St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-06-02

ground. while the other hung in tks
air directly over the doc II she at
tackcl the one in the air. the other
was 10 try and got the young one. and
not succeeding. was to tempt the
mother TO follow it. leaving the fawn
exposed to tho attacks of the one
above. These alternating attacks
were kept up until both were well
tired. or the doc successfully struck
one Of them. when they would retreat
to regain their breath or straightcn
out their dishevc.el feathers How
long they had been contcnding was Of
course. only conf ,cture. but all OF
them looked well tired out.
''Well. Lieutenant." said the guide.
after the first battle had ended with
the does success. .'wc might just as
well rope in that small tod. for it's
just a mere matter o time when them
birds will get it If they've made mp
their mind to have it for breakfast" :"
So we trotted carefully over to the
nearest ridge. and from there. in a
short, sharp dash. soon had the little tod
in our possession. but I must confess it
was somewhat at the expense of my
better feelings. for the mother had
male a most heroic defence SD far: al.
though the guide continued to insist
that to leave it was to leave it to the
eagles and not to its mother. and he
knew the habits of the beasts and birds
of the plains unusually we'll
The doe eagerly watched our pro.
cecdings from the top of ridge near
by. Offering q splendid sight at about
a hundred and fifty yards distance.
but would not allow the guide or my.
self to take advantage Of an opportu-
nifty prompted by such feelings In a
few minutes she trotted away. and
really believe she was glad that the
eagles at least had not been the cap.
tors
The little fawn got tame very fast.
and by the time he had been fed once
or twice he became friendly with all.
and especially SO attached to the SOL
der who fed him that he was allowed
to sleep Nth him. curling upon the
blanket near by. and licking his pro
tector's hand whenever he patted him
on the head.
While returning home during the
next two days VIC did not confine the
little fellow in the crate. but. allowed
him to curl up on the clothing and
bedding in one Of the wagons and
sleep and rest as much as he wanted
10. During our rests-fOr cavalry on
the march 60 ahead one or two hours
and then rest for ten to twenty min
utcs-we allowed him ont Of the
wagon, and he would 60 to any ont
that attracted his attention. sucking
The mans thumb and butting at it in
tho most cOmical way. Even wher
marching we put him down alongside
the wagon and he followed us. blcat'
in. piteously and evidently much
more fearful Of losing us than he had
been of having us catch him a day O
two before. But we were so afrait
that he would get kicked by som'
irritable horse or mule. and his erie
wcr, so plaintive, that We did not r..
| it but once.
When got back to the post l tool
him to my own house to raise. named
him Joker" and gave him TO under
stand that he must make himself a
home. an assurance which he mus
have fully comprehended. as he Ger
tainly did make himself at ease a
once. driving away all lonesomenes
with his tricks and mischief
For tho first two or three weeks Q
his life he spent much of his time hid
| ing in the tall grass that grew unde
a row of willows planted along d ito
running through my yard Here
was almost impossible to find the littl
scamp. and so scurcly did he hide tina
once or twice l had given up tn
search, thinking he was lost, but if
got the milk bottle and held it aloft b
| would reveal himself
H. was very quick to learn tricks
and l had him perform number. tn
reward for which was usually a lum
of sugar. Ny house. or quarters
as they are termed by army people
had a wide porch in front nearly fift
feet long. Joker was very fond {
sugar, and would do any thiny for
lump or two. so l used to make hi
stand upon his hind-fect and walk I'll
whole length Of the porch for cac
lump. holding it three or four inche
from his nose and backing out AS h
walked forward. At first could onl
get him to rise up to get tho susa
then he learned to take step or tw
forward. and finally no would wal
the whole length Of the porch. Fro1
this as a start no soon learned nun
Der of other tricks - Frederic
ScsvaeLa. in Rarper's Young Ropl'
Awkward Mechanics.
"a IL. sAN 60 vw-vN,