The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-12-29
THE TURKEYS SAD MISTAKE.

20 LIE Il UhhE1' . SAD MlSIAhEs
The day after Thanksgiving young
Red Cap, the gobbler, called meeting.
1t was held back of the chicken house.
Red Cap sat on the fence, and acted as
chairman. Wiping his eyes with one
wing, he said: .....l.t.......
Dear turkeys, ducks and chickens,
we meet as a party of mourners. You
all remember that only one week ago
my father and mother were with us:
now they are gone One week ago
Dickey Daddles' handsome sisters were
here; now they are gone! One week
ago Speckle, the rooster. and Chuck,
Scratch and Cackle, three of his wives,
were with us; now they are gone! My
friends, why is this? You all know:
Thanksgiving dinner! The blow is ter
rible, but even in our sorrow we must
think of ourselves. Thanksgiving time
is bad, but Christmas time is worse.
Seven have disappeared from our happy
flock in week: who knows how soon
as many more may go? We must do
something to protect ourselves, or We
are lost .-. .r.. ....Er
Top Knot, the drake, arose. ....,
Il am not coward" he said, ''but
I agree with Red Cap. Something
must be done. Has any one anything
to propose? / should like to hear Moth
er Gray S views upon this subject"
Mother Gray was the oldest hen in
the yard. With a little cackle, she flew
to the top rail of the fence:
My dear companions, we have felt
the cruel hand of man among us. We
have seen two great boys come into our
house after dark with frightful Ian
tern, and seize and carry away our be
loved relatives by the legs while we all
squalled dismally. We have seen those
relatives no more; but from suspicious
feathers floating about the yard. and
from stains upon the chopping- block,
we may easily conclude what was their
cruel fate; they have been killed and
eaten. AS Mr.. Top Knot says, some
thing must be done. | can think OF but
one thing. My dear friends, if we do
not wish to be killed and eaten, as our
lost ones have been, we must flee to the
woods" a..#
Dickey Daddles, young and impu-
dent duckling, leaned toward Kenny
Penny, his companion, and whispered !:
"Old Mother Gray needn't flee. No
body II try to eat her; she's too
tough" ..4i - ...,.I
An ancient goose, the only one of the
flock remaining, heard this naughty
speech, and Kissed sharply. Dickey and
Henry chuckled together slyly. ..
Il am of the notion said Red Legs,
who was a son of old Speckle, the
rooster, "that Mother Gray advice is
good. But am also told by those who
have greater experience than myself
that Thanksgiving day having passed,
no greater danger comes until Christ
mas-time. Now if any one can tell
when Christmas-time is, | move that we
remain here in our comfortable quarters
until the day before, and then flee until
the hour of peril is past. If we 90 away
now, we may starve, or freeze to death,
or the foxes may catch rs; whereas if
we wait, our absence may be much
shorter and less dangerous
Good good ~ gobbled the turkey
from where he sat. II can tell when
Christmas-time comes, and l will give
you good warning. Let us decide to
remain until the last moment of safety,
and then disappear.
The hens cackled assent, and the
ducks Joined them, but Miss Goose
stepped daintily forward, and stretch
ing her long neck, said, in a kissing
tone:
MAY I ask my young friend how he
knows when Christmas-time comesp In
matter so important we can not be toe
particular" -......-
Red Cap raised his comb angrily, and
stared at Miss Goose.
age" he replied, in husky voice,
"is supposed to bring knowledge, and
l should therefore think my fair ques-
toner able to Judge for herself. How
ever, to quiet all doubts, will state
that overheard little Tommy up at the
house say that Christmas came on the
twenty-iifth of the mouth. am sure, u
he continued, triumphantly, "that nc
one can doubt as good authority as
| that" .. .# .... .....
There was a. general cry of agree.
ment, Henry Penny and Dickey Dad
dies shouting: "Put her out! put hel
out!' at the top of their voices, and
the meeting dispersed with the under
standing that they were to remain in
peace and quietness until warned by Rec
Cap, the gobbler, of the approach of the
fatal day, 3D.. I....
Time passed. The snow came and
covered the ground with its blanke
cold and white, and the wind howleC
| dismally. Night after night the fowls
gathered undisturbed in their cozN
house, and chuckled in low tones t
themselves that they were safely shell
tered, No one worried about the com
ng Christmas-time, for the gohble
knew the date, and would surely tel
them in season to escape .urifl ..sa
| One day---it was nearly a month afte
the time Of the meetings. great storm
| aroye, and the wild snow syyent :,