The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-11
MILTIADES PETERKIN PAUL.

1t was Thanksgiving night, and the clock In
the hall
Had struck ten ere Miltiades Peterkin Paul,
With exceeding reluctance, at length took
And bidding them all, for the third time,
good night,
Left the room-but delayed going straight
And crent slyly around the pantry instead.
" For" said he to himself, 81 may certainly
say
That didn't get half enough turkey to- day.
Then little Mlitiades Perterkin Paul,
With great labor, took down huge plate
which held all
That was left of the dinner; and, falling to
Very quickly had stuffed himself chuck full
of turkey;
So that when he got through-pray believe
lie was seven pounds heavier than when he
began!
"Ahl" Sighed he as he paused, az don't feel
right just here!
But then-Thanksgiving Day only comes
once year.
In his trundle bed, some hours later. that
Young NIiltiades suddenly started upright,
And beheld, looming up through the shad-
owy gloom,
A vast, ghOstly shape, that advanced cross
the room,
With q step just half way 'twixt step and
hobble,
While it uttered meanwhile a most horrible
gobble.
40, dear mep' gasped Miltiades Peterkin Paul,
=" If here amt "a turkey dozen feet tali!"
"Aye," the turkey began. with an unearthly
drawl,
" You are right, Sir NIitiades Peterkin Paul,
And, worse than all that, Pm the ghost, you
must know,
OF the one you devoured a short time ago.
You imagine, no doubt, tits very small
matter
To be killed. picked and roasted, and served
on IL platter.
Very well; you shall see how much fun there
is in it,
Twill transform you into turkey this min
utcp
Tho next instant, Miltiades Peterkin Paul
Almost persisted with fear, looking round,
saw that all
Had been suddenly changed by enchant-
ment, and he,
Was perGhed high on q bral.ch of q old or
chard tree,
With claws, tail and wattles, and feathers
full gown,
AS brave young turkey as ever was known.
And on opening his mouth, to cry out in a
futter,
A shrill, prolonged bob6le was all he could
utter.
Then little Miltiades Perterkin Paul
All at once saw John Henry Sack mount the
Directly beneath him-who cried out, "Aha!
You gobbled too soon, sir! see where you
you are!'
And who reaching far upward took firm
hold of him,
And pulled poor Miltiades down from the
limb
While the latter quite terrified, made ny en-
deavor
To fly, but, instead, gobbled louder than
ever.
And now sad fate seemed about to befall
Poor little Miltiades Peterkin Paul.
lie WAS taken around to the wood pile, and
there
His head laid on the block, and the ak raised
in the air.
And in one moment more its keen edge had
descended,
And our hero's young life had been then
and there ended
But that he with one desperate last effort
broke
The dread spell that bound him, and
straightway aaroke.
And little Miltiades Peterkin Paul
Found himself still in bed, while the family
all
(Who had hurried up stairs in response to
to his cries)
Were gathered about. He sat rubbing his
eyes,
And feeling to see if his head was still on.
" Ah!' he murmured, =" / thought it was GER
tainly gone.
Well, iii just tell you this; that, as sure as
I'm living,
One dinner'll be all shall ask next Thanks
giving!"
John Bro,cnjo,cn, in Vide A,cake.