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

the Major sadly. land other things.
was it. you know"
"It?"
Yes. On the chopping block. We
get it in the neck, too.An of our family
land on the chopping block. But we're
boss for a year before it happens. Then
this day comes. and we all get it one
by one. I wouldn't have minded so
much if Charlie hadn't said he would
get my wishbone for dinner. That hurt
my feelings. He needn't have told me
right to my face; il was too personal.
It's a delicate matter"
white meat. isn't it?" asked the
wee brown rabbit.
Yes. Best bit on turkey. It's good
luck to the one who gets it, but it's
awful bad luck to the turkey that
loses it. don't like bad luck, so / ran
away
Foxy old Turk. I would. too. What
are you going to do; join the wild tur-
keys?"
DO they get shot at. too?"
Listen" said the rabbit, holding up
both ears stiff as clothespins. Il hear
dogs"
So did the Major, and shots. too.
cracking sharply in the frosty air; and
the next instant there was a wild
whirring over their heads, and six wild
turkeys rose in the air and flew to a
fresh covert. A moment more, and be-
fore the Major could think twice. two
great dogs came leaping and crashing
through the bushes, straight at his
hiding place.
Hunt a tree." cried the wee brown
rabbit. Excuse me, but I've got a date
under ground"
The Major didn't stop to argue or
look dignified. There were hungry
jows yawning at him, so he made one
effort to reach the high branches of
the pine nearest to him. He made
the jump, but left mouthful of his
choicest tail feathers in the hungry
jaws, and if turkeys could cry there
would have been turkey tears splat-
tering all around on the pine needles.
The dogs barked and yelped about
the foot of the tree, and pretty soon
some men and boys came running
through the woods.
They're freed one," the Major heard
them say "Why don't he fly? He
must have got hit. Let me shoot him"
They all wanted to shoot. The Ma
jor gave one terrific, hopeless look
down at the eager upturned faces, and
closed his eyes. Suddenly a familiar
voice rose above the rest 1t was
Charles Uncle Will.
Hold on!" he cried, that's our
Major. I'd know him anywhere. He
ran away last night. Don't shoot
him."
Charles Uncle Will was climbing
the tree, but the Major never moved
a feather. He meekly let himself be
taken captive. He felt faint and weak
and glad to nestle down in Charles
Uncle Wits arms.
You got away this year, old boy"
ne said, stroking the Major kindly.
Next year you'll be tough back
number, so 1 guess you've saved your
wishbone that Charlie wanted"
1t was very quiet in the barn yard
that evening. The Major stole through
the twilight to the woodshed. The
crippled pigeon fluttered on to the
wood pile when she saw him.
They took the twin sister geese"
she told him. II hid behind the wood
pile until it was all over. Nellie said
they cooked beautifully. but they were
sorry it wasn't you"
Who? The geese?"
No: Nellie and Charlie and the
rest"
The Major ruffied up his breast and
looked at the chopping block He
could see few white feathers on it
and there was one on the shiny ak
near by. He blinked one eye sadly.
They were such nice, white twin sister
geese. Poor things! 1t was so sad.
as they had said, but he thought of
the cracking shots, the bowling dogs
and the wee brown rabbit with the
stiff ears like clothespins and the
round scared eyes.
There are worse things in the
woods he said. I'D rather be it on
a chopping block once in my life than
hunted to death every day on it. 1t
is the fate of kings"
And the crippled pigeon was silent
as the Major passed out of the wood
shed and went to roost in the peach
tree. lola L. Forester