Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-04-09
HMhYy,


himself an'-an' his Creator"
In the midst of dinner they heard
an cutlery in the yard Toms game
COCK had challenged the old rooster.
and the two We're leaping and striking
with foot and wing. Before help came
the old rooster was badly cut in the
neck and breast. Tunk rescued him
and brought him to the wood shed,
Where Trove sewed up his wounds.
He had scarcely finished when there
came louder cutlery among the fowls.
Looking out they saw a gobbler strid-
Ing slowly up the path and leading the
gamecock with a firm hold on the
back of his neck. The whole flock of
fowls were following. The rooster held
back and came on with long but I'M
equal strides, Never hating, the tur-
Key led him into the full publicity of
the open yard. Now the cock was lift
90 SO his feet came only to the top of
the grass; now his head was bent low,
and his feet fell heavily. Through it
all the gobbler bore himself with dig
nifty and flrmness. There was no show
OF wrath or unnecessary violence. lie
swung the cock around near the foot
OF the maple tree and walked him back
and then returned with him. Half his
journey the poor cock was reaching
Tor the grass and was then lowered
quickly SO he had to walk with bent
knees.
Again and again the gobbler walked
up and down with him before the
assembled flock. Hens and geese
cackled loudly and clapped their
wings. Applause and derision rose
high each time the poor cock swung
around reaching for the grass, but the
gobbler continued his even stride, de-
lberately and, as it seemed, thought
fully, applying correction to the quar-
relsome bird. Walking the grass tips
had begun to tire those reaching legs.
4he cock soon straddled along with a
serious eye and an open mouth, but the
goobler gave him no rest. When at
length he released his hold the game
cock lay weary and wild eyed, with no
more fight In him than a bunch of
rags. Soon he rose and ran away and
hid himself in the stable. The culprit
FOWL was then tried, convicted and
sentenced to the block.
ITS the fate of all fighters that have
only selfish cause" said the teacher,
He was sitting on the grass, Polly
and Tom and Paul beside him.
"Aook here" said he suddenly. "Iul
Show you another fight"
All gathered about him, Down
among the grass roots an ant stood
racing big, hairy spider, The ant
packed away presently and made
little detour the spider turning quick
ly and edging toward him. The ant
stood motionless, the spider on tiptoe,
with daggers drawn. The big, hairy
spider leaped like lion to its prey.
They could see her striking with the
fatal knives, her great body quivering
with fierce energy. The little ant was
hidden beneath it. Some uttered a cry
OF pity, and Paul was for taking sides.
"Wait moment" said the teacher,
restraining his hand. The spider had
begun to tremble in a curious manner.
look now" said Trove, with some
excitement.
Her legs had begun to let 80 and |
We're Strengthening stiff on both sides |
of her. In Il moment she tilted side
ways and lay still. They saw q twin
kle of black legs and the ant making
off in the stubble. They picked up the
spiders body; it was now only an emp: |
ty shell. Her big stomach had been
torn away and lay in little strips and
chunks down at the roots of the stub
BILE,
"lt's the end of bit of history"
said the teacher as he tore away the |
curved blades Of the spider and put |
them In Polly's palm.
Lets see where the ant goes"
He got down upon his hands and |
knees and watched the little black |
tiger, now hurrying for his lair In a
moment he was Joined by others, and |
presently they came into smooth lit |
tie avenue under the grass. 1t took
them into the edge of the meadow,
around stalk of mullen, where there |
were a number of webs.
There's where she lived-this hairy |
old woman" said the teacher-"up
there in that tower. See her snares in
the grass-four of them?"
He raped on the stalk of MULLEN
with q stick, peering into the dusty |
little cavern Of silk near the top of it.
Sure enough! Here is where she |
lived, for the house is empty and
there's living prey in the snares."
what weird old thing" said Polly. |
"Can you tell us more about her?'
s...Well, every sumner" said Trove,
"a great city grows up in the field.
There are shady streets in it, no wider
than crlcket's back, and millions liv-
ing In nest and tower and cave and |
cavern. Among it's people are toilers
and idlers, laws and lawbreakers,
thieves and hlghwaymen, grand folk
and plain folk. Here Is the home of |
the greatest criminal in the city of the
field See! 1t is between two leaves,
one serving as roof, the other as floor |
and portico Here Is long cable that |
comes out of her sitting room and |
slopes away to the big snare below.
Look at her sheets of silk In the grass.
It's like washing that's been hung
out to dry. From each slender cord
of silk runs to the main cable. Even
a fy's kick or stroke of his tiny |
wing must have gone up the tower and |
shaken the floor of the old lady, maybe,
with a sort of thunder Then she ran
out and down the cable to rush upon
her helpless prey.
"She was an arrant highwayman, this |