Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-30
$3.50 PER ANNUM, In ADVANCE,
A tale Of a Turkey.

some time since, walked into the Court
he thought he would examine whe,he
he was in time for business; and. feelin!
for his repeater, found it was not in hi
pocket.
'As usual, said he 20 friend who &C
companied him, as he passed through
| the crowd near the door--sAs usual,
have again left my watch a. home undel
my pillow
He went on the bench and though, nc
more OF il. The Court adjourned and
he returned home. As soon as he was
quietly seated in his parlor, he be,hough
him Of his time piece, and turning to his
wife, requested her to send for il 10 their
chamber. .....
But. my dear Judge said she, Il sen,
It to you three hours ago!'
"You didv'
'Unquestionably,' replied the lady,
'and by the person you seat for ii!'
The person sent for i!!' echoed the
Judge. a'=
Precisely, my. dear, the very person
you sent for it. You had not left home
more than an hour, when well-dressed
man knocked a, the Goor and asked TO
see me. He brought ona of the fines;
turKies ever saw; and said. that on your
way to Court you me, an Indian with a
number Of fowls, and having bought this
one, quite bargain, you had given him
couple of reals 10 bring it home, with
the request that would have it killed,
picked, and pu. to cool. as you intended
to invite your brother Judges to dish
o. molie with you tomorrow. And,
.Oh! by the way, Senorita,' said he, 'his
Exeellency, the Judge. requested me to
ask you to give yourself the trouble to go
to your chamber and take his watch from
under the pillow, where he says he left
it, as usual, this morning, and send tito
him by me- And, Of course, mi quer-
lido. / did so.'
You did" said the Judge.
Certainly said the lady.
'WelI.' replied his Honor, .all can
say to you, my dear, is, that you are as
great goose as the bird is turkey
You've been robbed madam; the man
was thief; | never sent for my watch;
you've been imposed on-and, as nee
essary consequence, the confounded
watch lost forever!' # A-
The trick was a cunning one; and af-
ter laugh, and the restoration of the
Judges good humor by a good dinner, j.
was resolved acu'ely to have the turkey
for to-mor:ow's dinner, and his Honor's
brothers of the bench be invited to enjoy
SO dear morsel.
Accordingly, otter the adjournment. Of
Court next day, they all repaired to his
dwelling. with appstiles sharpenod by
the expectation of rare repast.
Scarcely had they entered the sala and
exchanged the ordinary saluta,ions to his
Honor upon The recovery of the stolen
watch!
How happy am L. exclaimed she,
that the villain has been apprehended!'
'Apprehended!' said the Judge, with
surprise,
Yes; and doubtless convicted, too, by
this time, eaid his wife.
You are always talking Riddles re-
piled he. Explain yourself, my dear.
! know nothing Of thief, watch, or con-
viclion.'
II can't be possible that have been
again deceived quo.h the lady; but this
is the story:
about one o'clock to-day. pale. and
rather interesting young gentleman,
dressed in a seedy suit of black. came
to the house in great hasie-almost out
Of breath. He said that he was Just
from the Court--.ihat he was one of the
clerks; tina. the great villain who had the
audacity to steal your Honor's watch,
had just been arrested; that the evidence
was nearly sufficient TO convic, him
and all that was required 10 complete it
was the tnrkey,' which must oe brought
into Court, and for tha, he had been sent
with porter by your express ORDERS
And you gave it to him!
Of course l did--who could have
doubted him, or resisted the orders of a
Judge"
'Watch-and turkey-both gone
pray, what are we to do for dinner!"