Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

     An ingenious Minnesota youth is to be credited with a novelty in the way of duck hunting. He lives at a beautiful spot known as Rice lake, from the wild rice growing on its margin as thick as wheat in a field. Ducks love this rice, and when they have partaken of a sufficient quantity their flesh becomes of a nature to tempt the palate of an anchorite. But the Rice Lake Ducks, either from experience, or an instinct which may be said to be wisdom intensified, do not like human company, and when they see a hunter approaching, generally hasten out of gunshot range. Dick, the youth before alluded to, was particularly fond of ducks and looked with contempt upon the futile efforts of his sire to provide the table with this delicacy. He determined to have some ducks for dinner if it took all the morning to accomplish the task. Proceeding to the cornfield, he selected a large pumpkin, cut a hole in one end, removed its internal arrangements, carried it down to the shore, divested himself of his clothes, placed the pumpkin over his head, and waded in among the rice. In a short time the pioneer of a flock of ducks approached, and imagining the vegetable to be free from guile, encouraged the others to follow. They were partaking of their mututinal meal, when astonishment struck them at the sight of the pioneer suddenly diving-not that there is anything astonishing in a duck diving-but this one dived feet foremost, and neglected to come up. A committee of one was appointed to investigate, and approaching the pumpkin, suddenly made a backward dive and was gone. This was enough for the others. They fled in dismay, and thenceforth numbered as among their deadliest terrors the ingredient of New England pies.