Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-09-03
MR.. FOX AS A SPORTSMAN.
He Proves Himself Hunter Of Great
Resourcefulness.


Wont you please tell US another
story, Uncle Henry?" asked Victor one
evening as they sat around the supper
table.
another story? Dear mel" cried
the good man I'm afraid haven't
one about me today. But "ait a
minute. Ill tell YOU about Mir. FoN
He is a pretty little fellow, with his
sharp nose, bright eyes and long,
bushy tail, He and his mate had two
young ones. AS they We're always
hungry like most healthy children, he
was out hunting from morning till
night, and often .hrough tho night
too, trying to get them enough TO eat
But sometimes luck las against him,
and now and then Mrs. Fox complained
that he was letting the children
StarVe.
81 do the best ! can, he said
mournfully, but everything has gone
wrong today. | hung about the barn
yard trying to catch the black hen.
But she always kept too near the barn
out of my way and when the farmers
back was turned I nimbly hoped
under the fence and dashed at her
But just as l seized her she began
a terrible screaming The farmer
turned to see what was the matter. He
when he saw what was happening
quickly threw big one at me.
didn't have time to dodge, and it
struck me squarely. Over ! rolled
thought my back was broken And
I've been telling stiff ever since You
must be more careful next time, said
Mrs, Fox, anXiously. But don't be
discouraged, dear, you are so clever
that you will surely find some way Of
getting us a dinner
This so encouraged Mr.. Fox that he
proudly smoothed out his bushy tail
and assured her that he had a few
tricks left yet
$50 off he started, after telling the
little ones to be good and not worry
their mother AS he trotted along he
reflected: Now it won't pay to go
near the barnyard again today. They
will surely he on the lookout for me-
And I'm not ashamed to say I'm afraid
of the gun. for | can't dodge shot, no
matter how fast l scamper lust here
he came to the river. His attention
was attracted by some crawfsh
swimming along the bottom A bright
idea struck him. i wonder If can't
catch some, he thought He tried
hard to reach them with his paw but
they always lodged the stroke He
meditated. Why can't | try to fish
with my tail? It's quite long, 50
very quietly and cautiously he dropped
his tail into the water just above the
fish. Soon one Of the crawfsh caught
his tail with its claws. He jerked 1t
out of the water With a good min he
let it go. Then he sat down and
quietly ate it, smiling. The trick
struck him as such a good one that he
threw back his head and silently
laughed till he nearly fell into the
water
He recovered himself, and said
seriously, I must catch some more for
the children and again dropped his
line into the stream. The crawfsh
uipped him every time and every time
he landed them successfully When
he thought he had as many as he could
carry he took them up IN his mouth
and started for home. Mrs. Fox vel.
coined him and the fish with sparkling
ewes. 4 hope the children will like
them. she exclaimed
The little foxes did like them very
much and soon the whole batch had
disappeared Now things looked a
little brighter to the family.