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

Before going to bed Caesar Alexander went
into his small yard. lifted stick or two Of
wood from the turkeys barrel and took .
long and fond look at his prize Suddenly .
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 unacquainted-"a kind OF old fash
toned lookin' niger" he said when telling the
story afterward Reassured to find that il
wasn't the law he had to confront, he put
considerable bravado into his voice as be said:
"Who are ye, anyhow; and what dye want
in gemman's yard at night It's forenenst
tho law to creep aroun' hClest folks houses
on the sly that way"
"Casari Caesarr said the other, without
appearing in the least intimidated; II am one
of yer ancestors, from way back, and can't
come to yer in daytime because I've been dead
a long time
Here Caesars teeth chartered and his legl
gave way under him.
"Brace up!" said the ancestor, Shaping him
on the shoulder. "Brace up! I'm here for
yer good, not for yer harm. / want ye to
kerry that turkey back. Ys've done some
thing to disgrace the name of Shakewell. and
I won't stand it, The constable will be down
onto We to- morrow mornin' fore o'clock il ye
don't, am there'll be a neighborhood scandal
about this bird that'l make the whole race o
Shakewells shake in their graves. Caesari
for the sake of your proud and honorable ain
cestors take that bird back, and tomorrow
take yer gun and 60 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,
eiUher.n
Here the "aincestor" shifted delightedly al
something invisible, something in his MEM
DRY apparently, and then went ON:
ats a bird dat no man owns; it's de true
'tin't a fowl at all. 1t wears fur, an has
fifty teeth, bristly tongue, a long prehensi-
BILE tail-you see, Caesar, yer Ancestor
had Farmland plantigrade feet, Caesar, il
has plantigrade feet"
aUghl" said Cesar, too dazed to utter an
Ineligible word.
The "aincestor' continued: ats feet has
long, sharp claws on every toe cept its inside
one 1t uses dat as a thumb. 1t Is a marsupid
turkey, Cesar" Here the ancestor smiled At
the towering proportions Of his own learning,
but presently talked on.
"Alive it has an odor ye can't mistake, an
roasted he smells better nor flower garden.
He's bird worth givin' thanks over. Now,
back to his yowner, and go out ter-morrah and
git de 'possum. de 'riginal turkey oh old YAH
giuiah, de turkey Of yer fathers"-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 band laid on bis 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
a vigorous shake. He looked up appealingly
and confronted the constable. With groan
he tainted dead away.
"What We groanin' and carrying on Ike an
animal furw was the next thing he heard.
The question was propounded in his wifss
most ungentle voice.
He opened his eyes slowly and in abject
fear, AID found himself sitting BY his own
well standing by him with her hand ON his
shoulder. He never was 20 happy in his LIE.
Col FairgroveS turkey was safe where 1t be-
longed; he bad never stolen it, and he hadnt
met any dead and gone ancestor at all, only
in dreams. Furthermore, he inwardly 10
solved that he never would, il ancestors visits
only followed thefts.
The next day when he set of with his gun
he told Mrs Shakewell that he would bring
home '.Vahginiah" turkey. And he did.
He held it up with pride and Joy on his to
turn. and was rewarded by smile from that
exacting lady.
The 'possum was eaten with gravy and
grace, and Mr.. ShAkewells standing In tho
community remained unimpoircd. A. b
bent over his own fragrant thanksgiving
board he had more than usual cause for gratf
tude sVahgiriah turkeys was good enough
fer my fathers, and good 'nough fer me, b
often says; but though he sometimes telb @
the encounter with his ancestor, b nsv0
tells Of the cause Of thsb worthy Individually
visit to him. NAx EL5uN,