The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-30

~
that?'
~ have often pondered upon it-why
am | here, where did | come from, and
why did | come 2"
"Well, I'll tell you. You were brought
here to be fattened. The maid supplied
the food, and your reckless gluttouy did
the rest. You are fat"
''I'm no fatter than you," reto.ted the
turkey.
"Ah, that's different matter" the
peacock chuckled. II am not food; l am
beauty. No, my poor friend, we shall
have to part-you to the table and | shall
remain here. 1t is your fate to be done
brown and eaten, l walk here fancy
free. | have seen ten generations of you
eaten. You are the eleventh, my poor
fellow"
ut is impossible" groaned the thought
full turkey.
thine will tell, " said the peacock.
For a long time the turkey was plunged
in thought. He strobe to and fro, and
at last paused in his walk in front of the
peacock.
at must be DONE" he said grimly.
'Listen, my friends. have no desire to
be eaten. | have an instructive feeling
that it would be unpleasant. Therefore
refuse. But l can see only one way to
escape this fate. | must do as you have
done"
What 2" asked the peacock, breath
lessly, for he had forgotten his own re-
mark.
II must be beautiful" said the tur-
key.
The peacock looked dubious
eyes" said the turkey firmly, Il
must be beautiful, very beautiful, far too
beautiful to he eaten. Leave mel | would
think.
IIaggard and pale from his long night
vigil the thoughtful turkey lifted his
eyes to the east. Already band of
AHs 1911 ilSht nay NloSt dSulllSl lll'' ttl I'll
and above it the darkness was thinning
Slowly the sun pushed up red and in
famed shoulder and the light spread
The birds began to twitter, for it was
day. The turkey bathed his burning
brow in the dew and shook himself once or
twice.
~ ha
He walked briskly across the barn
yard, through the gate and on down the
lane. At first he met no one. Tears
came to his eyes. He was very lonely,
and his nervous system was shattered.
The sun was higher by this time, and
the light was shimmering and dancing
on the fields and breaking in curious re-
fractions of pale purple and pink among
the poplar trees. Although he knew that
the admiration of crude and actual M.
ture was bourgeois, and even a trihe
vulgar, he could not help being touched
with sense of satisfaction at the beauty
Of the scene. 1t was, he felt, a crude
imitation of Monet but, after all, there
was in it hint of Monet's genius. He
was in mood of aesthetic satisfaction;
the moment was one of those which lay
one open to new impressions. Then he
saw her. She was young and slim and
walked with grace and dignity. Her
eyes were on the ground and her wings
trailed indolently as she sauntered to-
ward him in the pale multi-colored sun
light. The thoughtful turkey had an
sensuous beauty, and then two thoughts
passed through his mind The first was,
''How much more beautiful she is than
the peacOckn' and the second was, 81
hope she is not my sistern' He went up
to her boldly and gave her the salute
of the morning. She started as though
she had not seen him-perhaps she had
not.
''You are very beautiful" he said.
She held down her head.
81 have heard so much about you,"
she said, when the ice was broken.
"You live up to the house and are very
learned"
"Yet, think great deal, p" he said.
81 am your cousin twice removed" she
explained later in the conversation.
''You are very beautiful" he replied.
They walked on. Much later in the
morning she said, "Iou, too, are beauti-
full, dear one, very, very beautiful
She sighed. The thoughtful turkey
started, as though for a moment he
had hardly taken the measure OF her
words.
81 am very beautiful
every beautiful, my own," she whis-
pered.
He cried aloud in his JOY and tapped
his wings and paved the turf.
1T is because love you," she added.
He became thoughtful.
X i x
The snow was on the ground, the snow
hung in the trees, the snow sifted through
the air and fell softly everywhere The