The Red Cloud chief., 1888-04-06
GEESE AS PROPHETS
stupid Hirds That Know Moro Than the
signal Service Department

stupid Bird~ That Know More THAI thu
signal Service Department
MAY be you have often noticed"
said a dealer in feathers. ''that some
farmers keep geese year in and year
cut. let them have the run If the farm.
and seem to show them all kinds OF
consideration. yet are always swearing
that they are the biggest nuisance that
it could be possible to nave around. II
you have noticed that popularity in
tho daily rounds of the husbandman,
you have doubtless also wondered why
in b.azes the farmer kept such nuis-
ances around his premises. 1 used to
wonder why it was myself. but l never
found out the reason until one day last
summer. was ont on Il Jersey farm
spending my vacation. The farmer had
a big NOch OF geese. and he was eter-
nally throwing the most hefty kind of
Jersey cuss words at them. One day l
sat on the farmers piazza talking with
him. The geese were piacidly crop
ping grass down along the road. \
great big gandcr leading them on.
Peace. tranquility and contentment
spoke in every movement the lawn-dc.
stroying bipeds made.
There wasn't 4 cloud i'm the skv.
The farmers men were working with.
out much apparent vim at rakins and
loading hay down in a meadow not far
away. Suddenly the old gander poked
up his head. gave voice 10 a peculiar
squawk. lifted his wings and started Oft
Oh a run as fast rs his big web feet
would let him go. All the geese poked
up their necks at the sound of the
gander'> voice. lifted their wings and
vita 4 chorus of noises that only 4
flock of geese a produce. started
after the gander As tight as they could
waddle. The gandcr ran twenty yards,
perhaps and then. with Il wild Shrek,
he took wing and few in the direction
Of a pOnl 4 short distance from the
road. The geese raised and flew after
him. film. the air with Notwithstanding
cries. Gander and geese alighted in
the pond. where they all gathered in y
bunch. held consultation or congratu.
la:ory confab in 4 subdued chorus of
cackies and went through all sorts OF
maneuve on the pond for a time.
when they separated and swan about
as placidly rs they had been feeding !
few minutes before.
lat the first movement of the gandcr
when he broke the tranquility of tho
feeding flock. my friend. the farmer.
arose quickly to his feet. and rs he
turned toward the meadow. said:
There's them dingei hayin' hands
workin' rs if they had all the rest o
the year to get tina. hay in. an here
we're goin' to be ketched in a tearin'
old shower in less'n an hour, or else
their hain't no use in keepin' geese
The farmer hurried down to the
meadow. spurred up the men, and lent
a hearty hand himself at the hay. Be-
fore many minutes had passed l saw
clouds banking themselves in tho hor-
lion. and presently the mutter of dis
tant thunder was heard among them.
The farmer was right. In an hours
time one of the hardest thundcrstorms
l yer saw was raging over that part 1T
New Jersey. and it caught the last load
Of tho old mans hay in transit. After
supper that night l questioned my host
on the geese. and found tina: the reason
he kept them was 10 keep him posted
on the weather.
"'They hain't failed me yet
lie said. When I Git up in the mornin'
an see them geese out OF the pond
:.-divin' an a-drcssin' down their featl-
crs as if they was :ct:in' ready to 90 to
some party or other. l know that we're
sure Of clear. warm. dry weather. an I
make my cafe lationS 'corIin'ly. nthcy
hain't a-dreSsin' of themselves muc!,.
bit act kinder as if it wasn't to much
account a-sprucing UP. then keep my
eye on EN-. That 4 warnin' that we're
in danger Of a spell o weather. If tho
geese quits the pond an don't 20 back
much through the day. l know that the
danger holds. an l git ready for 4 set
rain OF a day or SO. If they feed along
awhile and waddle back to the pond
kinder clipper like. and 60 TO dressin'
themselves and divin' then I'M pooty
sartin' that they won't be no set rain
commcncin' thai day. If the &c Sc gifts
up all of a student an tears around
like you see 'em This afternoon. then
there's Il shower comm. an it's
a-cOmin' fast, &c kin bet."-N. I. Sun.
AMIN OE AMERICA.