The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-05-04
COT THE EGGS FRESH
They Were Turtle Eggs end
Agassiz Wanted Them.
A WILD RACE AGAINST TIME.

TIE Professor Had to Have the Eggs
R.fars They We're Three Hours Old,
and This Is the Story of How the
tiuntcr Made Good His Promise.
When Professor Louis Agassiz was
writing Il book on the turtles OF the
United States 1t became necessary for
him to have some fresh turtle eggs.
He engaged Mr.. jerks Of Middleboro,
about forty miles from Cambridge 10
ret them for him. Mr. jerks promised
that the eggs should be- III Agassiz's
hands before they were three hours
old Mr. jerks. who told the tale 10
II writer in the Atlantic Monthly. had
to wait by II certain pond for the tur-
Ties to come out and lay their eggs in
the sand Finally. after weeks of
waiting. one morning abeut o'clock
turtle crawled up the beach. partly
buried herself in the soft sand and
laid her eggs Mr.. jerks went on 10
say:
As she did so the distant clock struck
H. There was no train ill after 8, and
the eggs must be in Cambridge in
three hours.
laid the eggs on Il bed OF sand In
the bottom of my pail. filled in be
tween them with more sand. so with
another layer to the rim. and. covering
all over smoothly with more sand.
ran back for my horse He knew as
well as | that the turtle had laid and
that he was TO get those eggs 10 Agas
sz
let him out shouted 10 him
holding To the dashcr with one hand.
the pail of eggs with the other, not
daring to get Off my knees although
the bang on them as we pounded down
the wood road was terrific We had
nearly covered the distance 10 the pike
when ahead of me | heard the sharp
whistle of locomotive.
With n pull that lifted the horse
from his feet | swung him into field
and sent him straight as IN arrow
for the track.
BY some stroke of luck | got on the
track and backed Off before the train
hit my carriage Bu, the mancuver
was successful. for the engineer stop
ped, and | swung uboard the cab-hat
less, dew soaked. smeared with yellow
mud and holding MS II II were n baby
or n bomb a little tin pail OF sand
Throw her wide open | command
ed-"widc open! These are fresh tur
tie eggs for Professor Agassiz of Cam
hnf
breakfast"
The engineer and the fireman ne
doubt thought that was crazy. hui
they let mo alone. and the fast freight
rolled in swiftly to Boston
But misfortune WAS ahead We
to stop. We were put on u siding
TO wait no one knew how long
suddenly Jumped from the engine
slid over n high fence and bolted for
the street In the empty square stood
cab.
The eabfaan saw me coming
waved do,lar nj him and then an
other, lodged into the eab. slammed
the door and called out. Cambridge
Harvard college. Professor AgaSsiz' )
house. I've got eggs for Agassiz, and
pushed another dollar up nj him
through the hole.
Let him eo,' | ordered Here's an
other dollar for you If You make Agas.
siZ's house in twenty minutes
We flew 10 Cambridge There was
sudden lurch. and ! divcd forward
rammed my head into the front of the
cab and came up with II rebound that
landed me across the small of my
back ON the seat and sent half of my
pail of eggs helter SHELTER over the
floor. But we were III AgaSsiz's house
| tumbled out and pounded the door
"Agassiz" ! gaSped when the maid
came u want Professor Agassiz,
quick"
She protested that he WAS in bed
and threatened the police But just
then door overhead was tluur open. II
great, white robcd figure appeared ON
the dim landing above. aud i quick.
loud voice called eXcitcdly:
let him in, Let him in know
Linn, He has my turtle eggs
And the apparitiou, slipperless ana
clad in anything but an academic
gown, came sailing DOWNSTAIRS The
great man. his arms extended. laid
hoIu OF me with both hands and, drag
ging me ana my precious pail Into his
study. With Il swift. clean stroke laid
open one t.: the eggs as the watch In
my trembling hands licked ITS way to
! as if nothing unusual We're hap
peninS in the history of the world