The Carlisle independent., 1907-12-26

all the trouble and expense Of training him and I'm entitled to at least duck and 8 half out of every two.'
 50 Tom took trip to the city and bought a pair of spectacles, the kind that magnify. The next time the eagle brought back duck Tom slipped the spectacles over his beak. Then he cut the duck in two and gave the eagle half of it. The other half he re- served for the use of honest old Tom Ferguson as he called himself.
 Tt was pathetic to see the puzzled, perplexed expression on that poor eagles face when he commenced eat ing his half duck He was accustomed to a whole duck, but the spectacles made the half look as big as a whole one. He looked at Tom as if he wanted advice on the subject. Tom didn't say a word, but went on placid ly smoking his pipe. That eagle trust ed Tom Ferguson. When Tom didn't make a move the eagle turned in and ate the half duck He wasn't quite satisfied, though, for while it looked as if he had eaten his usual quantity of duck, his appetite showed him this wasn't so. Then he flew off to catch more game for his selfish owner.
 Tom was always careful to put the spectacles on the eagle before he fed him, and wnIIe the iyoor cird was growing thin, perhaps be wouldn't have discovered the deceit if It hadn't been for an accident. One day, while the eagle was eating, party of hun. bermen went past the house. There was the eagle, spectacles on his beak, tearing away at half duck. It cer- tainly was a ridiculous sight, and the lumbermen laughed until they were most sick. An eagle hates to be laughed at, especially when he is eat ing. Toms pet stood it as long as he could. Then he raised his head wite a quick motion as if he was consider ing whether to fly away or do battle with the men who were jeering at him. The little jerk he gave as he raised his head shook off the glasses. The eagle looked at the piece of duck, which seemed to have shrunk in size Then he looked at the spectacles. After his experience in using field glasses he knew in an instant that he had been grossly deceived by Tom Ferguson, the man he had trusted and
 Tom had seen the spectacles fall off and came running up to put them on again But the enraged eagle was too quick for him. He flew up in the air, taking the spectacles with him. When he was hundred yards up he dropped the spectacles. They struck a stone and broke to pieces. Then the eagle flew up higher He fumbled at the cord by which the field glasses were tied about his neck. In mo- ment with the help of his beak and claws he had cut through it. Then he sailed about in the air until he was directly over the place where he had been accustomed to deposit his ducks. He let go of the cord. The field glasses fell, striking almost at Tom Fergu- sons feet, and were smashed into hundred pieces. The eagle gave one last look at the scene of his former labors and flew away to the north.
 From was. wild with rage.
 Wicked, thieving, ungrateful bird,' he shouted, shaking his fist at the rapidly disappearing eagle. Not con tent with striking in the middle of my busy season, you destroy my spec tacles and field glasses, the capital that have invested in the business
 But no one had much sympathy for Tom Ferguson.
 "1t serves you right said one of the lumbermen decidedly. Any man who tries to deceive poor eagle by means of half portions and spectacles deserves to have his plant wrecked when the strike comes.