The Somerset reporter., 1889-08-01
FARM, GARDEN AND
HOUSEHOLD.
Do Turkeys Reason?

\ clerical correspondent of the New
York independent says That is the ques-
tion with me now, having had it suggest
ed by late experience in my barnyard.
have three white turkeys, handsome
birds, two of which are hens, partially
governed by line gobbler Late in the
-pring the hens stole nest in piece of
woods near the barn, laid about dozen
rggs each and began to sit at the same
tlmc; sitting as close to each other a.
hey could get, and sitting seduluusly
tud in the utmost peace. Sometimes one
would be- on all the eggs, and sometimes
'hey would divide the eggs, but always
found them close together, and faithfully
occupied In this maternal duty.
The gobber stood this for week or
so and, it being his first experience as
il was theirs seemed TO think it all right
lut by and by this lonely condition dis
composed him an he began to look round
aim for a remedy. Now. | have neigh
Dor, Il lIlbcrnian, living about 200 rods
from me, who makes speciality Of tnr-
Keys, his apple trees being loaded with
them over night. Well, one day my
white gobblar paid my neighbor visit,
aud have reason to believe was fed and
otherwise Hospitality entertained, and re
nained over night. 1t gricyes me to say
that, although as n clergyman endeayof
10 cultivate strict morality aud gratitude
upon my premises, yet this hOspitablt
treatment was very shabbily repaid Fol-
the next morning my gobber came home
bringing with him one of my neighbor's
turkey hens a purple bird whom he led
up and down the place in unblushing tri
umph. Not Il bit cared he now for his
TWO white companions whose domestic
duties were being so faithfully perform
ed.
But this state Of things did not last
long. Toward the close Of the morning
there came down to my barnyard u tlnt
black gObbler. He belonged to my lliber-
nian neghbor, and evidently had proilteG
by his associations with the race who art
Ill born shillaies in their hands. He haC
missed his consort, and it would seem haC
suspected that she had elopcd with this
comcly paramour, and he had come down
to recover her, and TO vindcate his right
which lie did, as will be seen. Placing
himself on the hi,her side of the hen. il
some way unknown to me, lie made hel
understand that she had better move
homcward; and, whether from penitenI
sense Of her evil conduct, or wholesome
fear of consequences, | cannot say, she
left the white gobblar in the lurch, auo
went submissiyely off with her own black
eye lord.
This, | Supposed would be the end of it
ami so evidently thought my crestfailen
but beautiful turkey-cock, as he wandered
around in his loneliness. But in about q
minutes down came the black gobblar
alone, and on the war path. Struttinp
boldly into my yard, he at once event
for his white enemy with all the fury of
revcngeful jealousy. 1t is great salts
faction to me to be able to say that my
turkey-cock was not Il coward, although
confess, with a shade of regret that, a.
with some other bipeds, his courage was
superior to his morality. This appeared
to he a case where it was best to let the
principles fight out the duel without in
reference Of seconds; neither was sew
erely wounded, and both got rumpled up
and very tired. The Ilibernian invader
had shown his plucky indignation, ana
my white bird had maintained the rcputa-
ton for defensive courage of his clel ical
owner. But the truth compels me to add
that he has been pretty steady home
bird ever since, and now contents himself
with his two white companions and with
their fine broods.
The above truthful narrative is my con
tribution to the question, do turkeys rea-
son!