The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-16
THEY HAD 4 GREAT FOURT tn.
Betty and Charley Did, Although There
Was No Bounty on Hawks.

was NO bounty on HAWKS.
BATH. n. Y. July o.-On July Charles Mink
and his wife. who live on a backswoods farm
Ave miles from Lumberton. In the Pine
Creek region. went to spend the day with
relatives at Hammersys Forks. leaving
their two Oldest children. Charley. aged
-. and Betty. aged Il. at home to take care Of
the house. Toward noon Betty was peeinR
potatoes for their dinner. when Charley. who
had been hoeing in the garden. came running
into the house
Betty" he cried. There's n big hawk in
the barnyard after the chickcns!"
Their father kept his shotgun in a closet of
the kitchen. and Betty ran and got IT, and the
two children hurried to the barnyard to kill
the hawk and save the chickens il they
could. When Betty and Charley got there
the big bird had chicken in its talons
and had risen with 1T in the air moro than
fifty feet. Betty raised tho gun. heavy as II
was. and fired. The charge took effect in one
Of the birds wings. disabling that important
member and bringing the bold marauder tum-
bling to the ground.
Betty dropped her gun and she and her
brother ran to where the hawk was fluttering
and spraying about. unable to rise The
first thought of the two children was the rescu-
ing OF the chicken. which was still alive in the
tight grasp Of its cartor. and sluawking us-
lilly. The attempt of Betty and Charley 10 get
the chicken was met with furious attack
on them by the wounded hawk The
boy was knocked fiat by one blow OF
the birds sound wing, and as soon as he re-
gained his feet he turned his face toward the
house and was getting there IA fast as his
legs could carry him. hut his sister. who had
escaped the onslaught of the savage bird. sud-
Come back Charley" she shouted after
her frightened brother. 'Don'tyou know how
g" 20 bae Go Sns @ @ ha Hi he TnU
That brought Charley bnck. and the two got
chicken stealer which had released the chicken
by this, time. The chicken scampering back
lacking a great many OF it's feathers, The
savage bird fought Desperately. using, is
tqions upon them. but several vel. delivered
hbll22wSss on the head with their clubs finally
almost GREATNESS from their efforts. carried
the big trophy OF their proves. to the house,
sale, Billy proudly as they placed the dead prize
~ Maybe vel set dollar for it. then" said
,1 TS$ h4Fred and got their 1spSy
iset securely t"ssthsT flung ing ITEM "' over Str'
ley's, the two children walked all the
way TO Lumberton through the dust and
hot sun to col ect the 50 cents. or
perhaps dollar. they thought they were
entitled to for making away with the fenthered
chicken thief. They knew that their father had
gone to Squire Smileys office when he went to
get the bounty on the hawk he had killed.
80 they went directly there The Squire was
in. and when Betty told him what their errand
was, and he saw the immense hrd they car
ried, and heard how they had killed it, he was
speechless. When he recovered from his sur
prise he told the children to sit down. Then
he said to Betty:
Il am sorry. Sissy. but the law hasn't PLACED
any bounty on this bird not even 80 cents"
Why !" said Betty. the tears gathering in
killed. and It wasn't half as big as this one I"
This is an eagle"
The knowledge that they had fought with
and overcome an eagle was not reward suff1-
Gent to overcome the disappointment they
felt in not being entitled to the expected
bounty. and both Betty and Charley burst into
tears, as they took up the burden OF the great
bird and started to leave the snuire's to trudge
back the weary five miles homeward,
Wait n moment. children" said the Squire
There is no bounty on such bird as this, nor
on hawks. either now. But You Just take this
and leave the big bird with me"
The Squire placed 81 gold piece in Botty's
hands. and the children were so overjoyed that
they started hOmeward on a run.
The eagle they had conquered and borne all
the way to Iumherton measured over seven
feet from tip to tip of its wings. and Betty and
Charley had a great Fourth OF July.