The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-11-19

isn't he magnificent said the visitor. II
should think he would weigh nearly twenty
pounds. Oh, isn't he a treasurer
The Mikado heard this remark and almost
tainted with delight. "Ah," he thought, II
was right in always believing myself an i'm
portant parsonage. hearit now from the
lips of those who have heretofore pretended
to be my superiors-"
"What do you feed him onl" asked the
visitor.
"Oat meal scalded in hot milk and various
little dainties. It's a Joy to see him eat"
At this tie Mikado felt himself bursting
with pride.
MY daughter is to be married on Thanks
giving day, and he is TO be the great feature
of the table," said the hostess.
"Ob, N.Y." thought tho Mikado, "won't that
&c finep am to figure at a wedding, to be
the great feature of the whole proceeding, it
seems. i must order something nice to wear.n
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 domineerng every
hour, and the other fowls became more and
more cast down.
On Thanksgiving morning his doors we're
opened and he was invited to icome forth
greater honors than ever, and he waddled
out, numbered by his excessive flesh, with
more arrogance than usual He was little
surprised when the hired man grabbed him
blythe legs, and suddenly inverted him. 1t
was an undignified attitude for a bird OF his
plumage, tic say the least: but he reflected
moment and concluded that it was but fit
ting, after all, for creature of his distinc-
ton TO be carried, and Of course this awk-
ward fellow didn't know how to carry him
gracefully or even comfortably. N..
He had no time to frame other thoughts,
for in moment more the hired man had as
sassnated him, and his head was lying on
one side of the chopping block and his body
ON the other. #t
His late envious associates ran i'm all direc-
tions, chilled with horror, nor were they seen
again that day. He graced the feast, to be
sure; he was 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 ia 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 buinbled Mikado,
surely.
In n short time his very memory was for
gotten or recalled only with sheer, or to be
cited as an example of what conceit will bring
any one TO.
The day after Thanksgiving there was a
little talk over his head and his bones, which
were found in q ditch by his despiscd COM
rades. His fate was lesson to them.
"After ALL" said one, 1--WE might have
known that such sudden rise into afiiuence
could bode no good. Up like rocket and
down like stick, you know"
"Do you remember my words" said the
cat, who came strolling along, bullying in
body more than usual from having enjoyed
extraordinary Thanksgiving blessings. ~
told you to envy no one; that il was q
dangerous thing to reach such eminence as
the Mikado enjoyed. Poor fool, he did enjoy |
it while it lasted"
"Conld it be" said the young turkey with |
the eyeglasses and taste for metaphysics, |
"could II be that my doctrines led him |
astrayl Still, he was good illustration of |
the truth OF what 1 have been preaching |
that il 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 us9 ! must admit that j am somewhat
confused on this point, and, in spite OF the
grave faults CT character, lament
the tragedy i'm which Inc was the victim. For
some reason, his death was the occasion of
general rejoicing i'm the house, and have
even picked up word here and there which
goes to show that the people who werc the
cause of his death gave thanks over bis body.
They actually called the day Thanksgiving
70 grateful were they that he was gone. Per-
baps they feared that In his excessive love of |