The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-25
BowsElR's sNIPE.
He Goes ON His Annual Hunt For the
Wary Bird.


Mr.. Bowser should have due credit.
Dinner had been finished half an hour
when he suddenly said to Mrs. Bow
ser:
Tell the cook to put me on a little
something for breakfast. I'll be up at
6, and want a bite before I go.
Neither of you need get up"
What is it you are going to do 20
asked Mrs. Bowser in establishment.
Why.I go on my annual snipe-
seven years now. The druggist Is go
ing to lend me his shotgun"
Are you going alone?"
Yes, don't propose to take any
The snipe is a wary bird. Mrs Bow
ser. He must be trailed down with
caution
yes he must be very wary. You
have hunted him for seven years and
haven't found him yet. Not a snipe
have you ever brought home. You
brought home an old crow once, but
that was your only game"
you know what you are talking
about, do you?" he asked as he flush
ed up.
about snipe"
'Then let me tell you that I don't
go out to create a slaughter. take a
day off; I get out into the country
two. There has never been a time that
I could not have brought home at
least a couple of dozen had I wanted
to make a butcher of myself"
"Your sentiments do you credit,
Mr.. Bowser. The snipe is an innocent
bird Why should anyone seek to
dabble in his blood ? Just wade around
in the swamps all day and bring home
one snipe-just one. I want to see If
you can tell one from a robin. Your
breakfast shall be readV'
Mr.. Bowser sprang up to say some
thing, but changed his mind. Why
should he lose his temper? Mrs. Bow
ser was jealous and envious because
she couldn't 60 too, and it was bet
ter to treat her as a child. To get
real mad on the evening before his
annual hunt might disturb his aim on
the morrow. Therefore, like a wise
man, he dropped the subject and
picked up his paper and went to read
ing That night he was restless, and
muttered in his sleep. Once Mrs. Bow
ser heard him growl out:
"Oh, I don't know a sn1pe from a
robin, Ell? Well see about that!"
He was up and away at daylight
to catch the first suburban car. He
had a double barreled shotgun and
100 cartridges. He didn't propose to
be hemmed in by snipe and run short
of ammunition. On the car he looked
the real thing, and after working up
his nerve a little the conductor made
bold to say:
you are going after them for
sure"
evolves or bears?"
''Snipe.'
And I'll bet you get a wagon load. |
You are just the fellow to do it. If
you get in a hole. sell your life
dearly
There was young farmer on the
rain who had come to town on the
q
vas now better of it, and going home,
md, hearing the conversation between
dr. Bowser and the conductor he
tarted off singing:
"Oh, 1 went out to shoot the sn1pe,
And make a dreadful slaughter;
I killed five hundred and a crow,
Though sure I hadn't orter-"
At the end of the line Mr.. BowSer
made his start, followed by wave of
he hand from the conductor. He had
one about 40 rods when he came
pom a farmer cleaning out the road
lde ditch, and pleasantly asked:
my friend, can you tell me the
est place around here for snipe?"
whats them % queried the man
fter a minute.
"a snipe is a bird"
He can't be an eagle ?"
''No."
"Nor a wild turkey?
mo"
"Then I never saw one. If I was
on I'd be mighty careful how 1 hand
ID that gun. You'd better leave it
ere and do your huntin' with club"
Half a mile further on Mr.. Bow
er found a pond in field. 1t looked
likely place for sniDe and he went
yer. After he had circled the pond
bird rose and he banged. The bird
id not fall, but young man who was
lending the cornfie1d fence and had
OF been noticed came sauntering
own to say:
want to kill some robins to eat?"
''I fired at a sniDe.'
"a snipe? Why. man, there hasn't
cen a snipe around here in 500
ears. There's the bird you fired at
ting on the fence, and if it amt a
,bin then I've gone blind"
'"Then there are no snipe around
ere?
mot one. You come out to shoot
lipe, did your"
II did"
Its too bad to disappoint you, but
you'll come up to the Darn, I'll let
III shoot at a calf for 10 cents a
lot. You may shoot all day long" u y
Some Snipe-hunterS would have be-
me discouraged, but Mr.. Bowser d
odded along until he came upon a q
rmer moving the grass in his front ~
Lrd. He stopped to ask him about II Il
ipe, and the man came to the fence
say. &
mo, If he's passed this way
went sawn him" d
ct asked you about snipe-a bird" =
ERECTED Mr.. Bowser. =
"Snipe-a bird? What does 1t look y
re ?"
Hes a small bird and good to u
TT
Never heard of him. Say, wife. r
The farmers wife came SLOWLY ont.