Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1907-12-13
@(F ANY of old Speckle's Queerly
Il assorted brood were stepchil-


er their trials and joys, their fears
and hopes; but the gosling was the
yellow sheep of the family. He knew
no troubles but his own, he wanted
little, and when he found a happy
hunting ground Of bugs he had it all to
himself. He had also a little habit
Of wabbling in while two chickens
fought over bug, quietly gobbling up
the insect and calmly turning his back
without even so much as reminder
that there no longer existed cause
for quarrelling. Others might have
sharp bills to dig and fight, but he
had broad one to grasp and retain.
In his independent, happy-go-lucky
way he waddled through the world.
making strange friends, and having
feather-breadth escapes known only to
himself and the Martin family.
May Day dawned warm and sunny.
Worms had fairly wriggled themselves
into the goslings mouth that morning.
and he felt more than content as he
squatted in the sun on the back hitch
en- step. Suddenly, in turning his head
to the left, he spied tempting red
object peeping up from great, round,
whitish looking surface. The gosling
made a dash, and splash! he went
under the shining white surface. He
had that red bit, however, and as he
swallowed it he instinctively struck
out with his legs. What a delightful
sensation the gosIing had then. He
seemed born for padding, and as he
padded he kept bobbing his head
down into the white substance and
fetching up the most appetizing
things. Evidently the world had been
| made for nothing except gOhhling and
| padding.
BY and by ne began to feel tired.
! He determined to Jump out on the
! steps again, but strange to say all his
Jumps turned to paddles. He couldn't
seem to get over hard, brown object
! next to the steps. He decided to try
no more but just to sit still. so he dou-
| bled his short legs up under him and
I foated. After while he felt himself
, sinking, but he padded twice or thrice
and got up again. Still it was pleas
anter' to drift, 80 he rested once mere.
Lower and lower he sank. Strange
odors f1oated up around him. Drowsi-
! ness besieged him. Not much except
his head was now above surface, but
somehow. as he rested his bill on that
cool substance the gosling didn't care.
just then Mary Ann came out with
pan of Feelings and dashed them in.
peep: peep!" murmured the COS.
ling. bobbing up and down.
La" calculated Mary Ann. and ran
for the shovel. % ~ - - p...,..>, 5
When she had shoveled him out on
the grass she finished her exc la1natt on,
La! amt that fool goose got no
more sense that to 60 swimmin' in tho
slop bucket!" 80 - ''>S'>".1 . - a.
Peep" replied the eosling. placldly
turning over on the grass ii the warm
sun with a deiiciously filled feeling.
Laziiy the summer months driftsd
BY. One day and another that fool
!! goose, as every one came, to designate
him, figured continually before the
public eye. So entirely devoid OF
sense did his escapades seem that tho
hired man named him Simple 81.
mon," for short. ii ~.. + ..'. >.
! With the coming of the snappy Do
cember days people began to think Of
Christmas feasts. and the farmers to
look over their poultry with an eye
to the markets. One frosty day when
Mrs. Martins kitchen breathed spicy
; odors her husband slouched in,
I've just been looking over the
poultry" he drawled. Turkeys are
awful scarce this year and prices big.
I low mebbe we'd better sell all ourn
and eat 2imon for our Christmas din.
ner. One goose amt any good and he
eats more than any hog on the place."
Pears like Simon was just made
to die young, anyhow" agreed Mary.
La! the times I've reskewed him.
Fully month before Christmas city
people began to send out to engage
one or two of Farmer Martins well
known turkeys. A week before the
day Mary Ann shut up all the salable
turkeys and Simon in couple Of large
carriage crates which served as coops.
They must have the choicest food and
be ready to deliver into the hands
Of the many rstin-backed coachmen
who came for them daily. The COB
blers spread their fine young tails and
grew red with indignation; but Simon
took it. all as philosophically as was
his wont. contentedly eating more
than was his share of food and on
warm days wallowing in the basin Of
drinking water
Soon all but two of the turkeys were