The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-01
A Pigeon Hunt.
(By Louise j. Haskell, Il, West Bratte'
horOl

lHy IOulse u. Haskell, ~, W tsl Didtllt
boro.
II was a bright Saturday morning early
in April, 1905 Snow still lay III the hol-
lows and by the fences, but the ground was
frozen hard and the air was sharp and a
cold wind blew from the north Two boys
had Just left their homes IN the village OF
Brandon, and with their guns IN their
hands were going towards the cedar
swamp, some distance away, TO hunt Pig
cons The boys were friends and comrades,
both about fourteen years OF age, IN the
same classes at school, and always seen to-
gether. That morning they were talking
happily as they tramped along. Arthur
had a new gun which his father had
bought, and had himself carefully taught
his son how to load how to carry it, and
To take good care OF it. Roscoe had AN old
one which he had bought himself.
About 10 o'clock they came TO the
swamp and commenced to look for the
birds which were generally seen there IN
large numbers. At first they did not lind
any so kept on and on until they had
gone quite distance into the swamp. AT
last Arthur, who was ahead, saw several
of the birds sitting in the top OF some
alders, and he whispered to Roscoe TO toll
low him and they would try to creep near
er. They now moved very cautiously, tax
ing great care not to make noise to
frghten the birds away. They would soon
be near enough. Then something hap
pened. No one knows how 1t happened,
but in some way Roscoe's gun was dis
charged, perhaps 1t caught IN some bush,
and shot Arthur in the back. Arthur
thought at first that something had struck
him, but when he heard the report OF the
gun he turned quickly around and saw
it smoking in Roscoe's hands and he knew
what had happened.
He cried out, "Oh, Roscoe, you have
shot mel" The two boys stood looking
at each other too frightened to speak
At first they thought it might not be
very serious as the wound did not bleed
very much, but Arthur soon commenced
to feel faint and had to sit down. Roscoe
said, 'I'll run home and get someone"
"Yes," Arthur said, and run fast, Kos,
coe Hurry, and tell my father quick!
Away ran the frightened boy. as fast as he
could. He did not meet anybody until he
was near the village, when he saw man
with horse and wagon driving along the
road. He called to him and told him
what had happened and together they
went to get Arthur. They drove as fast
as they could to the edge of the cedar
swamp. They brought the wounded boy
out and carried him home as quickly as
possible. A doctor came and it was
thought best to take Arthur to hospital,
SO his father went with him to Burlington,
where everything possible was done Tor
him. But he was very weak from loss OF
blood and badly exhausted. In the morn
ing he seemed better and it was decided to
wait until afternoon and then try to find
the bullet which was lodged somewhere
in his body. He seemed so much better
and brighter that his father, who was or
panist at the church at home, decided to
return on the morning train to play as
usual, and then to go back to Arthur. lie
babe him good-by and left him. lie
stepped on the train and went home, hur-
rying from the depot to his own house Tor
it was only few moments before church
time, but he had only got inside his door
when telegram was brought to him say
ing his boy was worse and that ne must
come at once, or it would be too late to see
his boy alive. The poor man ran down
the street, not stopping to answer those
who tried to ask after Arthur. reaching
the depot Just as the northbound tram was
leaving the station, he sprang aboard,
and when the train reached Burlington
ran all the way to the hospital, but ne
was too late. His dear boy had been dead
10 minutes. He would have given much
had he known and stayed with him to the
end.
It was sad day when the body was
brought home. There was large funeral
The casket was piled high with beautiful
flowers, lilies and white roses, brought by
loving hands.
And to the heartbroken boy who was
to blame for all this sorrow the day was
the saddest and darkest of his life. lie
never for one moment forgot his friend.
He would have given his own life to bring
him back if it were possible.