The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-01-24
THE TURKEYS SAD MISTAKE.

THE TURKEYS SAD MISTAKE.
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 a:
chairman. Wiping his eyes with one
wing, he said:
Dear turkeys, ducks and chickens,
we meet as party of mourners. You
ali remember that only one week age
my father and mother were with us
now they are gonei One week age
Dickey Daddlcs' handsome sisters were
here; now they are gone! One week
ago Speckle, the rooster, and Chuck,
Scratch and Cackle, three of his wives,
We're with us; now they are gone! NV
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. =
Top Knot, the drake, arose.
6 am not 8 coward" he said 'sbut
l agree with Red Cap. Something
must be done. Has any one anything
to proposeP | should like to hear Moth
er Gray's views upon this subject"
Mother Gray was the oldest hen in
the yard. With 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. NY dear friends, if we do
not wish to be killed and eaten, as our
lost ones have been, we must flee to the
woods
Diekey Daddles, young and impu-
dent duckling, leaned toward Henny
Penny, his companion, and whispered:
"Old Mother Gray needn't flee. No
body IL try to eat her: she's too
tough"
An ancient goose, the only one of the
flock remaining, heard this naughty
speech, and Kissed sharply. Dickey and
Henry chuckled together slvly.
g am of the notion.'' said Red Legs.
vxrh M q II n
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 fee until
the hour OF peril is past. If we go away
now, we may starve, or freeze to death,
or the foxes may catch Us; whereas if
we wait, our absence may be much
shorter and less dangerous.
GOOD good y gobbled the turkey
from where he sat. II can tell when
Christmas-time comes, and 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 kissing
tone:
May | ask my young friend how he
knows when Christmas-time comes ? In
a matter so important we can not be too
particular
Red Cap raised his comb angrily, and
stared at Miss Goose.
Age" he replied, in q husky voice.
sis supposed to bring knowledge, and
should therefore think my fair ques-
toner able to Judge for herself. How
ever, to quiet all doubts, I will state
that | overheard little Tommy up at the
house say that Christmas came on the
twenty-fifth of the month. I am sJ1re,''
he continued, triumphantly, "that no
one can doubt as good authority as
that"
There was general cry of agree
ment, Henry Penny and Dickey Dad
dies shouting: '.Put her outl put her
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 Red |
Cap, the gobbler, of the approach Of the
fatal day.
Time passed. The snow came and |
covered the ground with its blanket
cold and white, and the wind howled
dismally. Night after night the fowls
gathered undisturbed in their coy
house, and chuckled in low tones to i
themselves that they we're safely shell
tered. No one worried about the COM
ing Christmas time, for the gobbler
knew the date, and would surely tell
them In season to escape.
One day-it was nearly month after
The time OF the meeting great storm
arose, and the wild snow swept in
u y =