St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-12-18
Crow For Thanksgiving.
A MAINE rARMER's ELECTION BET.

MAINE FARMER'S ELECTION BET.
speaking of Thanksgiving dinner -
said an old farmer, rs he lay back in
| his chair at the Falmouth hotel in
| Portland ''Fm in here on business,
but went my whole weight into our
turkey yesterday at home. Said | to
my wife, Give me room according to
my strength, and then | started in. |
had to make up for that crow dinner
in 1882, y0u see" ..-..
"Did you make meal off crow ~
| asked a gentleman. ....
81 did. You see my name is Plaisted {:
I'm no great relation to Harris NJ.
Plaisted that | know of, but liked
him, and when Rohie was nominated
| said to my boys: 'Go in make 'em
give you room according to your
strength | got excited at last and
finally | made II bet with my neighbor
Collins; agreed, if Plaisted didn't
get elected, that I'd take crow in
stead of "A turkey on Thanksgiving
day ; and Collins, he agreed to take
the crow if Robbie shouldn't be elected
1t was II fair bet, and I'm not the man
to back out. Robie was elected and |
knew I'd got to tackle that crow Blast
that crow, it makes me feel sick now
to even think of it. | lost many
meal thinking of that crow. | went to
our minister and told him the story,
and asked him if, in his opinion, |
should he justified in breaking my
word. All he would say-iie voted for
Robie-was, Make vows and keep
them, brother Plaisted,' and | saw that
| was in for it.
"We had revival in Our neighbor-
hood that fall, and my neighbor Col
lins was gathered in. When heard
of his being converted | felt good, be
cause | felt that he never would offer
crow to Il brother Christian. But
didn't know my brother Collins. He
was n saved man ! admit, Int that
fact didn't make him let up on that
crow. The night before Thanksgiving
| looked out and saw nGigllbor Collins
coming with something in his hand. |
ut once suspected what il was. said
to myself, There comes the crow but
| tried to meet my neighbor Collins
with :; smile
'''Here's your crow said he; its
the best crow of the flock ~
81 thanked him and took the crow.
My heart sank, hut my insides rose up
in equal proportions. Ii was good
crow, II first class crow, but, blast the
thing, it was IL crow, and that was all |
wanted to know about it, | dressed it
and had it cooked - .-..
-'Did you make a meal of it ?"
~ did. 1t wasn't u pleasant meal,
but got through with il after:awhile;
still it wasn't pleasant. After | got
through went out to hate myself
where had plenty of room to do it III,
and to throw up the crow
"Did you bet this year ?"
"No, and that's what makes me feel
so blue. Neighbor Collins was strong
Blaine man and | was II strong Cleve-
land man. Collius wanted TO bet. At
first he offered me crow for crow.
Then he got reckless and offered nae
odds. At one time lac offered to bet
me four crows 10 one, but it did not
move me. ! remembered 1852 and
that deviIish crow, aud so couldn't
bring myself To venture the bet. But
if | only had. Why | might have
had the pleasure of knowing that my
neighbOr Collins was eating crow
Thanksgi day, Christmas day,
New Years day, and one odd day
thrown in. Too had Too bad ~