Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-11-20
THE slIKADo AT THE FEAST.

"Isn't he magnificent" said the visitor II
should think he would weigh nearly twenty
pounds. Oh, isn't he treasures"
The Mikado heard this remark and almost
tainted with delight. "Ah," he thought, II
was right i'll always believing myself an i'm
portant parsonage. hear it now from the
lips of those vino 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 a joy to see him eat"
At this the Mlsado felt himself bursting
with pride.
. cMy daughter is to be married on Thanks
giving day, and he is to be the great feature
OF tie table," sail the hostess.
"Oi. my" thought the Milsa1o, "yTo2't that
&c fine" am to figure 1T wedding, to be
tte great feature Of the whole proceeding, it
seems. l must order something rice to wear"
The cat on the fence post also heard, but
she only licked herirs and smiled knowingly
Tho DAYS went ON and the Mikado only
grew fatter and more donineering every
hour, and the other fowls became more ard
more cast down.
On Thanksgiving morning bis doors were
opened and he was invited to come forth.
Thi, was the day Oh which he was to receive
greater Eofiors than ever, and he waddled
out, numbered by his excessive flesh, with
more arrogance than usual lie was little
surprised when the hired man grabbed him
by the legs and suddenly inverted him. It
was an undignified attitude for a bird of Lis
plumage, to say the least; but he reflected e
moment and concluded that it was but fit
ting, after all, for q 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.
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-
lions, 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 to be arrayed in,
he appeared shorn of his feathers, with his
skin cruelty Drowned and his legs cut off at
the knees, q sorry and humbled Mikado,
surely.
Ina short time his very memory was for
gotten, or recalled only with sneer, 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 a ditch by his despised COM
rades His fate was lesson to them.
aAfter ALL" said one, 1--WE might have
known that such sudden rise into af1uence
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, bullying in
body more than usual from having enjoyed
extraordinary Thanksgiving blessings. II
told you to envy no one; that it was
dangerous thing to reach such eminence as
the Mikado enjoyed. Poor fool, he did enjoy
it while it lasted"
SCould it be-" said the young turkey with
the eyeglasses and taste for metaphysics,
scould it be that my doctrines led him
astraya Still, he was good illustration of
the truth of what / 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 usa I must admit that l am somewhat
confused on this point, and, in spite of the
Mikados grave fan IS 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 / have
even picked up a word here and there which
goes to show that the people who were the
cause Of his death gave thanks over bis body.
T6ey actually called the day Thanksgiving
20 grateful were they that he was gone. Per-
haps they feared that in his excessive love Of