Daniel Eitzen (1874-1924), older brother of my paternal grandmother, lived with his parents, Johann & Helena (Eitzen) Eitzen in Suvorovka, Orenburg. Daniel loved to hunt and fish, and he often brought fish for his siblings and their families to enjoy. In the winter he hunted rabbits and had many stories to share from his hunting episodes.

     One morning as he passed his vegetable garden on his way into the field, a rabbit unexpectedly jumped in front of him. Daniel raised his rifle and fired a shot at the rabbit but missed. It appeared that the rabbit had been stunned by the blast and stopped dead. Daniel lifted him up by his ears, and seeing no visible trace of a gunshot wound, took his watch and chain and tied it around its legs and put the rabbit down so that he could shoot him. It was his philosophy that a rabbit could not be caught unless it was shot. Before Daniel could fire the fatal shot, the rabbit aroused from its stupor and hopped away, dragging the watch and chain. From that day onward, Daniel was the subject of much teasing and laughter from his family and friends.