The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-12-03
A Hunting Story.

The writer is law. abiding Owosso citi-
zen and does not intend to be otherwise
whenever allowed "breathing spell" out
of the city dust and shop, in the pure coun-
try air. Having worked steadily for year
at bench in one of our factories decided
that conld afford day of for recreation
and cunning.
One fair, warm morning started south
ward and soon came to the famed Maple
River valley, where prohibiting bills were
firmly posted on landed estates consisting OF
dozen tamarack trees or willow swamp.
dare not enter these, but farther on came
to quite tract of timber, and mo hunting"
bulletins to be seen ventured in, and soon
spied fine fox squirrel. Expectations high
and squirrel also high on uppermost twigs
of tree tops. jumping from one to another,
seeming in great haste to get somewhere.
Just as he was in fair range and distance
he raised upright In glee, dignity and grand
eur and barked defiance at me, for was he
not on tree owned by free holder of
lands? Surely he was and therefore safe
from harm of shot or potpie. i dare not
shoot however strong the inclination.
Trudging on l soon came upon half a
dozen wild turkeys. With a peculiar in
stinct they, too. like the squirrel, seemed in
hurry to ''go west," and flew, lighting on
trees just over the line In fair sight and
range. But again mo hunting" sign con-
fronted me; and more. the opulent owner Of
lands over the fence also, who commanded
me to ''git" or he would make me the de-
fendant In law, with the champion damage
suit attorneys w. & G. for the complain
ant--so got.
Still hoping that might capture some
thing lawfully, IL only rabbit for family
Thanksgiving dinner, tried in another d.
rection. While crossing an open corn.stub-
BILE field, and no 'signs" appearing, flock
of wild geese, on their annual journey to-
wards more temperate cline, came down
to rest their weary wings and replenish their
empty crops for the remainder OF their
journey. Now, II ever, is my chance thought
1. creeping slyly behind fence It'll near the
tempting flock. Just as l was ready to
blaze away two loads at once, noise be-
hind startled me, and before my face on
pine board, with a six foot handle nailed to
1t, was held another notice. The owner
meantime shouting "Hold sir, them air
geese are on my place. and therefore mine.
See, here's my sign" "Say." said /, ''please
let me drop few of those fellows, I'll give
you half capture" "No, no sir, my rights
PIl not divide. My field. my geese, or no.
body's. Shew," and club went whizzlng
among the geese and they all went up and
away.
Tired, hungry, discouraged and disgust
ed, took ''bee line" for the highway and
thence north homeward. As neared the
iron bridge and the banks of the Maple, ]
saw above on Its placid waters, slowly drift
ing down toward me, a half dozen fine ducks.
This now, said to myself, is my chance,
for I'm not on anybody's land. But while
waiting for the rivers current to float the
game nearer, spied on post another card
prohibiting, and the claimant of said river,
marsh, muck and all, confronting me. See
ing the situation. he informed me that II
was hunting ducks was trespasser. He
had granted the right Of way through his
possessions for highway purposes only. The
roadside was his and no hunting was al
lowed there, and he told me might meander
homeward; but il shot ducks or anything 1
would shave iDjective papers, served on me
to injunct me from walking In the high
way
Well, wended and as wended won
dered IL all things on earth or under 1t be-
longed to us, We Il Co." If all things