Wichita eagle., 1888-12-01
A RURAL THANKSGIVING.
BENTLEY, Eagle township, Nov. 90.
To the Editor ~ tho

BENTLEY, Eagle township, Nov. 90.
To the Editor OF the EAGLE
Perhaps few events are of more import
to the average farmer than the annual
day Of Thanksgiving day of general
merry making and rest from the arduous
duty of corn husking. 1t is day looked
forward to by the young men and old
with about equal degrees Of anticipation
of the many good things and merry
romping jollity by the young folks and
the neighborly gossip. ghost stories and
pleasant "reminiscences by the older
heads. The average farmers son has
| little of interest in approaching Thanks
giving. and is as little informed of it as
South Sea Islander till he is suddenly
aroused from the land of Morpheus by
the warning admonition of his pater
noster to rise and pursue the gobler
turkey to the death.
This is an event of varied importance,
both to the turkey and farmers son, but
of far more interest to the casual observ-
er. 1t is compulsory with the son, but
absolutely matter of life or death with
the gobler The fun usually begins
about o'clock a. M, while the whole
land as well as the turkey is wholly ig-
norant of the ominous danger gathering
under nocturnal cover. Mr.. Gobler has
long been doomed as the favorite one
for the occasion and his roost designated.
He is first apprised of the approach Of
danger by the lighted lantern approach
ing the scene of his slumber, and in
stanter remembering the late proclama-
ton of our president he makes hasty
exit in tie murky gloom; with deathly
vengeance the son pursues; on In the
night they go over yard and fence, over
the barn and under the sheds, under the
wagon and through the hog lot till at
last he perches for security on some
granary. With dextrOus step
his hungry foe approaches, reaching far
out to grasp We gobler in one last en-
brace. But, alas his frail foot hold snaps
and down goes the son in the gloom of
the night to mingle with the chickens,
guineas, geese and ducks in the bottom
of the chicken coop. With horrid impre-
cations, thought if not spoken, he be-
takes himself to gaze for moment on
the starry vault now seemingly gaining
above him. 1t was too much for human
patience. He's mad. He seizes club
and determines at once to exterminate
the author eff his awful plight regardless
of its condition to supply the dinner
table, but the little prelude was fatal to
him; turkey is gone. In the morning he
is hunted down and dispatched with the
family shot gun.
The invitations which are decidedly
original have previously been extended,
and early on the day from the four COR
ners of earth converge the bearers of
miraculous appetites and thankful hearts
fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
uncles, aunts, grandfathers, grandmoth-
ers, spinsters, grabbed old bachelors and
numerous romping children, all inhexi-
bly, determined to do justice to our his
toric gobler. The old folks occupy the
time in social chat and sweet anticipa-
ton; the young folks scarce give
thought to turkey, but instead, enjoy
each pleasure tete ct tete; the children
are children as ever, while the sorrowful
son departs at first appearance of dawn
to a shooting match at a neighboring
village. EAGLE,