The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-03
it very soon learned to know that
"peterp ,neopt "A Spp,n,oru IL. r,,,l

"Peter" meant a asummons to his meal.
Its the knowin'est cretur," ex-
claimed smiling Miss Clorinda who re-
! ally sometimes forgot her aches in the
antics OF her pet. Every night Peter
was taken into the kitchen for fear of
rats or weasels, till at last it was big
enough to leave the coop and perch
on beam iii wood-house at might.
And never chicken grew so fat. 1t
would patter in at every meal, to be
fed out OF the sisters hands, and
would tlitup into Miss Clorinda's own
rocker and go to sleep on the cushion
after tea, with her full consent and
appreciation.
Meantime the squashes prospered.
Guess you'll have pies enough" !"
laughed CIorinda, whose interest in
the chicken and garden had kept her in
the open afr more than she had ever
been in her life before.
"Well if they ripenup good, lean sell
EN- to the tavern. Miss Emerson
she's agoin' to have them railroad
folks, engineers, you know, to board
this winter, and she's bespoke all can
let her hev; and Clorinda, there ain t
one among all her Bramys that can
hold candle to Peter. Ihefted the big
gest on EN- last week, and they want
no ways to be compared with him"
"Do tell! Well, we'vecosseted him up
so! He's eet and eet all he could swal-
Ter, and it would be strange ifhe didn't
grow some. don't see why he don't
hav no comb nor spurs. | thought
they always had EN-"
Land. he ain t nothing but chick" !"
However, even when summer passed
| by, and cool sweet autumn days set in,
when the big squashesla lay like golden
spheres on the grass and along by the
currant bushes, Peter made no show
ofhis proper crest and knightly append
ages. He was fat, lazy, happy; would
nestle in Miss Clorinda's lap like pet
cat, and follow Miss Joe all over the
house, with an attachment SO evident
the old lady more than.returned it,
But at last November came. The
Governors proclamation Was read
from the pulpit; four squashes were
stored on the upper pantry shelf;
thirty had been driven off in Mr..
Emerson's wagon to delight the souls
of hungry railroad workers with
abundant pies through the coming
| WllIIGl. anu III OOG pllISC Spo-
the result OF her horticultural labors
lay comfortably stored for some
time of need.
Monday came; the THANKSGIVING
squash was stewed and strained.
Tuesday came; the spieed currants
were FETCHED from the cellar and ex-
amined. They were not fermented at
all. At tea time Peter came coaxing
and pattering about for his sup
per, his eyes bright, and the late ap-
pearing comb fresh and red. He was
white aud plump and held his head on
one side and peered at them with q
| look OF demure fun.
Miss Joe looked at her sister, and
Miss Clorinda looked the other way.
A chicken ought, by all laws OF cook
cry, to be killed and dressed moro
than two or three days before it is
cooked; but Stafford custom was con.
tented to slaughter it's animal food
over night. If Peter was to be par
boiled next day, and set away to cool
before encrusting and baking, he must
be killed and picked tonight. Both
sisters knew it. They had thought
about it and dreaded it silently for a
week. This was the last minute for
action. Miss Joe looked at Peter
nesting against Clorinda's gown and
looking up, expeetant for u crumb.
II can't do it," said Miss Joe, loud
" and promptly. ~ can't and
won't. Eff you want chicken pie FOR
Thanksgivin', Clorinda, you can slar-
ter the cretur yourself. So there''
/. Miss Clorinda burst into tears.
"Josephy I'd Almost as lieves kill nd
eat you! don't care u cent for no
pie, but set by Peter like my eyes,
and ! couldn't no more eat him than
could you, as said afore.'
Miss Joe laughed, but the laugh
quavered. "Guess should be almost
too tough for you to eat, Clorinda;
but you've sot my mind to rest. I've
been a-thinkin' and a-tret tin in'ardly
quite spell about this matter
hated to give up your Thanksgivin'
dreadful, but / couldn't noway see
my way to kill Peter. Well have to
be thankful on squash pie and spiced
currants and fish cakes; but couldn't t
be thankful eatin' Peter, not if had
Fourth O. July cold collection along
with him."
"No, nor I nu.her, Joe; bless the
creeter, l couldn't stand it without
/ him, and ! think fish. cakes ars the
best OF vittles!"
The sisters slept the sleep, OF con-
tentment and got up in the morning
with sweet consciousness of impend.
ing evil forever removed.
But where was Peter? He did not
come to breakfast. He was not to be
found anywhere. For an hour they
hunted anxiously when just as Clor-
india was peering under her hand into
the dark corner of the wcodshed
where Joe had climbed over the pile to
inspect certain old boxes and barrels,
Peter flew right out into the inspecting
Josepha's face with q loud and exult.
ing, "Cut-cut-cut-cut-cut a. a-daeut!" and
the astounded and confounded WON.
an screamed out
"Clorinda Mills! for the lands sake
AS sure as you're born,. Peters laid
an egg"
This settled the matter. The sisters
had never kept chickens in their lives
before, and had taken 1t for granted
that Mrs. Emerson would not sci
them q hen, and, indeed, it was ar
oversight on the part of the good WON
an herself. But this unexpected de
velopment consoled Clorinda and JOE
for the weakness they had showr
about killing their pet. even for th.
solemn feast on Thanksgiving day
To have killed white Brahma pulle,
would have been the slaughter OF ths
goose with the golden egg over again
So Josepha went at the making ant
baking of her pies with joyful alacrity
and Clorinda had just laid the codtisl
on the table to flake and soak it fol
the dinner tomorrow, when the doc,
opened and Mr.. Hough. stumpins in