The Glenwood post., 1923-12-06
Uncle Ted's Bed Time Stories
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-ups, Too
THE GREAT AMERICAN EAGLE
SYMBOL OF OUR GovERNMEN.

1t had been a wonderful trip. Ruth,
Jack and Uncle Ted had been tramp
ing in the woods all day long. They
had gathered nuts, leaves and pretty
stones. Jack had found a rabbit with
broken leg, and Ruth little spar
row that had lost its way to the South
land. But the greatest sight of all was
when Uncle Ted, after climbing high
on some rocks had found the nest of
an eagle and called Ruth and Jack to
come as near as they dared to see this
wonderful bird at home.
Now that supper was over and the
kiddies were ready for bed Uncle Ted
was ready to tell them about the eagle,
for he had made this promise on the
way home that afternoon.
"That was sight you won It forget
for some time, wasn't it?" said Uncle
Ted.
"You bet it was, Uncle Ted,' re-
piled Jack ''I didn't know there
were any eagles around here and I
didn't know anything about the eagle
before"
''The American eagle, Jack,' said
Uncle Ted, "is the real symbol of
America. The eagle, like the United
States, is lover of peace but when
he finds it necessary to fight, look
out. He is never beaten. The Amer
lean eagle is probably more frequently
known by the name bald eagle. This
is because of the tuft of white feath-
ers on the top of his head giving the
impression fbaldness. While this won.
derful bird lives in practically every
section of North America, he is found
in the greatest numbers in Alaska
British Columbia, Washington and
some parts of Florida'' -
"How big are the eagles?' asked
Ruth.
"The bald eagle, Ruth, measure:
from to 3H feet long and its wing.
spread is from 6 to s feet, with 6
weight of from to IL pounds. TIL,
real young eagles are brown or black
but when they grow up they have thos'
wonderful feathers, giving thenf ;
body of dark brown, and head, necl
and tail of white.
GA great many people have thu
idea that the eagle is vicious bird
that he is always looking for a figh
and that he is dangerous to be near
The truth is that he does everythin;
he can to avoid fight. He ism ,
looking for trouble and when he see
any strange animal or person near h
stays away as far as he can. How
ever, if he must fight to protect hi
home or mate or both, he can figh
and fight we'll
We can learn several fine lesson
from this bird, the symbol of our gov
ernment. When our friend. the eagle
starts looking for home he flies owe
the land and when he sees q stream o
river he says: THAT is a fine loca
tree The eagle likes a real hig
tree, pine tpee if he can find one
near water. If he can't find a hig
tree then he looks for an opening i
the rocks at some high point. When
ever he finds place to his liking h
starts to build nest. And strong
He can carry piece of wood tina
weighs as much as he does for fiv
miles, easily, soaring to great height
in his flight.
CATER he gets his home built h
returns to it each year. Most bird
you know, get a new home each spring
but Mr.. Eagle is real homebody. H
appreciates the value of getting tn
right kind of home and sticking I
it. When he returns to his nest j
the spring, he Immediately starts wor
one there and maybe builds on an at
dition to make himself and famil
comfortable. Sometimes he builds o
so many rooms that the nest become
nearly 10 feet high and as big arount
He uses all kinds of sticks for hi
building material, grass, moss, weed
vines and even straw, and, when clos
enough to the ocean, seaweed.'
"What do the eagles live on?
asked Jack.
"Mostly fish. Jack. They can 81
on their high nests and dart dow
long distances upon swimming fisl
They have keen eye and seldom mis-
their dinner. But when fish cannt
be had they eat birds and even variou
kinds of ducks. However, the eag
has been known to feed on varior