The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-23

1t was Charlie who first started it.
The day before Thanksgiving he went
out to the woodshed for a basket OF
chips, and who should come strolling
by but the Major. The Major was
beauty, and he knew it. When he
spread out his tail and wings to their
utmost, he looked like great glossy
puff-ball Of bronze feathers, and his
neck went back, in a graceful sweep
like the swans and his crest was a
deep rich red.
Charlie SHE'D chip at him gayly.
Hello. Majori" he cried. See that
block over there? Well, tomorrow
you'll roost on that for about half
minute, and then you'll be goner and
I'll have your wishbone at dinner"
The Major looked at him out of one
eye and hesitated. Charlie SHE'D an
other chip.
"Skeedaddle, you old. proud duffer,"
he said; you won't be boss or the
barnyard tomorrow"
The Major walked away majestical-
ly. although the chip had just missed
the end of his bill. He was sorry
that the brown bantam overheard
Charles words. She would tell every
one in the barnyard, and there would
be either pity or scorn shown him by
those over whom he had ruled for
months.
He walked by himself three times
around the barnyard in deep thought.
Once he looked back over his shoul-
der. The brown bantam was talking
to the old speckled hen and the young
Shanghai rooster was listening.
The Major walked up to them,
twigged the speckled hen, looked
cross-eyed at the bantam and chased
the Shanghai into the hen house. 1t
was good to see how afraid they were
of him still, but Charles mention of
the wishbone troubled him. Before
he knew it he was at the woodshed
door again, looking at the chopping
block.
The pigeon with the broken wing
futtered awkwardly down from her
perch on the woodpile. She was a
nice, quiet little thing. One day, when
the Shanghai had tried to chase her
away from the common corn feast,
the Major had given him a backlog
ged cuff that sent him flying and the
crippled pigeon liked the Major ever
after.
you're turn next. isn't it, sir?" she
said.
soothed the Majors ruffied pride.
ut is the fate of kings" he said,
with a noble courage. II have the
pride of race. But do you know where
the wishbone is?"
Between the collar button and the
first shirt stud, l heard Charles Uncle
i viii tell him. Are you nervous?"
"Oh, no, not at all; only interested.
1t will be my wishbone, you know.
Whose was it last year,"
your fathers. He was a very fine
bird. The best of all. except you, sir.
| They stuffed him with plain everyday
sage dressing
what do / get?"
Nuts. Nellie says that they will
! give you a delicious flavor
mo doubt"
The Major scratched among the
chips with one claw and spread out his
wings as far as they would go, more
from habit than from vanity, but still
he saw the twin sister geese coming
! toward the shed, and even their praise
| had been sweet in the past. They
were lovely geese, he thought; white
as snow, and they wouldn't even con-
descend to bow to the Shanghai.
Nellie says she's going to use one
of your wings for the Kitchen stove
and give the other one to Charlie to
play Indian with" said the crippled
| pigeon.
The Major shut his wings quickly,
but the geese We're at the door. He
stood erect and proud, with lifted head
and naughty eye, but the geese were
young and silly.
Poor thing" said one.
so sad" said her sister; and they
both grnned with their eyes half
closed at the Major and strolled on.
The Major felt suddenly that he was
all alone.
What would you do?" he asked the
crippled pigeon, and without second s
hesitation she told him.
When the Major walked from the
woodshed he lett the fate OF kings and
pride Of race behind. and was chuck
! Ling inwardiv over the new law of