as fond Of the eel rs the latter
was fond Of Bilyi The boy named the reptile
Faithful. In short time the eel knew his
name. 1t will awaken when Billy calls it and
starts after him. So thoroughly educated has
it become that it goes all over the farm with
the boy. The rapidity with which it can move is
remarkable. 1t Keeps right alongside of Billy
when he walks at quick pace. But the
funniest thing the eel does is to go fishing with
Billy. 1t will lie on log or in little pool Of
water and watch the lad haul in any number
of other eels and kill them. It never makes
any attempt to get into the river 1t is, more
over. a cannibalistic eel and is very fond of
small portions of cells meat, which Billy cuts
up with his jackknife The neighbors go daily
to the Benson farm aud watch the reptile.
Many of them wonder how the eel manages to
live out of water, but Billy says natural his
tory is full of instances. There is plenty of
water, however, i'm Faithfuls box, so that he is
in his native element most of the time.
A Ten-Year.Old Girls Composition On American
History.
Lancaster InisIliysncer.l
Following is an exact copy of a composition
in history by little 10-year-old girl attending
one OF the secondary schools of this city. The
thoughts, dates, punctuation and spelling all
prove that the little lady is endowed with
striking originality:
HISTORY.
1. William Penn was born in boston in 1907
His father was a soap and candle maker. But
William did not like that trade. Then the
government owned his father large som of
money and when he died it was given all to
William Penn. He was tho first white man
who founded Pennsylvania. He founded Penn
sylvana because His name was William Penn.
William Penn joined the Quakers but his father
did not like it. And he discovered America in
the year 1892.
2. George Washington the first president of
the United, States born in Virginia in the year.
When George was a little boy he would never
tell lie. Because he thought it was not nice.
1t tis not nice neither. He studied all kinds of
things to be a president.
3. Abraham Lincoln was born in Wales in
1899 His father was a wool comber, but Abra-
ham did not like that trade. One day Abra-
ham was standing on the railroad and a man
by the name OF Gitue came behind him aud
shot him. Then he got put in Jail for it, But
it was not nice of him because he shot him on
the railroad.
4. Roger Williams discovered America 1892.