Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1889-08-22
Webster and the Woodchuck.

Ebenezer Webster, Daniel Webster's
father, was once very much annoyed by a
woodchucE. which was wont to enter his
garden In the night and eat up many of the
dine vegetables he found there. Daniel and
his brother Ezekiel succeeded, after con-
siderable trouble In capturing the intrud-
er in a box trap
Now. Mr.. woodchuck, said Ezekiel.
I'VE will fix you. You have done mis-
chief enough. Dan, let's take him into the
tield and open the trap aud let the dog Kill
him"
''Oh, no, do not do that" said Daniel
who pitied the poor captive. Lets take
him To the woods and let him go" the
boys could not agree. and 50 they went TO
thc'r father about IT, taking the captive
along with them
"He ought to be killed" said Ezekiel,
"bnt Dan wants 10 let him GO"
"Well, boys" said the old gentleman,
"as you can't agree about 1t, you may ar
guc the case before me. will be the
Judge You, Ezekiel, may first give your
reasons for tne treatment you propose,
and Daniel shall he the counsel 70. the
prisoner and plead MS cause
Then Ezekiel opened the case against
the prisoner, and he " as deeply in earnest.
This is the substance of what he said
The woodchuck Is very mschicyous
animal, and this one has done a great deal
Of harm, a. we all know. If We had not
caugl. him be would have DESTROYED
great many Of our vegetables and per
haps would have spoiled our garden We
have spent great deal of time and LABOR
In his capture and, If he should be suffered
GO live and 90 at large again, there Is littIe
doubt that he would begin his deprcdations
anew and he coming enough to escape re-
capture. Besides, 1t would be nothing
more than strict Justice for the wood
chuck ~ hr punished for what he has al
ready done; and that punishment should
bc such a. viii prevent him from doing
evil N future, IL i impossible To change
ht~ evil nature, - nothing but death or
imprisonment for lifc can put a stop Ia h'S
irprrdatlon- We cannot srord to take
rarc OF him and feed him, he m ght get
way aud 20 back to his evil prac,irc.
II we kill him. his skin W III he OF some lit
tIc value u u bet il viii not repay half
the damage he has already done. In case
we let him 90 free, even II he should not
steal from Us a-ain, he will probably >tval
from others therefore, the puhllc good re-
quires that he should be put to death"
The father was highly pleased with this
spcrch Of Ezekiel, and II was evident
that he was Influenced against the wood
chuck by the earnest aud able argument 10
which he listened.
II was now Daniels turn. and, A. he
looked upon .he soft and timid expression
" the trembling animal his large hrin-
liant black eyes were sufused with tears
II : heart was moved with pity and lis
MAIL pl B.. /
with eloquent words, for the life and LID
crty of the captive
God made tile woodchuck." said he
lie made him IA live He made him -
roam free 10 the fields and woods aud 20
enjoy the pure air aud the bright Sunshine
God did not make any thing In vain.-uot
even the woodchuck. lie made him to oil
hl~ proper place in creation, and the wood
chuck ha, much right TO live a. any
other living thing. He Is not n destructive
animal. like the wolf and the tiger He
does not Mi poultry he does not take life
he does not destroy anything for mere
sport he simply eats s few vegetables of
which We have an abundance and can We'll
SPAR part The food he eats to sd~tatu
life is A. sweet Ia him aud Is a. necessary
70 his existence aS il that for u Witch j.
served up on oor mothers table God far
n!>hr> u'lr food. 50. also The Bible tells
a., lie givcth 10 the beast his food aud tl
the youug ravens which cry Are wc not
also told To consider the ravens. which
neither have storrhousc nor barn: and God
icc,cth them SO. also, h" fc"drth ail
dumb animals. II man does not rob them
~ their just share. If God gives ss all re
possess. even the vegetables in our garden
shall We not share little from our abuu
10 g., -.
cannot >pcPk for himself but Is rnuteIy
pleading for life at our hands; We have
no right 10 take that hfc away without
good cau>c and l. there good caus.?
The woodchuek uas never violated the laws
of Cod, a, man ofiea docs but he strictly
follow, Tie laws Of his brlng which he has
received from the hands OF the Creator OF
all things l. 1t not quite a. probable that
VI have taken that which God designed
for the woodChuck as that which God de-
signed for u-1 We have taken the land
where he roamed, and have cut down the
trees that supplied him with nuts and
acorns. Shall We, then. take il into our
hands 10 punish the woudchucs. to lmpri,-
on him, 10 put him 10 death-jdst for tax
ing the food which God has prov id,d for
him: | say We haye no right To deprive
him Of either life or liberty. Witness the
mute and earnest pleading Of the animal
for that life which l. ~ sweet to him bhi
lei rs not take II away in selfish cruelty
and cold heartedncss; for, If We do. we
must expect just ami righteous judg-
ment for our wanton act"
During this earnest plea Of Daniel
tears started from the fathers ewes and
ran down his sunhuTnt checks His PITY
and sympathy were awakened by the touch
iI- words Of compassion and the eloquent
and edrneN appeal for mercy TO the cap
tive; and, while Daniel WAS vet in the
midst OF his argument, the old man, giving
way To his feelings amt forgetting that he
was acting a judge, sprang from hl-
chair dashed the tears from his eyes, and
exclaimed "Zeke, Zeke, YOU let that wood
chuck go"