The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-11-18
stand out of the way, you creatures small
Stand out of the way OF my shadow;
For am the king and boss of all,
Oh, L am the great MiKado."

OiO LhOcU l'Olilouo diu SCH htuio-
tory way.
Isn't he magnificent - said the
visitor. Il should think he would
weigh nearly twenty pounds. Oh,
isn't he treasure -
The Mikado heard this remark and
almost tainted with delight.
"Ah, " he thought, Il was right in al
ways believing myself an important
parsonage. | hear it now from the
lips of those who have heretofore pre-
tended to be my superiors."
What do you feed him on - asked
the visitor.
''Oat meal scalded in hot milk and
various little dainties. It's a joy to
see him eat"
At this the Mikado felt himself
bursting with pride.
my daughter is to be married on
Thanksgiving day, and he is to be the
great feature of the table, said the
hostess.
ooh, N.Y." thought the Mikado,
won't that be fine - | am to figure
at a wedding, to be the great feature
of the whole proceeding, it seems. |
must order something nice to wear"
The cat on the fence post also heard,
but she only licked her lips and smiled
knowingly.
The days went on and the Mikado
only grew fatter and more domineer-
ing every hour, and the other fowls
became more and more cast down.
On Thanksgiving morning his doors
were opened and he was invited to
come forth This was the day on
which he was to receive greater hon.
ors than ever, and he waddied out,
numbered by his excessive flesh, with
more arrogance than usual. He was
a little surprised when the hired man
grabbed him by the legs and sudden
ly inverted him. 1t was an undigni-
| fed attitude for bird of his plumage,
to say the least but he reflected a
! moment and concluded that it was
| but fitting, after all, for creature of
| his distinction to be carried, and of
course this awkward fellow didn't
know how to carry him gracefully or
even comfortably.
He had no time to frame other
| thoughts, for a moment more the hired
| man had assassinated him, and his
head was lying on one side of the
chopping block and his body ON the
| other.
His late envious associates ran in all
directions, chilled with horror, nor
were they seen again that day. He
graced the feast. to be sure he was
the great feature of it, but not in the
capacity he had so conceitedly antici-
pated. Instead of the fine suit of
fashionable garments he had expected
to be arrayed in, he appeared shorn of
his feathers, with his skin cruelty
Drowned and his legs cut off at the
knees, a sorry and humbled MikadO,
surely.
In a short time his very memory
was forgotten, or recalled only with
sheer, or to be cited as an example of
what conceit VIII bring any one to.
The day after Thanksgiving there
was little talk over his head and his
bones, which were found in ditch by
lesson to them.
After ALL" said one, "we might
have known that such sudden rise
into affluence could bode no good. Up
like a rocket and down like stick,
you know
'Do you remember my words - said
the cat, who came strolling along,
bullying in body more than usual from
having enjoyed unusual Thanks
giving blessings. 81 told you to envy
no one ; that it was n dangerous thing
to reach such eminence as the Mikado
enjoyed. Poor fool, he did enjoy it
while it lasted
"Could it be-" said the young tur-
key with the eyeglasses and taste for
metaphysics, could it be that my
doctrines led him astray? Still, he
was a good illustration of the truth of
what have been preaching-thati if
you persistently desire the best you
will get it. But the best, in his case
didn seem to be really good for him,
after all, and now the question arises
Is it good for any of us? | must adj
nit that | am somewhat confused on
this point, and, in spite of the Mikados
grave faults, of character, | lament
the tragedy in which he was the vic
tim. For some reason, his death was
the occasion of general rejoicing in
the house, and | have even picked up
word here and there which goes to
show that the people who were the
cause of his death gave thanks ov
his body. They actually called e
day Thanksgiving SO grateful were
they that he was gone. Perhaps they
feared that in his excessive love of
power he would rise some day, seize
| the reins of government, and trample
excuse the murder, though | am too
IN ..vh of Buddhist to sy nathize
with a festival which sane us the
destruction of living Great res, and
the eating of them, too. In the round
of existence, depend upon it, my
friends, all such things are evened up.
They who kill shall be killed in turn
if not in this life, in some embodiment
in the far future"
The hen who was in favor of equal
suffrage said that after all there were
compensations in life. She still held
her old views but she had learned
lesson in patience. Her dream of po-
litical equality would be released
but she must wait, and while she wait
ed work as well as talk. A very aged
old bird of no particular lineage clear
ed his throat just then. As he was
generally silent, he commanded great
attention when he did speak. He
said you are getting on TO the true
philosophy of life at last. Agitation
doesn't accomplish half as much as
people think it does. The influences
which really moved the world are sub
tie. Your takers think they revolu-
tionize the won Id but the real power
comes from higher, much higher
and he SUBJ led into silence.
The noted anarchist rooster had
nothing at all to say until his views
were called for. Even then he evaded
it until cornered and compelled to talk.
Then he Strengthened up and put OH
his old time important manner. 1T
is the beginning of the end, my
friends" he said. Monsters like the
Mikado die of their own greed They
are their own eXecutiOners. Had he
divided his abundance with us we
would al have had a layer or SO of
the fat which encumbered him and
bought him to grief, and he might
have been alive to-day. But, no-he
must have the earth. Nothing was
too much for him. We had to starve
that he might live. All of you can
testify that he lived upon the proceeds
OF your labor, for you scratched and
he came along just as your bite was
ready for your mouth and snatehed it
from you, and you dare not say your
souls were your own"
But what of the lady with the pur-
est blood of Asia in her veins ?" asked
a dapper young cock. 81 haven't
seen her to-day"
Nor have To- said u dozen voices.
Here the cat spoke again. am sorry
to say that our fair friend has shared
the Mikado's fate. The chief cause of
pride with her proved her ruin. Her
good blood gave her fine figure, and
the people of this country are a flesh
eating race They have no scruples
against eating any of you who are so
unfortunate as to possess sweet, clean