River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-02-04

southern shore, rising for fifty feet
without a limb and then spreading
wide its immense branches. tall and
solitary, stood the old tree whose com
paniOns had long since been swept
away by the heavy surges of wave and
storm that had washed bare its own
great roots and seemed ever trying to
wrench the old oak from its mornings.
but In vain. A landmark by sea and
land for miles around, IL held its ex-
posed position as il in proud defiance
of the forces OF waves and winds
But not alone for its great size and
striking situation was the old oak
noted High up in the topmost
branches, so high that the foot of the
most expert clint Der had never ventured
there. mass Of sticks and dead limbs
was the nest of pair of eagles, who
sought it every spring TO rear their
young, and prey upon the gulls and fish
hawks who sought their food in that
vicinity. A magnificent pair were those
old eagles. the pride and admiration of
all for miles around. No one could
remember when this had not
been their eyrie, and the time
OF their coming lay far back
- the time of Indian possession.
From the Indians had also been
handed down the tradition that even
more than sentiment or local pride had
preserved the lives of the eagles and
restrained the inhabitants from any
act of violence or harm. For, so
ran the legend. whenever the eagles
nest should be touched by a disturbing
hand, the eagles would leave it never
10 return again, and with their de-
p2rture dire calamity would over
whelm the neighbOrhOOd, while i'll luck
and misfortune would ever after fol-
low the rash mortal who should dare
20 modest the birds or their habita-
ton
Such was the prediction told by the
earliest settler To every newcomer.
and repeated in turn till the old oak
and the great nest within it came to be
almost objects of reverence and super
stitious dread. and daring hunters
Stunned il As tree of ill-Onen. while
timid oh 'ldren playing about the beach
kept far aioOf from the "Old Eagle
Oak !"
The tradition was again repeated to
the Van Fleets when one early spring
they came to make their home on the
shore Of the lake. about a mile from
the point where the great oak held its
solitary state.
Martin Van Fleet listened to the
story as the old hunter Maekworth
told it, his eyes in the meantime
watching the eagles as on widespread
wings they sailed in great circles high
IN the air above him a bright-eyed
well-knit, active boy Of fourteen. was
Martin. alike ambitious. intrepid, fond
of daring and adventure and who
as yet had to learn the meaning of the
word fear From the first the eagles
were an object Of fascinating interest
90 him. and also 20 his younger twin
sisters Grace and Clara, and often they
might have been seen watching them
or haunting the vicinity of the eyrie.
For a time there was comparative
quiet in the old oak: seldom was but
one of the eagles seen. and he re-
manned much of the time perched on a
limb near the nest
But at last orc day Martin rushed in
70 the house crying: New neighbors
have come TO town There are young
eagles in the eyrie,''
That such was the case was soon APP
parent TO eyes less keenly watchful.
and both the old eagles now made
long excursions in search of food for
the hungry little mouths 50 securely
hidden in the nest
20 dear" sighed Grace one day, as
the old bird disappeared within the
tree. ''how do wish I could see those
little eagles"
do yOug" said Martin. with a curl
Gus smile ''Well. who knows but one
OF them may fall out of the nest one of
these days."
But that would kill it." rejoined
Clara. and we want to see them alive"
Nothing more was said ON the sub
ject and but incidentally was il noticed
that the next week all of Martins
spare time was given TO some work in
regard to which he preserved a studied
silence. Finally one afternoon he
asked his sisters 20 go with him Tor
row over To the eyrie. and on reaching
the spot drew from under a thieket of
stunted, storm-twisted bushes not far
distant a rude but strOngly-made lad
der and a coil of knotted rope.
What are YOU going 10 do?' ex-
claimed both the girls in one breath.
Martin laughed Il am going 10 get
you young eagle
% Martin protested Grace, the
tree is so high-what il you should
fall? You must not think of such
thing"
And. urged Clara, you know what
will happen if anyone NEEDLES with
the nest Pray. Martin, let it be" and
she gave a little shudder.
Pooh with a coutemptuous snap
of his fingers: what do you suppose !
care for an old Indian superstition?
Besides. I'm not going to kill the
eagles or hurt them: I wouldn't do that
for anything IL there l. only one
bird in the nest won't touch 1t; but II
there are two. as ! hope there are,
am going TO take one. We can take
good care of IL and feed il fish. and
Just think what n grand thing it will
be TO have an eagle for pet"
The possession Of a pet eagle was
tempting possibility that easily over
came the little girls fears and scrupleS.
while as 20 danger, Martin scOffed the