The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-07-06
LAID LOW.
An American Eagle Pays the Penalty of
His Predatory Folly.

EiS IlSudtol Toliys
"what is that, brother? the eagle boy.
"Proudy careering his course of joy;
"His wing on the wind, and his eye on the sun
"He swerves not hair, but bears onward,
right on.
boy. may the eagles flight ever be thine.
"Onward and upward, and true to the line.
Bishop Doane's familiar lines doubtless have
impressed upon the imagination OF every
school boy, the beauty and boldness of the
typical bird Of Freedom-the American grey
eagle-and what poetry has failed to impress
upon the youthful heart, national pride has
fully painted
But majestic as may be the onward and
upward flight of the national bird, under the
stress of circumstances and hunger, he fire.
Quently becomes the pirate of the skies, and
descending to earth performs the meanest
tricks on the unoffending farmer.
. Now, if there is day in the year that the
American eagle is supposed to have things
his own way, that day is the Fourth of July.
The bird OF Freedom on the national birthday
is supposed to scream as loud as he pleases,
and is free to shake his wings in unmolested
delight.
Fourth of July orators of course are ex-
pectcd to pluck his feathers and shake them
in the holiday breeze. But usually the Fourth
OF July orator is the only man allowed to do
violence to the body Of the majestic bird
whose sweeping wing wipes the cobwebs from
the clouds, and whose ambitious flights
Of ba lnp ,f
the free and the home of the brave.
But like any other high soaring creature,
either man or bird, that comes down to the
earth. and stoops to do "A mean thing, the
American Eagle with all his traditional glory
sometimes comes to grief.
Such was the case on Thursday.
In the early morning of that day, before
Mr.. James McIntire who lives on the Glasgow
road. about two and a-half miles from Elkton,
had eaten his breakfast, he noticed splendid
American eagle cutting his dashing swoops
over his barn yard, and in an instant soar
aloft, clutching in his powerful talons one of
Mr.. MrIntire's latest pullets. Mounting
majesticaly to the top of IL neighboring tree,
the typical bird of Freedom alighted upon IA
friendly limb and began his toothsome break
fast.
At first spirit of patriotism pleaded in Mr..
McIntre's breast to spare the beautiful but
audacious bird. at least on the day conse-
Grated to his honor.
But Indignation finally triumphed over
patriotism, and getting his gun, the noble
bird that moment before instinct with life,
dened the sun, lay bleeding corpse at Mr..
McIntire's feet.
$50 the struck eagle stretched upon the plain
No more through rolling clouds TO soar again,
Views his own weakness ON the fatal dart
And winged the shot that quivcrcd in his heart
Keen were his pangs, but kccncr far to feel
That he accused the piniOn that impccd the
steel,
While the same phimagc that had warmed his
nest,
Drank the last life drop of his bleeding breast +"
The experience was 50 novel for Mr..
McIntire. that he brought the dead eagle to
Elkton. 1t was a coincidence, that as the
dead body of the national bird lay in Mr.
McIntire's carriage and was being admired
by a wondering crowd. Deibert's Boatyard
Band in full uniform passed, playing the Star
Spangled Banner.
1t was fitting dirge to departed glory.
The eagle was an immense one, measuring
seven feet across its extended wings, its great
{ beak and powerful talons indicating the
strength of the ariel monster.
How the eagle came here is of course IA
matter of speculation.
One suggested that the same bird had been
seen recently lowering over the State House
at Dover, but that Addicks and his friends
had disgusted his freedom loving instincts,
and it had flown to Maryland, as a forerunner
of the dawn of a.hoped-for day of political
freedom in Maryland.
If there was an omen in the noble bird $
flight here, it was pity it died 80 ignoble a
death, typical probably OF the political steal
ing so long prevalent on this side of the
Peninsula