The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-11-25

Before going to bed Caesar Alexander went
into his small yard, lifted a stick two OF
wood from the turkeys barrel and took
long and fond look at his prize. Suddenly
hand was laid on his shoulder, and he turned
with quaking knees, expecting to face the
village constable, but dark as it was he could
see that the hand belonged to gentleman Of
his own color, though one with whom he was
entirely unacquainted-"a kind Of old fash
Toned lookin' niger, he said when telling the
story afterward. Reassured to find that it
wasn't the law he had to confront, he put
considerable bravado into his voice as he said:
"Who are ye, anyhow; and what dye want
in genmans yard at night It's forenenst
the law to creep aroun' honest folks houses
on the sly that way
sCeesarl Caesar!' said the other, without
appearing IN the least intimidated; II am one
Of yer ancestors, from way back, and can't
come to yer in daytime because I've been dead
long time
Here Csessr's teeth chartered and his legs
gave way under him.
"Brace upl" said the ancestor, slapping him
on the shoulder. brace upi I'm here for
yer good, not for yer harm. 1 want ye to
kerry that turkey back. Ye've done some
thing to disgrace the name of Shakewell and
won't stand it The constable viii be down
onto We tomorrow mornin fore o'clock if ye
don't. an theren be neighborhood scandal
about this bird that'u make the whole race o.
Shakewells shake in their graves. Caesarl
for the sake of your proud and honorable ain
cestors take that bird back, and tomorrow
take yer gun and go to the woods and git one
o. the turkeys Nv yer fathers-an' its bird
that no Niger ought to turn up his nose at,
either
Here the "aincestor" shifted dslightedly at
something invisible, something in his msm-
ory apparently, and then went on:
Its bird dat no man owns; it's de true
Vahginiah turkey. rTisn't feathered bird;
'tisnt fowl at all 1t wears fur, an has
fifty teeth, bristly tongue, long prehensi-
BILE tail-you see, Caesar, yer Ancestor
had larnin'-and plantigrade feet, Cesar, it
has plantigrade feet"
s'tgh!" said Cesar, TOO dazed to utter an
intelhgible word.
The Aaincestor' continued: 1Its feet has
as many toes each foot a man, and
long, sharp claws on every toe 'cept its inside
one 1t uses dat as a thumb. It is marsupial
turkey, Cesar" Here the ancestor smiled at
the towering proportions OF hts own learning,
but presently talked on
NAlive it has an odor We can't mistake, an
roasted he smells better nor q flower garden
He's bird worth givin' thanks over. Now,
take dat ole, droopin, white folks turkey
git de 'possum. de 'riginal turkey OBJ old YAH
giniah, de turkey of yer fathers"-snd, lol the
ancestor vanished
Perspiring at every pore Cesar Alexander
shouldered the turkey and started toward
Col. Fairgrove's. just as he was about to
enter the yard, through the break In the
fence lIeF lousy EliLt.C Dy himself, ne 16lG
another hand laid ON bis shoulder with con-
siderable emphasis Fearing that another
and still more terrible ancestor was about to
have speech with him, he sank to the earth,
without daring to look around. Then the
hand grabbed him more firmly and gave him
a vigorous shake. He looked up appealingly
and confronted the constable. With groan
he tainted dead away.
@What ye groanin' and carrying on like an
animal fura" was the next thing he heard
The question was propounded in his wifes
most ungentle voice.
He opened his eyes slowly and in abject
fear, and found himself sitting by his own
fireside, the children in bed and Mrs. Shake
well standing by him with her hand on his
shoulder. He never was SO happy in his life.
Col Fairgrove's turkey was safe where it be-
longed; he had never stolen it, and he hadn't
met any dead and gone ancestor at all, only
in dreams Furthermore, he inwardly re
solved that he never would, if ancestors visits
only followed thefts-
The next day when be set of with his gun
he told Mrs. Shakewen that he would bring
home ..Vahginiah" turkey. And he did.
BE held it up with pride and JOY on bis re-
turn. and was rewarded by smile from THAT
execting lady.
The 'possum was eaten with gravy and
grace, and Mr.. Shakewelrs standing in thu
community remained uninpaired. As be
bent over his own fragrant thanksgiving
board he had more than usual cause for graft
tude. 4Vahginiah turkeys was good enough
fer my fathers, and good 'nough fer me-" be
often says; but though he sometimes tells Of
the encounter with his ancestor, be nevel
f&}s Of the cause 0 that worthy individNaft
vt to him MAX ELTON.