UNCLE SAM 



they never could have Hved and grown there if they had 

 not been brooded and kept warm. Their mother had 

 snuggled her feathers over them and kept them cosy; 

 and, when she had needed a change and a rest, Uncle 

 Sam had cuddled them close under his body; for a 

 month is a long time to keep eggs from getting cold, and 

 it was only fair that he should take his turn. 



He was no shirk in his family life. He had chosen his 

 mate until death should part them; and whenever there 

 were eggs in the nest, he was as patient about brooding 

 them as she was; for did they not belong to both of them, 

 and did they not contain two fine young eagles in the 

 making? 



And never had they had finer children than the two 

 who that moment were opening hungry mouths and beg- 

 ging for food. In answer to their teasing, Uncle Sam 

 spread his great wings and took stately flight to the 

 lake. For he was a fisherman. When a fish came to 

 the surface, he would try to catch it in his strong claws, 

 so that he might have food to take back to his waiting 

 family. This was easy for him when the fish was 

 wounded or weak and had come to the surface to die; 

 but the quick fishes often escaped, because he was not 

 so skillful at this sort of fishing as the osprey. 



Yes, the osprey was a wonderful fisherman, who could 

 snatch a fish from the water in his sure claws. But for all 



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