The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-11-19
THE MIKADO AT THE FEAST.

"Isn't he magnificent" said the visitor Z"
should think he would weigh nearly twenty
pounds. Oh, isn't he treasurer
The Mikado heard this remark and almos
I tainted with delight "Ah," he Thought, q.
was right in always believing mys8F Aan i'm
portant parsonage. hear It no& Vrom til.
lips of those who have heretofore Hretemlee
to be nv superiors.
what do you feed him mr. s,ksa thu
visitor.
Goat meal scalded in hot milky ard variou.
little dainties It's joy to see him eat"
At this the Mikado 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
"Oh, N.Y." thought the Mikado, won't that
be fine" l am to figure at wedding, to be
the great feature of the whole proceeding, it
seems l must order something nice to wear y
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
This was the day on which he was to receive
greater honors than ever, and he waddled
out, numbered by his excessive flesh, with
more arrogance than usual. He was little
surprised when the hired man grabb ID him
by the legs and suddenly inverted him. 1t
was an undignifed attitude for bird of his
plumage, to say the least; but he reflected
moment and concluded that it was but fit
ting, after all, for a creature of his distinc-
ton to be carried, and of course this awl1-
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-
tlons, 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, a sorry and humbled Mikado.
surely
In short time his very memory was for
gotten, or recalled only with sheer, 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.
after ALL" said one, 1--WE might have
known that such a sudden rise into affluence
could bode no good. Up like 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 a
dangerous thing to reach such eminencc as |
the Mikado enjoyed. Poor fool, he did eniov
it 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
astrays Still, he was good illustration of |
the truth of what l have been preaching
that If you persistently desire the best YOU
will get it. But the best, i'm his case. didn't
seem to be really good for him, after all. and
now the question arises: rs it good for any
of us! l must admit that l am somewhat
confused on this point, and, i'm spite of the
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 bis body
They actually called the day Thanksgiving
% grateful were they that he was gone. Per-
iaps they feared that i'm his excessive love Of