The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1893-02-04
THE COLONIES
An Amusing story OF y Worry vorac,ou
PET Owl

II
An Amusing story OF Very vorac,ou
Pet Owl.
My acquaintance with him begar
whom there was brought to me
fluffy white ball. neurly as big as m,
head. and pair OF big. bright rount
eyes that seemed full OF wonderment
at his new surroundings. He hac
been found on ledge OF rock in the
canyon. among some sticks that an.
swered for nest his sole compan.
ions being the remains OF JACK rab
bit and IN egg that had refused ,e
transform into a second owlet
He must have been quite young. as
no signs OF feathers were visible.
The heavy coating OF down formed Il
fr;il about his face and give him
very wise and venerable look. We
dubbed him Colonel and took great
interest In watching the development
OF our pet says q writer In the Phiia.
ddlphia Times
He was q ravenous eater and de-
voured mice squirrels birds and
young chickens with great avidity
when they were given to him. He
had no idea Of hunting his own food.
but sat on the shady side Of the house
during the day. taking good care to
keep away from the cat and the old
hens. As twilight approached he be.
gan to hop about and would come TO
the door and beg to come in.
In n few weeks he began to try his
wings and we tied him with long
cord putting small chain next his
leg. for he would cut the cord as fast
as 1t was put on. When fully fcath-
cred he was OF light ycllowish
brown color and measured about four
feet from tip to tip OF wings
He never seemed to want water
and as he could not be induced to
swallow anything but animal food. it
was sometimes difficult TO procure
u sufficient quantity OF what he liked.
At such times he would partake
mincingly OF hard boiled egg but
would not eat enough TO still his dis
tressing cry of hunger
When ut last some dainty was Sc
cured and temptingly presented. the
capacious mouth would fly open
while the eyes closed-there was not
room enough for both to expand at
the same time and squirrel or chick
en- would disappear with a gulp. 1t
was a source of never ending wonder
ment that articles OF such size and
number could go even into that huge
orifice. Some days after his arrival
our little three yearold asked ,anx-
iously: Mamma could he swallow
the babyp"
For months the Colonel's time was
spent on an old shed where he sat
aud blinked his eyes IN the sun and
snapped his jaws most menacingly at
all inLruders. He seemed to evince
considerable affection for his owners
the road to his heart being the pro-
verbal one-by way OF the stomach.
One fa,eful day his hungry squall
ceased without any Intervention and
the fragment OF chicken wing told
how his appetite had been appeased.
Alas for the chicken. Alas. for the
bird! That was the signal for his
punishment from the farm. When
tho time approached for his depart
ure he became frightened ut the anus
ual hustle a,d few 10 the end OF his
rope. 1t snapped. and for the first
time in his life he was free bird.
soaring aloft in his native element.
Round and round he few as il lotn
to leave the only home OF his remem-
brance.
Fully realizing that the Colonel at
large would be much more dangerous
TO the poultry interest than the Colonel
in chains ! tried with most persua-
sive tones to lure him back. Mind
full OF the hand that fed him. he came
nearer and nearer then sailed to the
ground short distance from me and
then waited for the expected bite.
He was soon a captive again but
not until l had received some
scratches that kept my pet in vivid
remembrance during the first weeks
OF his absence
He now lives In close proximity to
n butcher shop where he never lacks
for fare to suit his fancy. Age and
confinement have soured his temper
until woe befalls the hand that dares
intrude between the bars OF his cage.
4 ynluahIe