The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-09
Mother Graygobble's Children.


-Aory Kapes Dodge, IN ST. Nicholas.
Mother Graygobble's Children.
It was Sunday morning, and very
warm in the church; so warm, indeed,
that Jim, Deacon Calkins' eldest boy,
had opened the windows to let in the
cool air.
This was convenient for Mother
Graygobble, who with her brood of fine
young turkeys was taking lunch just
back of the church. For the minister
was SO loud-spoken man that Mother
Graygobble could hear every word of
the sermon without being obliged to 90
inside.
"Stop, children! Stop quarreling!
I want to hear what that man says"
Then Mother Graygobble listened
very intently, with her head close to
the ground, keeping her eye on fat
grasshopper, lest it should hop too far
away.
"Oh, obi" she exclaimed, minute
after, It's come! I knew it would.
That horrid thing. What shall I do?"
"Why, mother mother! what is the
NATTER" exclaimed all the children,
crowding around.
Matter? Matter enough! That
mans reading that dreadful thing
again. [ knew it was most time"
"Most time for what? What do you
mean?"
Time for Thanksgiving. And they'll
take you all, every one of you, Just as
they did last year"
whats Thanksgiving!
why it's when everybody's relations
go to see everybody, and they eat up
ali the turkeys, and they'll eat you up
eat you up!"
"Pshaw! don't believe word of it,
muttered young Greentan standing on
one foot and scratching his head with
the other. I'D like to see 'em eat me
up. They'd better catch me first"
Much you know about it, sir. Last
year / had just as nice family as
just as nice children as why, just as
nice as you are, every bit. Now, don't
be jealous, my dears, for you are just
as nice ashley were. And they went
and took every one Of 'em and put 'e1n
in coop, and fed em lots Of corn till
they got 'em as fat as-fat turkeys. Then
one morning they cut their heads off!
Dye hear that, Greentail? They'll cut
yours of, tool"
What do they do that for?"
why, they want you to eat. They'll
pick all your feathers out, every one OF
em, and they'll stuff you full of something
and then tie you up, and put you in a
hot place and roast you till you're
brown. Then they'll eat you, till they
can't eat any more. That's what Thanks
giving's for"
Il don't want my head cut eff" whim-
pered little Grayback. II don't want tc
be brown"
"Well, you can't help yourself, unless
L get you all away where they can't find
you. I'm not bit afraid Of their tax.
ing me- I'm too old and tough. But
you're young and tender. We must gel
away tonight, for they'll surely shut you
up tomorrow morning"
In the afternoon Mother Graygobble
and her eight children started across the
mowing-lot, back Of the barn, in the di
rection of the pine wood.
"Whither away, Mother Graygob
ble?" asked calf who was drinking al
the brook.
"I'm going to get my family away be
fore they are all killed for Thanks
giving"
Chats right, that's right" said the
calf
Where going, Mother Graygobble,
said young colt, who was eating al
early supper in the next field
I'm taking my children over to The
pine wood, to keep them there till aftel
Thanksgiving"
Il would, would" said the colt.
But when it began to grow dark thu
young Graygobbles wanted their sup
per.
"Tm going home; I'm hungry sale
young Greentail.
"Oh, my son, my son!" demonstrated
Mother Graygobble, IF you go you vii
, certainly be shut up. Do stay with us
Here is nice worm for you. Now
mind what say. [ know best"
"Gobble gobble! I don't want th
old worm. l want some corn, and Tn
: going home to get my supper. That
very foolish story. / don't believe
word of it"
Pm hungry, and want some corn,
} began all the rest.
So they all followed young Greentai
l as he strutted away. Mother Graygob
! bic Went, too, mourning her children
bad conduct and the sad fate that surel
! awaited them.
The next morning came and went, IN