Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-11-22
A THANKSGIVING DINNER THAT
FLEW AWAY.

gamer, year aIter year! SalU L, one
evening, as we were sitting on the lawn
before the door. '.Is it because he is a
kind of watchdog, and keeps trouble
some people away?'
"NO. child, no; do not wish to keep
most people away, not well-behaved
people. nor to distress nor annoy any
one. The fact is, there is a story about
that gander that do not like to speak
of to every One-something that makes
me feel tender toward him: so that if
he needs a whipping, I would rather do
else knows. You have heard me speak
of Nathaniel, my Oldest boy?"
"Yes."
'That is his picture in my room, You
know. loved Nathaniel can not
think how much l loved Nathaniel 1t
was on my account that he went away.
1.-THE farm did not produce enough
for us all. One year-that was ten
years ago-we were sued for our taxes.
Nathaniel said /, Il will take
boarders'
''Then he looked up to me and said
Ooh, how noble and handsome he ap-
peared to meD:
"'Mother, will 90 to sea-
"Wherea asked ], in surprise.
"I In coaster
"'You and John can manage the
place, he continued. 'One of the YES
sells sails next week-Uncle Aaron's; he
offers to take me-
''It seemed best, and he made prepa-
rations to 60.
1.-The spring before, Skipper Ben
you have met Skipper Ben--had given
me some goose eggs; he had brought
them from Canada, and said that they
were wild-goose eggs.
81 set them under hens. In four
weeks had three goslings, and one of
those goslings is that gander.
Skipper Ben came over to see me
the day before Nathaniel was to sail.
Aaron came with him.
81 said to Aaron:
"'What can l give to Nathaniel to
carry to sea with him to make him
think of home? Cake, preserves, ap-
pies? l haven't got much; have done
all l can for him, poor boy
Brother looked at me curiously,
and said:
"'Give him one of those wild geese
and we will fatten it on shipboard and
will have it for our Thanksgiving din
ner.'
"What brother Aaron said pleased
me. The young gander was noble
bird, the handsomest of the lot; and l
resolved to keep the geese to kill for
my my own use and to give him to Nathan.
1.-The next morning-it was late in
September-I took leave of Nathaniel.
l tried to be calm and cheerful and
hopeful. l watched him as he went
down the walk with the gander strug-
Cling under his arms. A stranger
would have laughed, but 1 did not feel
like laughing, although the boys who
went coasting were usually gone but
few months and came home hardy and
happy !.F w., ,,,,, 40 49, -. =, -
top he stopped and held up the gander.
He disappeared; yes, my own Nathan
lei disappeared. think of him now as
one who disappeared.
November came-it was a terrible
month on the coast that year. Storm
AOuOwCu StoEiu, Tic Scd-Iarlng people
talked constantly of wrecks and losses.
could not sleep on the nights of those
high winds. l used to lie awake think
ing over all the happy hours had lived
with Nathaniel.
Thanksgiving week came
1T was full of an Indian-s;lmmer
brightness after the long storms. The
nights were frosty, bright and calm.
Il could sleep on those calm nights.
lone morning thought 1 heard
strange sound in the woodland pasture.
It was like wild goose. l listened; it
was repeated. was lying in bed. Il
started up-I thought l had been dream
ing.
ION the night before Thanksgiving
/ went to bed early, being very tired.
The moon was full; the air was calm
and still. Twas thinking of Nathaniel,
and wondered if be would, indeed,
have the gander for his Thanksgiving
dinner; if it would be cooked as wei
O. would have cooked il, and if he
would think of me that day.
Il was just going to sleep, when sud-
denly heard q sound that made me
start up and hold my breath.
"sHonkn
II thought it was dream followed
by nervous shock.
s:Honk! konk!"