The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-01-10
A Dove, a Little Sparrow, Four Big Men
and Gun.

|
A few days ago three gentlemen, to our COM
munty we'll known. were discussing athletic
sports in general; quietly at first, then as they
approached that part of the spOrtsman's life in
which the feathered tribe and gun, enter into
the field, the discussion became quite animated.
Their several merits with fire arms from the
4th of July pistol to the Krupp gun of nnumer
able calibre, were lauded to the tower of the
solitary; aye, reaching to the top of the flag pole
on the prison proper. and we are unable to say
how much higher, did not one of them start forth
resOlutely eXcaiming, follow me gentlemen.
this very hour will decide who is the most skill
full, II it costs the life of every dove swallow
in the community and sixty cents worth of gun
fodder" Silently they followed this valiant de-
fender of his craftsmanship. and with a look of
stOicism upon each cOuntenance they disap-
peared from the prison yard.
Sitting back in our easy chair and silently |
gazing out of the window of our den, at the vast
expanse of sky and stone wall, our thoughts |
wandered back to the happy days of youth,
when we too could shoot and hit nothing. We
tried to conjure up something we did HIT alas.
| for our conclusions; were forced to admit the |
only thing we did shoot at and hit effectively. |
was the world. and the recOil knocked two years
of our life into smithereens; we have concluded
to shoot no more. Presently something flashed
| before our vision startling us out of reverie
not pleasant, and we discovered sitting on the
stone coping running directly meath our window,
a dove. Instantly that beautiful anthem that
the choir prides themselves on not singing,
| flashed through our mind. 80 had the wings
of a dove, how would fly" there was little COM
fort in this thought we didn't have the wings
and that settled It, But what's this rings out
disturbing the usual quiet of our silent COM
munity-.'biff'' "biff,' Boys. a prisoner has
escaped" we cried, 'they are shooting him."
we sprang to the window and looked out; there
sat the dove quietly adjusting its feathers; the
wind had evidently blown through them, but we
could not conjecture what caused the wind it
was very calm. and the bird was protected from
any wind that might be blowing, in its safe little
corner meath the window. Looking down in the
ward however, we discovered group of men,
one of whom held murderous looking blunder-
bus. the sight of which made us start back in
fear; while the other two members of the group
with field glasses. were directing them toward
the dove who seemed to be entirely OblviOus of
their presence. much less the fact, that with
| murder intent. they had Just discharged pound
of buckshOt at its inotfenSive head. With note
: book in hand repaired to the scene of action,
e and there learned that a fabulous wager had
: been made. that in one shot, one of the party
could kill every dove in the neighbOrhOOd, and
he came desperately winning the wager;
not Ia anything that he hit. but the fright Oc-
, casioned by the formidable appearance of the
, party and the report of that gun. II hit him. y
-, cried the marksman, "See he cannot move.
. nailed him to that window casing;' "You never
:, | phaZed him." said another. You didn't hit the
building" said the third; and he was forced to
o believe this, for presently the dove awakening
to the fact that men with murder intent were
= after him. tapped his WINGS and quickly SCARED
!, | far up in the SKIES where he circed round and
round gradually coming down till within few
rods of the ground, looked the party over and
= quietly perched on the opposite side of the
v tower. and stretching its head around the cor
- ner awaited events. This Is the opportunity OF
IL my life thought another of the group. IN show
these fellows how to shoot; give me that iron
~ he exclaimed, land I'll lay that dove at YOU
-. feet in north of Iowa minute Loading
. and printing it carefully, he crept up until he
Of came directly under the tower, and the dove:
70 breast was exposed: ''hist; and get the pc
8 ready for broiled dove, for here goes he ex
A. claimed. and the conclusion that followed woult
r. have staggered mule. After the smoke hat
49, cleared away. and they had looked the grOun(
over carefully for even feather, they were in
splred to look upward there sat the dove look
70 ing at them as quietly if this were a Lowell
-, day in June. ard not a cold winter day il
no which he was the innocent cause of the COLI
co fingers and diScOns0late. Il We lost my grip
=, ! expression on the faces of those below. Thi
q second shot came nearly taking the head OF
=, the guard on the northeast wall, that it site
- the iccles off his whiskers But why continue
1t was the old story: Il thought could shoot
but couldn't" and the dove knew it, for h
=, disappeared for few moments and then REAP
"a, peared having collected about dozen brother
or and sisters and hundred or two sparrOws; an
a. the way they flew about the heads of the hunter
of would have pleased the heart of a wing shot
II The entire party, augmented by anOthe
m sportsman, to all equally well known. took she
uv at those birds, with the result that they rippe
N I'D a part of the roof of the cell house, but didn
Of burn a feather Sadly they lowered arms an
ve started for the front gate; the Waterman ha
rn hunted his little house when the sport began. h
knew although they were shooting in an Oppt
site direction. that there was danger to man. i
us perfect safety to birds. But one among thu
he thrOng was made of sterner stuff IL will NJ
leave this yard until have one of those birds if
costs my reputation" Raising the field piece. an
closing his eyes, he was sure of himself this tim
0S the air was literally thick with birds and h
could not bear to see the destruction conten
90 plated) he blazed away: lone fell" cried ---
quick run over towards that wall and grab
90 ere it rises again and flies away. it may not
dead!" Dropping the gun he made haste to I'll
50 spot Indicated; poor bird 1t was dead; and ha
been for three months. for as soon as picked U
IS it fell apart. Turning away. the tender hearte
sport exclaimed, "pOOr bird, how sorry | al
90 that persisted In my cruel sport literally tor
80 you to pieces.
Sc We examined the bird and found that all tn;
90 remained was claws and feathers. Nature g
her work in last fall: the one seen ftuttering w;
90 scared almost to death at the report of the GU
and is now under the care of the pet ferret
4e the angineer's office We are irving to intere