"But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up
with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint."
(Isaiah 40:31)
American Eagle And Eaglets
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In a distant field, stood a large tulip tree, apparently of a century's growth,
and one of the most gigantic. It looked like the father of the surrounding forest.
A single tree of huge dimensions, standing all alone, is a sublime object. On
top of this tree, an old eagle, commonly called the "Fishing Eagle" had built
her nest every year, for many years, and undisturbed, had raised her young.
A remarkable place to choose, as she procured her food from the ocean, and
this tree stood full ten miles from the seashore. It had long been known as
the "Old Eagle Tree". On a warm, sunny day, the workmen were hoeing corn
in an adjoining field. At a certain hour of the day, the old eagle was known
to set off for the seaside, to gather food for her young.
As she this day returned with a large fish in her claws, the workmen surrounded
the tree, and by yelling and hooting and throwing stones, so scared the poor bird
that she dropped her fish, and they carried it off in triumph.
The men soon dispersed, but Joseph sat down under a bush near by, to watch,
and to bestow unavailing pity. The bird soon returned to her nest, without food.
The eaglets at once set up a cry for food, so shrill, so clear, and so clamorous
that the boy was greatly moved. The parent bird seemed to try to soothe them;
but their appetites were too keen, and it was all in vain.
She then perched herself on a limb near them, and looked down into the nest
in a manner that seemed to say, "I know not what to do next."
Her indecision was but momentary; again she poised herself, uttered one or two
sharp notes, as if telling them to "lie still," balanced her body, spread her wings,
and was away again to the sea. Joseph was determined to see the result.
His eye followed her till she grew small, smaller, a mere speck in the sky, and then
disappeared. What boy has not thus watched the flight of the bird of his country!
She was gone nearly two hours, about double her usual time for a voyage, when
she again returned, on a slow, weary wing, flying uncommonly low, in order
to have a heavier atmosphere, to sustain her, with another fish in her talons.
On nearing the field, she made a circuit round it, to see if her enemies were
again there. Finding the coast clear, she once more reached the tree, drooping,
faint, and weary, and evidently nearly exhausted. Again the eaglets set up
their cry, which was soon hushed by the distribution of a dinner, such as,
save the cooking, a king might admire.
"Glorious bird!" cried the boy, "what a spirit! Other birds can fly more swiftly,
others can sing more sweetly, others scream more loudly; but what other bird,
when persecuted and robbed, when weary, when discouraged, when so far from
the sea, would do this? Glorious bird! I will learn a lesson from thee today.
I will never forget, hereafter, that when the spirit is determined it can do
almost anything. Others would have drooped, and hung the head, and
mourned over the cruelty of man, and sighed over the wants of the
nestlings; but thou, by at once recovering loss, hast forgotten all.
I will learn of thee, noble bird! I will remember this. I will set my mark high.
I will try to do something, and to be something in the world;
I will never yield to discouragements."
"The Old Eagle Tree"
Selected from McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader
Copyright 1879 Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co.
Copyright 1896 by American Book Company.
Copyright 1907 and 1920 by H.H. Vail
Throughout the Holy Scriptures, the majestic eagle serves as a powerful reminder
of God's strength, protection, wisdom, and judgment, while providing profound
spiritual truths into the nature of God, and His relationship with those
who place their hope and trust in Him.
