Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-11-20

DclOTe kOllE W Ucu NttShT AIcAduutT Wellt
into his small yard lifted stick or two of
wood from the turkeys barrel and took a
long and fond look at his prize. Suddenly a
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 unacuuaineed-"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 20, anyhow; and what dye want
in gemman's yard at nights It's foremost
the law to creep aroun' honest folks houses
on the sly that way"
Caesar! Casarl" said the other, without
appearing in the least inundated; 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 Casar's teeth chartered and his legs
gave way under him.
"Brace up!" said the ancestor, slapping him
on the shoulder. "Brace up! I'm here for
yer good, not for yer harm. l want We to
kerry that turkey back. we've done some
thing to disgrace the name of Shakcwell, and
won't stand it. The constable will be down
onto We tomorrow mornin' fore O'clock If ye
DON'T an therell be a neighborhood scandal
about this bird that'll make the whole race o.
Shakewells shake in their graves CRsarl
for the sake of your proud and honorable aim
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 delightedly at
something invisible, something in his MEM
| DRY apparently, and then went on:
| ats O bird datno man owns; it's de true
Vahginiah turkey Tisn't feathered bird ;
| 'tisnt q fowl at all. 1t wears fur, an has
fifty teeth, a bristly tongue, long prehcnsi-
BILE tail-you see, Cesar, yer Ancestor
had larhia'-and plantigiade feet, Caesar, ii
"Ughl" said Caesar, too dazed to utter an
ineligible word. ~ \
The "aincestor" continued ats feet has
| as many toes on each foot as a man. and
long, sharp claws on.every toe 'cept its inside
one. Ituses dat as thumb. 1t is a marsupial
turkey, Caesar" Here the ancestor smiled at
| the towering proportions of his own learning,
4 but presently talked on -
"Alive it has an odor we can't mistake, an
roasted he smells better nor a flower garden.
He's a bird worth givin' thanks over Now,
| take dat ole, droopin', white folks turkey
back to his Eowner, and go out ter-fiorrah and
| git de possum. de 'riginal turkey oh old YAH
| giniah de turkey of yer fathersn-and, 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 previously made by himself, he felt
/ another hand laid on his 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
vigorous shake. He looked up appealingly
and confronted the constable. With groan
he tainted dead away.
"What We groanin' and carrying on like an
animal furl" was the next thing he heard.
The question was propounded in his wife's
most ungentle voice.
He opened his eyes slowly and in abiect
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 luis life.
Col FairgroYe'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 visit;
only followed thefts.
The next day when he set off with his gun
he told Mrs. Shakewell that he would bring
home a ''Vahginiah" turkey. And he did,
He held it up with pride and Joy on his re
turn, and was rewarded by a smile from that
exacting lady.
The 'possum was eaten with gravy and
grace, and Mr.. Shakewelrs standing in the
community remained unimpaired. As h
bent over his own fragrant thanksgiving
board be bad more than usual cause for graft
tude. @vahginiah turkeys was good enough
fer my fathers, and good 'nough fer me" b
often says; but though he sometimes tells Of
the encounter with his ancestor, be nevel
tells Of the cause Of that wo~thy individuall
visit to him. MAX ELTON.