The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-11-25

"Isn't he magnificent" said the visitor. "I
should think he would weigh nearly twenty
| pounds. Oh, isn't he a treasurer
| The AIikado heard this remark and almost
tainted with delight. "Ah," he thought, Il
was right in always believing myself an i'm
portant parsonage. hear it now from the
lips of those who have heretofore pretended
to be my superiors."
"What do you feed him on?" asked the
visitor.
'Oat meal scalded in hot milk and various
little dainties. It's joy to see him eat"
At this the Mikado felt himself bursting
with pride.
''AIy daughter is to be married on Thanks
giving day, and he is to be the great feature
of the table," said the hostess
ooh, N.Y." thought the Mikado, "won't that
be fines" am to figure at a wedding, to be
the great feature of the whole proceeding, it
seems. must order something nice to wear"
The cat on the fence post also heard, but
she only licked her lips and smiled knowingly.
The days went on and the Mikado only
grew fatter and more domineering every
hour, and the other fowls became more and
more cast down.
On Thanksgiving morning his doors were
opened and he was invited to come forth
This was the day which he was to receive
greater honors than ever, and he waddled
out, numbered by his excessive flesh, with
more arrogance than usual He was a little
surprised when the hired man grabbed him
by the legs and suddenly inverted him. 1t
was On undignified attitude for bird of his
plumage, to say the least; but he reflected
moment and concluded that it was but fit
ting, after all. for a creature of his distinc-
ton to be carried, and of course this awll-
ward fellow didn't know how to carry him
gracefully or even comfortably.
He had no time to frame other thoughts,
for in moment more the hired man had as
sassinated him, and his head was lying on
one side of the chopping block and his body
on the other.
His late envious associates ran in all direc-
tions, chilled with horror, nor were they seen
again that day. He graced the feast, to be
sure; he the great feature of it, but not
In the capacity he had so conceitedly antici-
pated Instead of the fine suit of fashionable
garments he had expected to be arrayed in,
he appeared shorn of his feathers with his
skin cruelty Drowned and his legs cut off at
the knees, a sorry and humbled Mikado,
surely
In q short time his very memory was for
gotten, or recalled only with a sneer, or to be
cited as an example of what conceit will bring
any one to.
The day after Thanksgiving there was q
little talk over his head and his bones, which
were found in a ditch by his despised COM
rades. His fate was a lesson to them.
"After ALL" said one, "we might have
known that such sudden rise into affluence
could bode no good Up like a rocket and
down like stick, you know"
"Do you remember my words" said the
cat, who came strolling along, bulging in
body more than usual from having enjoyed |
extraordinary Thanksgiving blessings. Il
told you to envy no one; that it was a
dangerous thing to reach such eminence as
the Mikado enjoyed. Poor fool, he did enjoy |
it while it lasted"
"Could it be-" said the young turkey with !
the eyeglasses and taste for metaphysics, |
"could it be that my doctrines led him
astray? Still, he was good illustration of |
the truth of what l have been preaching |
that if you persistently desire the best you |
will get it. But the best, In his case, didn't |
seem to be really good for him, after all, and !
now the question arises: Is it good for any
of usl l must admit that am somewhat |
confused on this point, and, in spite of the |
MilSados grave faults of character, lament |
the tragedy in which he was the victim. For |
some reason, his death was the occasion of |
general rejoicing in the house, and 1 have !
even picked up a word here and there which |
goes to show that the people who We're the |
cause of his death gave thanks over bis body. |
They actually called the day Thanksgiving !
so grateful were they that he was gone. Per-
haps they feared that in his excessive love of }