The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-05
A THANKSGIVING DINNER AND
HOW III FLEW AWAY
BY H. BUTTERWoRTH.

1Oilk
spun around like top, looking
nervously in every direction. | was
familiar with that sound | had
heard it before, during two summer
vacations, at the old farm house on
the Cape
1t had heen terror to me. al
ways put a door, a fence, or a stone
wall between me and that sound as
speedily as possible.
had just come down from the
city to the Cape for my third sum
mer vacation. ! had left the cars
with my arms full of bundles, and
hurried toward Aunt Targood's.
The cottage stood in from the
road. There was long meadow in
front Of it. In the meadow We're
two great oaks and some clusters of
lilacs. An old, mossy stone wall
protected the grounds from the road,
and long walk ran from the old
wooden gate to the door.
1t was a sunny day, and my heart
was light. The orioles were flaming
in the old orchards the bobolinks
were tossing themselves about in the
long meadows Of timothy, daisies
and patches of clover. There was a
scent of new mown hay in the air.
In the distance lay the bay, calm
and resplendent, with white sails
and specls of boats. Beyond it rose
Martha's Vineyard, green and cool
and bowery, and at its wharf lay a
steamer.
| was, as | said, light hearted. |
was thinking of rides over the sandy
roads at the close of the long, bright
days; of excursions on the, bay of
clam bakes and picnics.
| was hungry; and before me rose
visions of Aunt Targood's fish din
ners, roast chickens and berry pies.
| was thirsty; but ahead was the old
well sweep, and behind, the cool lat
tice of the dairy window, were pans
of milk in abundance.
| tripped on toward the door with
light feet, Juggling my bundles and
beaded with perspiration, but un-
mindful of all discomforts in the
thought of the bright days and good
things in store for me.
'Honk honkn
My heart gave a bound.
Where did the sound come from ?
Out of cool cluster of innocent
looking lilac bushes, | saw a dark
object cautiously moving. 1t SEEM
ed 10 have no head. | knew, how
ever. that it had head. | had seen
it: it had seized me once on the pre-
vious summer. and | had been in
terror of it during all the rest of the
season.
| looked down into the long irreg-
ular grass. and saw the head and a
very long neck running along on the
ground, propelled by the dark body
like a snake running from ball. 1t
was coming toward me, and faster
and faster as itapproached.
| dropped all my bundles.
In few flying leaps returned to
the road again, and armed myself
with a stick from a pile of cord
wood.
'Honk honk honkr
Itwas a call of triumph. The head |
was high in the air now. My ene-
my moved grandly forward, as be-
came the monarch of the great !
meadow farmyard.
l stood with beating heart, after
my retreat.
1t was Aunt Targood's gander.
How he enjoyed his triumph. and
how small and cowardly he made me /
feel.
'Honk honk honk =
The geese came out of the lilac
bushes, bowing their heads to him
in admiration. Then came the gos-
lings-a long procession OF awkward,
half feathered things; they appear
ed equally delighted.
The gander seemed to be telling
his admiring audience all about it
how a strange girl with many bum
dies had attempted to cross the
yard: how he had driven her back,
and had captured her bundles, and
now was monarch of the field. He |
his wings when he had fin
ished his heroic story, and sent forth !