Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-03-09
A TEXAS TURKEY QUEEN
ALICE JOYCE FINDS PLEASURE AND
PROFIT IN HER FEATHEREO FLOCK.

While driving slowly along q lonel7
mountain road in western Texas o few
days ago, writes correspondent, my
horse suddenly pricked up his ears,
and as looked about for the purpose
of discovering the object that had at
tracted his attention ] saw something
that rather astonished me. A large
flock of turkeys, led by dozen or
more big black gobblers, was coming
slowly over hill but short distance
away. A few Of the birds were pick
ing along the sides of the trail, but
the bulk of the flock was in the main
highway, apparently undisturbed by
my presence,
I am perfectly familiar with this
particular region of country, and |
knew that the wild birds wero not to
be found in such great numbers near
a public road. My amazement at the
gentleness of the turkeys was little
less pronounced than my establishment
at the size of the flock. 1 stopped my
horse, and, while gazing at them with
all the admiration Of an old hunter
and wishing from the bottom of my
heart for a good Winchester very
pretty young girl, mounted on a spirited
little mustang, galloped on behind the
birds and began to survey the coun-
try in every direction. now realized
that they were tame turkeys and I
drove on to the banks of little noun
tain stream thatran through the valley,
The young girl met me, and after a
courteous salutation she inquired as
to the distance to the next ranch. l
answered that it was several miles,
still wondering what it all meant, for
l considered it rather an unusual cir
cumstance to meet young girl and u
big flock of turkeys in that lonely
mountain region, She noticed that [
was evidently puzzled, and, smiling,
relieved my mental perturbation by
informing me that she was driving o
flock of turkeys to San Antonio, where
she expected to sell them or ship them
to some larger city,
Now, for the first time, it occurred
to me that L had long ago heard that
farmers in early times in Missouri
used to drive their turkeys to ST. Louis
as they did their cattle and mules. I
was now deeply interested and anxious
to assist the young lady in any way
that could, though was fully aware
of the fact that the girls Of the Texas
frontier are amply able to take care of
themselves. So far as this particular
mountain belle was concerned. it re-
CURED only cursory glance to con-
vince one that she was Mother afraid
Of beasts nor bandits. A bright Win
chester swung from her saddle within
easy reach of her hand, and she man
aged tho restless mustang after the
manner of ~ SAed cowboy. After
moment ION she informed me
-. s. ~ ~ mead OF one
Of tho Guadaloupes, and that she was
accompanied by her brother and an
other young man, and that they were
prepared to camp out, but always pre-
ferred to stop near some ranch. ! told
her that L intended to camp myself.
and that being familiar with the road,
had selected the spot where wc were
stopping at that N moment.
well" she said, eff you do not OBJ
lect to sharing your camping place
with us, we will all camp together. >"
Hardly waiting for reply, sho was
OFT like flash, and before [ got nv
horse unhitched young Texan Of |
rather pleasing appearance canie up
with an axe on his shoulder, followed
by the van of the flock Of birds. Thev
gathered about him, uttering their
low calls as if they knew that he was
going 10 do something for them.
, our birds" he said, care very
fat. and they arc so tired T will have
to tx them place to roost."
While I was wondering what he was
going to do he began to cut the bushes
80 that he could bend them over al
most horizontally. The birds were
so mick about his feet that he could
hardly move without stepping on
hem, and they scomed to know
exactly what he was doing and were
lager Tor him to finish the Job. They
gathered about him, uttering their
ow calls OF distress, and the moment
nat he bent bush over they would
y upon 1t IL such great numbers that
AMY would be crowded off. The big
seemed to Prefer to secure
'Si''ons IN The branch es Of the larger
,cs. There appeared to be no end
the flo. < for they were still col ming
er tho hin, and the MT Went they
ard the sound o. the axe Ney, would
m their heads to ON side, md after
tening for an instant they J 'ould
II to their master, manifestin,y the
eatest delight when they aisco,H cred
aS the days journey was ended.
Tho young girl, accompanied by
r brother, who was driving \ ght
gon, camo into camp laugh og and
ating as If they were in tn : lap
sst possible frame of mind. she
d no sooner dismounted than the
DIS ehowcd their preference for her
% by gathering about her in or eat
mbers. Seyes& of them flew up "a
, poify's back, while one succeeded
reaching the young girls shoulder \
G talked I'd them as if she were
N +ho4 Ihar ~, III ,rstond aporx, x,or1 r.