The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-12-01
Sclrtteo Storp.
The MikadO's Fate.

1t was about the ilrst OF November |
that the big turkey, the Mikado of the |
farmyard, was given house all to HIM
self and everybody waited upon him in
the most untiring manner. AT first he
was somewhat astonished at so marked |
change in his fortunes. Such extra
ordinary consideration as he now re-
ceived at everybody's hands amazed
him for time, but he soon settled it in
his mind entirely to his satisfaction.
/" Hol ho!' he said. " Hal hal They
have Just learned my worth. | have
always known was great genius with
brain as big as a wash-tub, and think
the other turkeys, poor insignificant
things, and the chickens, sorry crea-
lures, knew it also. AT least, they
have all shown a wholesome respect
for my power, but | must admit that
| have been slow to impress the people
with my importance. 1t has come at
last. however. See how they truckle to
me, kow-tow to me, supply my every
want almost before it is felt, and make
menials of themselves TO cater to my
pleasure
This he said to himself as he walked
bv himself. The other citizens OF the
farmyard looked at him with glowering
faces and the bitterness of evy in their
hearts. He had always tyTannized over
them, and they hated him with hatred
all the more deadly because it was con-
cealed under the mask OF respect.
A poor, Woodworking hen who had
brought up her family by the strictest
economy and most faithful industry,
and who had been robbed of her last
bite again and again by the heartless
Mikado, spoke her mind about it.
It's an outrage" she said, an out
rage on all decent fowls to see that
brute of Mikado in clover up to his
comb while the rest of us scratch from
morning till night merely to keep the
life in our bodies. Such things are rap
idly creating an aristocracy of sex. In
the future, when male and female are
both equal before the law, there will be
none Of this. But it's the way of the
world. and always has been. The basest
and least deserving get into power be-
cause they are so coarse that they can
ride right over any obstacle, having no
sensibilities to wound"
Here great swell of a cock, a mo-
nopolist of high degree, looked away
and pretended not to hear; but the
others looked attentively, sighed, and
dU1lllllCu llldt IL was lidll w IlSC III liit
world while such monsters as the
Mikado had the power to Cypress.
A middle-aged anarchist sputtered
around at a great rate; but as he had
always talked rather more than he
should they didn't give him the closest
attention. A fair and fat hen of good
one could expect nothing but coarse
n of raal1y low ,,oli
gree like the Mikado. For her part,
come what would she had the com
fortng knowledge that the blood of the
Brahmas flowed in her veins. Her
ancestors were Asatic kings. Then
she strutted around to show off her
figure, which really was perfect.
A young turkey, who was considered
something of crank because he wore
glasses, was greatly given to philosophy
and metaphysics, had gone so far as to
lecture little and was thinking of
starting IA newspaper, here piped out
" 1t is my opinion, friends, that we are
to blame for our lack of success. The
Mikado is merely carrying out the theo-
ries of the new school of Boston think
ers and the occultists of the East, which
he has dropped on, | verify believe
through my teaching. He has power
full will, and he has secretly and per-
sstently demanded the good things of
life and is getting them. The great
force, my friends, is mind. But while
we have been talking about it, he, like
the pirate he is, has grabbed the idea
and put it into operation"
An old and Opinionated cat that had
been apparently sleeping on a fence
ho1 ,uar1 To - v an
are very inexperienced creatures.
When you have lived as long as | have
(Which none of you are likely to do,
am sorry to say, for reasons it would be
indicate to mention) you will know
that what appears sometimes to be great
good fortune is really the greatest curse
that could befall us. | will not here
90 into particulars, but | will entreat
you not to be envious of the Mikado
This is a very dramatic world. The
man who is up to-day may be down to-
morrow. Envy no one. Perhaps YOU
hard lot is better thousand times fol
your souls good than the wealth of {
Gould or a Vanderbilt, or even the
Mikado. Ben. Franklin spoke wisely
when he said
He that is down need fear no fall,
He that is humble none at all"
Just then the Mikado, whose doors
had been opened by the beautiful
daughter of the house to give him az
hours walk in the sunshine, came nea
them with lordly gait, head erect anC
wings scraping the earth in overwhelm
ing pride. In spite of the cats sermon
on humility, in the face of the fact tina
they knew she spoke the truth, the,
felt shriveled and mean in the presenc,
of this petted and admired creature
He walked near them, smiled scorn
fully, and said;
Stand out of the way you creatures small
Stand out of the way of my shadow;
For am the king and boss of all,
OH am the great Mkado
And they stood out of his way, though
here and there was one who could no
refrain from shedding tears, SO deeI
was his humiliation.
The mistress of the house, accom-
panied by friend, just then appeared
on the other side of the fence, and thu
object of their attention seemed to b,
the Mikado.
Isn't he magnificent" said the Wis
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