The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-11-27
THE WHITE GoBBLER.
rnEPARr IT PLAYED is A ROMANCE AND A
DINNER

Major Beasley Carter was a well known
citizen of Northern Alabama. He was
of character, proud of his
lineage, though he could not trace it fur
ther back than few hundred yards. His
he avowed, were cavaliers,
and he often spoke of the great civil war
in England. Indeed, one not acquainted
with the history of that conflict and its
long agonies," would suppose that the
Major had heard the belching Of divers
cannons. He cared nothing for recent
political factions, regarding with con-
tempt the Republicans and Democrats,
but looked with extreme hatred upon the
Roundheads. To him cur civil war was
conflict between the Tory gentlemen
and the Barebones- Sometimes, upon
taking up daily paper (which he knew
was much inferior 10 the old-time news
letter sent out from Wills coffee house,
he would say to his wife that he wanted
to see if they were still burning witches
in New England
Zilda Carter, the Majors daughter, was
declared the handsomest girlin the Lime
stone neighborhood. She had been lib
orally educated, and Of course could not
share her fathers absurd views. She did
not, however, attempt to argue with him
for she knew that the only unpleasant
ness that had ever come up between her
parents was caused by a sighting remark
which her mother had made with regard
to Charles |.
Just about year ago Zilda was per-
mitied to visit friend who lived in New
York, and, before returning home, she
went down into Connecticut While in
that State she and her friend "a young
lady well known to the family ate
their Thanksgiving dinner at farm
house.
When ZiIda told her father that she
had gone into New England, be frown-
ed but when, suddenly moved by a
bold impulse, she told him that she had
eaten her Thanksgiving dinner at a
Connecticut farmhouse, the old fellow
raved.
You are not true daughter p he de-
clared. You know that our family has
ever turned a cold countenance upon
every patriarchal institution. The cold
blooded fanatic tried to destroy our
Christmas, and yet you, member of the
high-minded class that holds Christmas
in endearment, make confession, as it
were, Of a fagitious erIor, by giving
countenanee to Thanksgiving Day. |
am ashamed of you, and never again can
/ repose full confidence in You"
"Why, Msjor~ said Mrs. Carter, a
weak but sometimes assertive little wo-
man, the President Of our common
country sets aside the day, and instead Of
frowning upon an observance of it l
think that it is our duty not only to the
Lord, bat as good citizens to the Presi-
dent, to-"
To do what ?" the Major struck in.
:" To observe the day"
"You think so" said the Major, plac-
ing both hands on table as though he
had his wrath down and was determined
to hold it, you think We ought to burn
old women, don't you ?"
SNo, don't think that"
"0h, yes, Sarah, come out now and ac-
knowledge that you do think it. Stand
right up now and declare your principles.
Admit that you would like to see old
Sue Blackney tied out there to the horse
block, and burned up. II you want to
ke up contribution TO raise mondy
tenough TO hire somebody to tie the old
woman, I'll throw in. will not have il
said that have ever stood as an obstruc-
ton to any enterprise gotten up by my
wife. Zilda, get the elothes-line ready.
Yonder comes man down the road.
Maybe we can hire him We can assure
him that the old woman is not very
strong, as she has suffered with rheuma-
tism for number of years What, you
don't want to burn her? Then your first
lesson hasn't wholly converted you,
Humph / think you'd better take an
other
The Major hastened out into the gar