The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
FOR TIE YOUNG FOLKS
A Thanksgiving Dinner and How Il
Flew Away.
by FL. Butteruorh.1
q Honktv

spun around like top looking nervously
in every direction. | was sazT iaT with that
sound / had heard it before during two sum-
mer vacations, at the old farmhouse on the
Cape
1t had been a terror to me- always put
door, fence, or stone wall between me and
that sound as speedily Is possible.
/ had just come down from the city to the
Cape for my third summer 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 a long meadow in front of it. In the
meadow were two great oaks and some clusters
of lilaes. An old, messy 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 resplen-
dent with white sails and specks of boats. Be
yond it rose Martha's Vineyard, green and cool
and bowery, and at its wharf lay a steamer.
i was as 1 said, light-hearted. was think
ing of rides over the sandy roads at the close of
the long, brigAt days; of excursions on the
bay; of clam-bak and picnics.
/ was hungry; and before me rose visions of
Aunt Targood's fish dinners roast chickens,
berry pies. was thirsty; but ahead was the
old well-sweep, and, behind the cool lattice of
the dairy window, were pans of milk in abund-
ance
/ tripped on toward the door with light feet,
Juggling my bundles and beaded with perspira-
ton, but unmindful of all discomforts in the
thought of the bright days and good things in
store for me.
Honk honk."
My heart gave q bound
Hhere did that sound come from?
Out of cool cluster of innocent looking lilac
bushes, saw dark object cautiously moving.
1t seemed to have no head. l knew, however,
that it had head. I had seen it; it had seized
me once on the previous summer, and / had
been in terror of it during all the rest of the
season.
/ looked down into the irregular grass, and
saw the head and 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
it approached.
dropped all my bundles.
In few flying leaps l returned TO the road
again, and armed myself with a stick from
pile of cord-wood
"Honk honki honki"
It was a call of triumph. The head was
high IN the air now. My enemy moved grandly
forward, as became 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.
Henkl honk J bonk
The geese came out OF tic lilac bushes, bow
ing their heads to him in admiration. Then
came the goslings-a long procession of awk
ward, half-feathered things: they appeared
equally delighted.
The gander seemed TO be telling his admiring
audience all about it: how a strange girl with
many bundles 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 clapped his wings when ne had
finished his heroic story, and sent forth such
q honk!" as might have startled major
general
Then he with an air of great dignity and
GOODNESS, began to examine my baggage.
Among my effects were several pounds Of
chocolate caranlels, done up IN brown paper.
Aunt Targood liked caramels and had
| brought her large supply.
He tore off the wrappers quickly. Bit one.
1t was good. He began to distribute the
bon-bons among the geese, and they, with
much liberality and goodwill, among the gos-
lings.
This was too much Iventured through the
gate swinging my cord-wood stick.
"Shoo."
He dropped his head on the ground, and
drove it down the walk in lively waddie
| toward me.
"Shoo!"
1t was Aunt Targood's voice at the door.
| He stopped Immediately.
His head was in the air again.
| Shoe ~
Out came Aunt Targood with her broom
| She always corrected the gander with the
| broom. If / were to be whipped | should
| choose broom-not the stick.
! As soon as he beheld the broom he retired,
/ although with much offended pride and dig
| nifty, to the lilac bushes and the geese and
! goslings followed him.
| Hester, you dear child, come here. was
expecting you, and had been looking out for
| you, but missed sight of you. I had forgotten
| all about the gander."
We gathered up the bundles and the cara
mels / was light-hearted again.
How cool was the sitting-rooIn with the
! woodbine falling about the open windows
Aunt brought me pitcher of milk and some
/ strawberries; some bread and honey; and a
/ fan.
While was resting and taking my lunch, ]
could hear the gander discussing the affairs OF
the farm yard with the geese. Ibid not greatly
enjoy the discussion. His tone of voice was
| very proud, and he did not seem TO be speaking
| well of me. | was suspicious that he did not
think me a very brave girl. A young person
| likes to be spoken We'll OF even by the gander.
Aunt Targood's gander had been the terror
| of many well-Ineaning people, and Of some
vildoers; for many years. have seen tramps
and pack peddlers enter the gate and start on
towards the door, when there would sound
that ringing warning like awar-blast Honk
| honkl" and in a few minutes these unwel-
come people would be gone. Farmhouse
boarders from the city would sometimes enter
| the yard, thinking to draw water by the old
| well-sweep: in few minutes it was customary
to hear shrieks, and to see women and children
| flying over the walls, followed by air-rending
"honks ~ and jubilant cackles from the vic
torious gander and his admiring family.
Aunt Targood sometimes took summer
boarders. Among those that remember was
Rev. Mr.. Bonney, a feryent-souled Methodist
preacher He put the gander to flight with
the cart whip, on the second day after his ar
rival, and seemingly to Aunt's great grief: but
he never was troubled by the feathered tyrant
again.
Young couples sometimes came to Father
Penney to be married and, one summer after
noon, there rode up to the gate very young
couple, whom we afterwards learned had run
away" or, rather, had attempted TO get mar
ried without their parents approval. The
young bridegroom hitched the horse and
helped from the carriage the gayly dressed
miss he expected to make his wife, They
started up the walk upon the run, as though
they expected to be followed, and haste va!
necessary to prevent the failure OF their plans
HonlSp