Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-11-29
Ge Two COLLINS
By Hezekiah ButterwOrth

%W\HERE comes proud day in
III Indian summer to an old
Fl farm, a day of real impor-
fance. 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
I farmstead slowly and cautiously, and
If strutting is done the cock turkey
does 1t in the sunny air. The fire of
the sun seems falling In showers in
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 tho
russell leaves.
That night she roosts her flock on tho
ridgepOle of the cOckloft or in one of
the dOoryald trees. The sun and moon
seem the same on that glorious day.
The moon comes up over the sea like
a night sun, golden and red, and the
night turns into another day, not quite
so warm as the sun days, but often
very warm.
1t was very warm on the night of
which l nave 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 Colum-
bia, which was wonder. 1t was that
ship, commanded by Captain Kendrick,
that discovered the Columbia river.
There had gone 10 work in that ia
nous shipyard giant of man named !
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 1t was as
giant sleeps.
The good woman of the thrifty farm
kept boarders, and she had many now,
as it 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 a
little room under the cockloft
'You are a six footer," she said to
the same Mr.. Ruggles, land something
over. have but one bed left, and that
e one that the chOre boy used to occu-
~, but you will have to make the best
# It,"
"And that l WILL" said the giant.
He did. He slept fairly we'll, for
here was an east wind. That was the
light before the hen turkey came home
With all her feathery magniflcence for
Thanksgiving.
There was no east wind on the fol- ,,
owing night after the lady turkeys
egimental return. The contented bird
rdered her flock to rOOst on the ridge
ole over a little window under the
ayes trough which was powered with :
turning red. The flock was y
0 numerous that they crowded to-
ether and said "Quit!' to each other /
u getting settled into silence, but they =
7ere arranged in row at last, and
ne world was silent I
MI RuSSIeSs VI luc lOuS lliuDS, went
} his room, unconscious of the CON- c
any on the ridgepOle. The night was 1
cry hot, and the good woman had left a
10 window open, after brushing away II
Ie wasp nests and cobwebs.
"This Is sitting" said he, after sink
g down on his narrow bed. 81 can
Ut stand this cramplng bed. What /
Ill / do2 l will put my feet out of the n
indOw. There is no one to know"
So he stretched his great feet and Z
lives out of the window, wide apart
lder the caves trough and cool wood o
ne, and gave a snore and was in OBJ 8
ZION. n
The turkeys were fattening, and I
hen the great SUMMON came up over
e sea they became uncomfortable,
d two young gObblers put their heads
'wn to look for a more easy adjust is
ent, and there it was, handy as it 81
uld be-Mr. Ruggles' two feet and III
lple supports. d
One of them stepped down very care
lily and lighted upon Mr.. Ruggles'
:, just above the foot, and gave a II