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

right of life that the crippled pigeon
had told him of.
He did not sleep in the hen house
with the common crowd. There was a
peach tree that grew low over the
stone wall which separated the barn
yard from the vegetable garden, and
it was here that he had roasted ever
since he had left the coop. There had
been four other turkeys in the brood,
but he was the strongest and hand
soonest, so when Charles Uncle Will
had come to take them away in a wag-
on, he had been selected as the one to
remain.
1t was not until the gray and chilly
! dawn came that, the Major broke his
rest. The Shanghai crowed at the first
gleam of light, crowded the bantam off
the perch and then all was quiet again.
The Major ruff1ed his feathers
with a little contented buster of i'm
portance and left the peach tree Over
the stone wall he went and through
the vegetable garden, all a waste of
boar frost and withered stalks Beyond
this lay pasture, then came a brook
with thin layer of ice over it, He
stopped and broke the ice with his foot
and took good, deep drink. Beyond
daisies grew tall in summer time. He
hurried faster when the tip of the
crimson sunrise glimmered behind the
bare trees to the east.
The ground dipped beyond the mead
oWs and became swampy. The Major
paused here an instant and looked at
a few cranberries that were left on the
slim stems here and there. He felt
sorry for them. The crippled pigeon
had told him of the ruby colored sauce
that went so deliciously with his own
precious roasted self. He was sorry
that they could not run away
This ~Ss his last landmark. The
| crippled pigeon had told him that be-
yond the swamp lay the pine woods,
and there he would find rest and
| safety.
1t was pleasant there. There was
no snow on the ground. 1t was a
clear, cold, frosty day, with a sky that
grew bluer every moment as the sun
rose. The pines grew thick and tall,
| with tapering tops, and broad lower
| boughs and offered delightful roosting
places in their warm, deep shadows.
| The earth here in the woods was not
hard and bare like that outside, but
| covered with the fragrant pine needles
| and was soft to step upon.
The Major looked around him with
satisfaction and had just selected a
| specially fine pine to roost upon when
| strange sound broke the peaceful
| silence. He had never heard it before.
1t was loud, deafening crack The
| next moment there was a scurrying
through the pine needles and some
thing flashed across the path with
ears laid back and feet flying. 1t
seemed wise thing to do, so the Ma
/ Jor started after the something Just
as tight as he could go. They both
| fetched UP short in some bushes. The
| Major was out of breath and fright
ened. He crouched down low and
took a look at his comrade in trouble.
1t was a wee brown rabbit with long
ears and bob tail nearly as large as
his head. He was painting dreadfully
and his eyes were wide and round
and scared.
Isn't that terrible?" he asked;
| they're after me-
For your wishbone? asked the
Major, sympathetically.
mo, just all of me. They cook a
fellow in gravy and serve him with
curant jelly I know. 1 heard Char
lies Uncle Will say I'd make a dandy
pot pie. Wouldn't TAT frost you?
What made you run? Did the dogs
chase your"
NO" said the Major. thankfully.
Excuse me, but do dogs chaser"
do they chase? They chase you
till you drop. then grab you by the
neck and give you one shake, and it's
all up with you. l saw my father get
il in the neck that way, and he didn't
| have time to kick"
Bless my wishbone!" said the Ma
| jor You surprise me. The dog at
home wouldn't chase an ant"
| The wee brown rabbit looked him
| over quickly
"oh, you're a domestic" he said.
II thought you didn't run very fast.
/ Did you think they were after your"
! Il didn't know" The major tried 70
be dignined. Il ran away, you know.
You don't say" cried the wee
brown rabbit. What for?"
They wanted my wishbone." said