The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-23

ing. 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,
sympathetica ly.
NO. just all OF me They cook fellow
In gravy and serve him with currant Jelly.
1 know. i heard Charities Uncle Will say
q make dandy pot pie. Wouldn't that
frost. your What made You rum Did
the dogs chase your"
No" said the Major, thankfully. 'Ex-
cuse me. but do dogs chaser"
DO they, chase? They chase you till
give YOU one shake, and it's all up with
You. i saw my father get il in the neck
that way. and he didn't have time 10 kick. =
Bless my wishbone!- said the Major
You surprise me. The dog at home
wouldn't chase an ant.
quickly.
=, oh, you're a, domestic, he said Il
thought you didn't run very fast. Did
you think they were after you?"
Il didn't know The Major tried to be
d'gYYlisdii u ran away, you you know t.
rabbit. what for9'
They wanted my wishbone," said the
Major, sadly. "and other things, was
h'.y,C.a. know
:. Yes. On the chopping block. We ee,.
on the chopping block. But we're boss
for a year before it happens.
Then this day comes. and we all get II
one by one. ] wouldn't have. minded II
so much IL 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; i was too
personal. It's 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 who loses it. don't
like bad luck, so | ran away"
Foxy old Turk. ] would. too. What
are you going to do; join the wild turkeysf'
do they get shot AT, tooY
Listen" said the rabbit, holding up
both ears stiff a. clothespins. Il hear
dogs"
So did the Ma jor, and shots, too, cracking
sharply in the frosty air: and the next in
slant there was wild whirring over their
heads and six wild turkeys rose in the air
and few TO a fresh covert.
A moment more and before the Major
could hink twice two great dog. came leap
ing and crashing through the bushes,
straight at his hiding place.
Hunt a tree" cried the wee brown rab-
bit. Excuse me, but I've got date under
ground"
The Major didn't stop 10 argue or look
dignifed. There we're hungry jaws yawn-
ing al him, so he made one effort 10 reach
the high branches of the pine nearest TO
him.
He made the jump, but left a mou'hful
Of his choicest tail feathers in the hungry
jaws. and IL turkeys could cry there would
have been turkey tears splatterng all
around on the pine needles.
4 orb. NJ
foot of the tree, and pretty soon some men
and boys came running through the woods.
They've freed one" the Major heard
them lay why don't he fiyt He must
have got hit. Let me shoot him"
They all wanted to shoot. The Major
gave one terrified, hopeless look down
az the eager upturned faces. and closed
Suddenly familiar voice rose above
the rest II was Charles Uncle Will
Hold on" ne cried, that's our Ma Jor.
I'd know him anywhere. He ran away last
night. Don't shoot him"
Charles Uncle win was climbing the
tree but the Ma ior never move,. a feather.
He mecklv let himself he taken captive.
He fe, faint and weak and glad to nestle
down in Charles Uncle Wills arms.
you got away this year, OLD boy, he
saio, strokng the Major kindly. Next
year you'll be a tough back number, so j
Charlie wanted"
II was very quiet in the BARNARD that
evening The Major stole through the twi-
light to the woodshed The crippled Pigeon
frtered on 10 the woodpile when she Jaw
him.
They took the twin sister geese, she told
him. Il hid behind the wood-pile until 1t
was all over Ncllie said they cooked beau
tifullv, but they were sorry II wasn't you.
-WhoG The geese''
NO: Nellie and Charlie and the rnst.
The Major ruflied NO his breast and loo ked
Al the chopying clock He could see few
white feat hers on II and there was one on the
shiny axe nearby.
He binked one eve sadly. They were
such nice. white twin sister geese. Poor
things. II vas so sad, a. they had said
but q though, of the cracking shots. the
huv'ling dogs and the wee brown rabbit
with the still ears like clothespins and the
round. scared eyes.
There are worse things in the woods,
he said I'D rather Toe il on chopring
block once in my life than hunted 10 death
every dav Of il. II is the fate of kings.
And the crippled pigeon was silent As the
Mel lr passed out Of the woodshed and went
to roost in the peach tree.