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

Before going to bed Caesar Alexander went
into his small yard lifted stick OF two Of
wood from the turkeys barrel and took
long and fond look at his prize. Sudde2ly
hand was laid Oh 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
ioncd 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 he said:
"Who are We, anyhow; and what dye want
in Il gemman's yard at night? It's forenenst
the law to creep aroun' honest folks houses
on the sly that way"
Caesar! CRsar!" said the other, without
appearing in the least intimidated; II am one
of yer ancestors, from way back, and l can't
come to yer in daytime because I've been dead
long time"
Here Caesars teeth chartered and his legs
| gave way under him.
"Brace up!" said the ancestor, slapping him
OH 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 Shakewell and
| won't stand it. The constable will be down
onto yc to-E!orrowlnornin' fore o'clock if We
don't. an tIcrc'll be Il neighborhool scandal
about this bird that'll mako the whole race O
Shalsewclls shake in their graves. Caesar!
for the sake OF your proud and honorable aim
ccstors take that bird back, and to morrow
take yer gun and go to the woods and git one
O the turkeys NV yer fatheIs-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 men,
Dry apparently. and then went on:
Its bird dat 10 man owns; it's de true
Vahginiah turkey 'Tisn't feathcred bird;
tint fowl at all 1t wears fur, an has
i.ty teeth, a bristly tongue, a long prelicnsi-
bic tail-you see, Caesar, yer Ancestor
had larnin'-and plantigrade feet, Cesar, it
has plantigrade feet"
UGH" said Cesar, too dazed to utter an
Ineligible word
The "aincestor'' continued: Its feet has
many toes OH each foot as a man, and
long, sharp claws on every toe 'cept its inside
one 1t uses dat as a thumb. 1t i; Inalnupal
turkey, Cesar" Here the ancestor smiled at
the towering proportions of his own learning,
but presently talked on
Alive it has an odor We can't mistake, an
roasted he smells better nor a flower garden.
hes a bird worth givn' thanks over Now,
take dat OLE droopin', white folks turkey
back to his yowner, and go out ter-norrah and
git de 'rossum. de riginal turkey oh old YAH
f,l.!lail, &c turkey OF yer fathers and, 10. the
al @eStOr vanished.
Prrspiring at every pore Caesar Alexander
shouldertd the turkey and started toward
Col. Fa.1TOve'S. just as he was about to
enter the yard, through the break il the
fence previously made by himself, he iGlt
another hand laid on his shoulder with con-
siderable emphasis. Fearing that another
and sill i:iore t~rrible ancestor was about TO
have speech with him, he sank to the earth,
without daring to look around. Taca the
hand grabbed Linn more firmly and save lin
a vigorous shake. He looked up Gpt,;..!2sly
and confronted the constable Nl,a Il iyroan
he tainted dead away.
what We groanin and carrying on like an
animal fur." was the next thing he heard.
The question WAS propounded i'll bis vifes
most ungentle Voice
He opened his eyes slowly and III abject
ear, and found himself sitting by LIS own
ireside, the children in bed and lIrs Shake
we'll standing by hin with hcr hand on his
houlder. he never was SO Happy in bis life.
col. Fairgroves turkey was siic where it be-
onged; he had never stolen it, and he hadn't
net any dead and gone ancestor at all, only
n dreams. Furthermore, he inwardly re-
olved that he never would, if ancestors visits
My followed thcfts.
I he next day when he set off with his gun
e told Mrs. Shakewell that he would bring
one 'Vahginiah" turkey. And he did
Ie held it up with pride and Joy on his re-
urn, and was rewarded by a smile from that
xacting lady.
The 'possum was eaten with gravy and
race, and Mr.. Shakewells standing in the
remained urimpaiIed. As he
ent over his own fragrant thanksgiving
GARD he Lad more than usual cause FOR graft
lde. "Vahginiah turkeys was god enough
n my fathers, and good 'nough fer me-" be
item says; but though he sometimes tells of
lie encounter with his ancestor, he never
lis OF tie cause of that worthy individuals
Lit to him. MAX ELTON