Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-01-01

pointing to Z big, bald-headed eagle
that was cfrcling over our heads, that
bird flies out from his nest in the
morning, captures a duck, and then
does nothing more for three or four
hours. Shiftless, worthless creature,
he would be happier and healthier if
he put in eight hours day steadily
and then turned in the extra birds he
caught to Tom Ferguson
The eagle is the national Bird l
responded severely. Such talk as
yours comes pretty near being treason.
And it is a Islander on the character
of respectable eagles. Just at this
time of year an eagle doesn't have to
work hard. But when winter really
sets in there isn't q better feathered
example of the strenuous life than the
abused eagle. Even with his eyesight
he sometimes has to fly miles and
miles before he can see an unwary
duck or heron !
my words seemed to make quite
an impression on Tom, and he pom
dered over them in his solemn man
ner all that evening. The next day
he was hired as guide by a man who
has quite a name as an optician. All
morning it was evident Tom had
some idea in his mind, and when they
were eating lunch he broke out.
Is there any way in which an
eagles eyesight could be fmproved?'
Tom asked sort Of doubtfu1ly.
"The optician was considerably sur
brised at the question.
81 live in the city, he said, and if
you think eagles are in the habit of
etrolling into my consulting room and
asking for pair of spectacles, or to
having their eyes examined, you are
of in your calculations. Still, if you
know of some ailing eagle who has
trouble in reading the Eagles Evening
News, send him to me and I will do
my best for him. he added sort of
sarcastically.
"But Tom was in earnest about the
matter and asked if an eagle that had
acquired the habit of using field
than If he used his naked eye.
Probably he would replied the
optician in rather doubtful tones, but
have the eagles in these woods ex-
hibited any yearning for field glasses?
The average eagle is pretty we'll sat-
isfied with his eyesight as it is
"Tom was positive he had hit upon
great labor-saving scheme, so he
wasn't the man to give it up. He sent
down to the city and ordered pair of
small but powerful field glasses. Then
he climbed up to an eagles nest that
he had had his eye on for some time
and caught one of the eaglets. Tom
brought the eaglet home and began
training it. The first thing was to
get the aglet to look on him as his
friend and to regard the Ferguson
house as his home. After the eagle
was tame Tom began to teach him to
use the field glasses. Tom hung the
glasses about the birds neck and in a
little while the eagle got so that he
would pick the glasses up in one claw,
hold them to his eyes, and spend
hours exploring the country round
about.
by the time the eagle reached this
stage he was pretty we'll grown and
the winter had really set in. Tom
judged it was time to put his protege's
training to some practical advantage.
Scientific instruments, loving care,
and training under the eye of the best
guide in the north woods have been
lavished on you,' he said to the eagle
Seek the freedom of the skies and
search for birds. This is your home,
so bring the trophies of the chase
back here. I prefer ducks, but I'll
take anything. Well divide the spoils
between us, and I'll take care that the
good man who owns you don't get the
worst end of it,
"The eagle flew up. AS soon as he
was clear of the ground he lifted the
glasses to his eyes and began his
search for secluded ducks. Toms
idea Of using the field glasses evident
ly was a good one. Another eagle had
been flying about. high in air. looking
for game and not finding any. But the
minute Toms bird was fairly up, with