The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23
THE MAJOR SAVES
i HIS WISHBONE,
Bot Learns That There Are Worse
Things for Turkeys Than the
Fate of Kings.
1t was Charlie who first started it

The day before Thanksgiving he went
out TO the woodshed for basket Of chips.
and who should come strolling by but the
Major The Major was beauty. and he
knew 1t. When he spread out his tail and
wings TO their utmost. he looked like
great glossy pufr 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, Major!" he cried. See that
block over there? Well. tomorrow you'll
roost on that for about half a minute, and
then you'll he a goner and III have your
wishbone at dinner!'
The Major looked at him out OF one eye
and hesitated. Charles SHE'D another chip.
-Skeedaddle, you old. proud durer.'
he said. You won't be boss Of the barn
yard tomorrow"
The Major walked away majestically,
although the chip had just missed the end
of his bill.
He was sorry that the brown bantam
overheard Charles words. She would
tell everyone in the barnysrd, and there
would be either pity or scorn shown him by
those over whom he had ruled for months.
ne walked by nlUlNeil three tiIiier dIounu
the barnyard in deep thought. Once he
looked back over his shoulder 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. II was good to sec how afraid
they were Of him still. but Charles mention
Of the wishbone troubled him. Before he
knew IL he was at the woodshed door again.
looking at the chopping block.
The pigeon with the broken wing f,ittered
awkwardly down from her perch on the
| woodpile. She was 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 cuff that
sent him flying and the crippled pigeon
liked the Major ever after
Your turn next isn't it. sir?' she said
The respectful sympathetic voice soothed
the Majors ruffled pride
1T IL the fate of Kings," he said. with
a noble courage. Il have the pride of race
But do you know where the wishbone is?r
-Between the collar button and the first
shirt stud. heard Charles Uncle Will
| tell him. Are you nervous?'
"Oh, no, not at ALL only interested. II
will be my wishbone, you know Whose
was il last year."
-Your fathers He was a very fine bird l..
The best Of all, except you. sir. They
ST. ffed him with plain everyday sage dress
ing
what do GET"
Nuts. Nellie says that they will give
you delicious favor"
No doubt
The Major scratched among the chips
with one claw and spread out his wings
a. 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
condescend 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 were 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
grinned with their eyes half closed at the
Ma ior and strolled on
The Major felt suddenly that he was
all alone.
What would you do?- he asked the
crippled pigeon, ard without a seconds
hesitation she told him.
When the Major walked from the wood
shed he left the fate of kings and pride of
race behind, and was chuckling inwardly
over the new law Of right Of lie that the
crippled pigeon had told him Of
He did lot sleep in the lenhouse with
the common crowd. There was peach
tree that grew low over the stone wall
which separated the barnyard from the
vegetable garden, and 1t 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
handsomest. 40 when Charles Uncle
Will had come to take them away in n
wagon he had been selected AZ the one to
remain
1t was not until the gray and chilly dawn
came that the Major broke his rest. The
Shan ghai crowed at the first CLEAN of light.
crowded the be ntam of the perch, and then
all was quiet again.
The Major rufflod his feathers with a
little contented bluster Of importance and
left the peach tree Over the stone wall
he went and through tho vegetable garden,
all a waste Of hoar frost and vithered
stalks
Beyond this lay a past ure. then came a
brook with thin layer Of ice over il. He
stopped and broke the ice with his foot
and took good deep drink
Beyond the brook came meadows, where
the 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 dipred beyond the meadows
and became swampy. The Major paused
here an instant and looked at a few cram
berries that were left on the slim stems here
and there
He felt sorry for them. The crippled
pigeon had told him Of the ruby coiored
sauce that went so deliciousy with his
own precious roasted self. He was sorry
that they could not run away,
This was his last landmark: Tho Grip
pied pigeon had told him hat beyond
the swamp lay the pine woods. and there
he would find rest and safety.
II was pleasant there. There was no
snow on the ground. II was clear, cold.
frosty day, with sky that grew bluer
every moment a. the sun rose.
The pines grew thick and tall, with taper
| ing tops, and broad lower boughs Of rich
| green that swept the ground and offered
] delightful roostine places In their warm
| deep shadows The earth here In the
wood, was not hard and hare Ike that
i A al