Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-12-02
The Two Cobliras
"\HERE comes proud day i'll
IA Indian summer to an old
"a farm, a day of real impor-
10

H farm, day of real impor-
lance. 1t is when the hen
! turkey returns to the home roofs and
dooryard trees from the fields. bringing
! her flock with her.
This holiday parade takes place near
killing time" She approaches the
farmstead slowly and cautiously. and
if strutting is done the cock turkey
does it in the sunny air. The fire of
the sun seems falling in showers il,
those days. The air is indeed as bright
as it used to be in summer time, but
not Quite SO warm. The air is still and
seems hollow, and occasionally a nerv.
Gus wind from the north rustles the
russell leaves
/ That night she r0Osts her flock on the
! ridgepOle Of the cockloft or in one OF
the Gooryard trees The sun and moon
seem the same on that glorious day.
The moon comes up over the sea like
night sun, golden and red, and the
night turns into another day, not quite
SO warm as the sun days, but often
very warm.
which l have story to tell The place
was a shipyard country house on the
North river, where a fleet of ships had
been built, and among Them the Column
bia, which was wonder. 1t was that
ship, commanded by Captain Kendrick
that discovered the Columbia river.
There had gone to work in that IA
nous shipyard giant Of a man named
Ruggles. He was student of natural
history, but he had never heard of
how the turkeys came home in Indian
summer. He swung his broadax high
in the twelve or more hours of his
toll, and when he slept it was as
giant sleeps.
The good woman of the thrifty farm
kept boarders, and she had many now,
as 1t was the high tide of the ship
building. When Mr.. Ruggles came she
knew not how to accommodate him;
her beds were all full except one in
little room under the cockloft.
"You are six footer," she said to
the same Mr.. Ruggles, land something
over. I have but one bed left, and that
is one that the chore boy used to occu-
py, but you will have to make the best
of it,"
"And that WILL" said the giant.
He did. He slept fairly well, for
therewas an east wind That was the
night before the hen turkey came home
with all her feathery magnifcence for
Thanksgiving.
There was no east wind on the fol-
! lowing night after the lady turkeys
| regimental return. The contented bird
ordered her flock to roost on the ridge
| pole over a little window under the
caves trough, which was powered with
woodbine turning red. The flock was
SO numerous that they crowded to-
gether and said "Quitw to each other
on getting settled into silence, but they
were arranged in row at last, and
the world was silent.
| Mr.. Ruggles, Of the long limbs, went
| to his room, unconscious of the COM
pany on the ridgepole. The night was
very hot, and the good woman had left
the window open, after brushing away
Lu0 wasp uGSIS anu cODWeDS.
"This is sitting" said he, after sink
ing down on his narrow bed. II can
not stand this cramping bed. What
| will do? will put my feet out of the
window. There is no one to know"
So he stretched his great feet and
calves out Of the window, wide apart
under the caves trough and cool wood
bine, and gave snore and was in OBJ
livion.
The turkeys were fattening, and
when the great SUMMON came up over
the sea they became uncomfortable,
and two young gobblers put their heads
down to look for more easy adjust
ment, and there it was, handy as it
could be-Mr. Ruggles' two feet and
ample supports.
One Of them stepped down very care
fully and lighted upon Mr.. Ruggles'
Leg just above the foot, and gave
note of satisfaction. The other follow
ed the example. Mr.. Ruggles slept on,
and the two gobblers were soon asleep
perched on his two legs and nestled
close to his feet
OF what Mr.. Ruggles dreamed we
cannot be sure, but early In the morn
ing he thought
he heard some q
y: ): Il: !: a. =: =: ri q
one say, "Mr. A sWHEWM
Ruggles, Mr.. EA t5EyE1EA
Rugs esp ~ III wAlSA
Hey" AZ lA4MlbsadA
The same voice HI %%/f MIN