TIMOTHY'S HAWK

The story deals only with a small episode in the life of a young boy. Timothy's father, who can never bear to stay in one place very long, has just moved his family to the country. The 9 year old boy resents having to shift his attachments, giving up the city life, and the shabby look of their house, but then discovers the friendliness of their new neighbors and is able to interest his parents in beautifying their own home. A goshawk has been stealing some of the local wild and pet life, and when the hawk tries to snitch Timothy's rabbit, the boy shoots it. Seeing the dead bird Timothy no longer hates it, but realizes that killing is a vital part of its nature, and, by extension, he realizes that much unpleasantness is necessary to normal life. The moral lacks impact because Timothy's misery is not shown with any strength. The author's appreciation of the Pennsylvania countryside, which was also used as the setting in Ada and the Wild Duck (1964, p. 5, J-5) is much in evidence; however aside from descriptions of hearty meals and garden flowers, local details are vague.