Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-11-26

isn't he magnificent" said the visitor. ~
should think he would weigh nearly twenty
pounds Oh, isn't he "A treasurer
The Mikado heard this remark and almost
tainted with delight. All" he thought, Il
was right in always believing myself an inn
portant parsonage hear it now from the
lils of those who have heretofore pretended
to be my superiors."
"What do you feed him onf asked the
visitor
"Oat meal scalded in hot milk and various
little dainties It's a joy to see him eat
At this tine Mkado 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.
sob, my thought the Mikado won't that
he fine.' ! am to figure at wedding, to he
the great feature of the whole proceeding, it
seems | must order something nice to wear"
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 domineering every
hour, and the other fowls became more and
more cast down.
On Thanksgiving morning his doors were
opened and he was invited to come forth.
greater honors than ever, and he wadded
out, numbered 10y his excessive flesh, with
more arrogance than usual He was little
surprised when the hired man grabbed him
by the legs and suddenly inverted him 1t
was an undignified attitude for a bird of his
pumage, to say the least; but he reflected a
moment and concluded that II was but fit
ting, after all for a 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 a 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-
tons 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 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, sorry and BUNDLED Mikado
surely.
In a short time his very memory was for
gotten, or recalled only with sheer, or to he
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
After ALL" said one, 1--WE might have
known that such sudden rise into atiluenCe
could bode no good Up like a rocket and
down like a 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 IL
told you to envy no one; that it was a
dangerous thing to reach such emnence as
the Mkado enjoyed, Poor fool, he did enjoy
il while it lasted"
"Could it be-" said the young turkey with
the eyeglasses and taste for metaphysics
"could it be that my doctrines led him
astrayi Still, he was good illustration OF
the truth of what | have been preaching
that il you pcrsistently 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 usi | must admit that | am somewhat
confused on this point, and, in spite of the
Mikados grave fau 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 word here and there which
goes to show that the people who were the
cause of his death gave thanks over his body.
They actually called the day Thanksgiving, ;
so grateful were they that he was gone Per
haps they feared that in his excessive love of