The Springfield herald., 1907-12-13

poultry, he draWled. turkeys are
awful scarce this year and prices big.
low mebbe we'd better sell all ourn
and eat Simon 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 a 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 stiff-backed coachmen
who came for them daily. The COB
grew red with Indignation; but Simon
took 1t 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
carried away. One of the two, hand
some young gobbler. Col. Robertson
and his grandson would call for on
Thursday. Proudly and stiffiy the
young turkey strutted up and down
protest from morning till night at the
top of his voice. Simon lay at his
ease in the basin and blinked at his
irate companion as If the air around
him did not fairly reek with garlic.
Whenever the turkey came too near
in his swollen pride it was only neces-
sary for Simon to open his mouth and
extend his tongue.
At last the Colonel came for his
turkey and bore him away, still pro-
testing volubly Only Simon and an
understood hen turkey remained.
1T ain't much of turkey, that's a
fact acknowledged Farmer Martin as
he and Mary Ann passed the pen Fri
day evening.
She amt worth much. Wouldn't
you ruther I'd kill her than Simon to-
morrow" tentatively queried Mary
Ann, with her eyes on Simon, who ran
to the bars to see If more food was
forthcoming.
Goose is good enough for me. and
Simon amt no money value. Mebbe
that turkey will fatten up gainst
spring and make right respectable
mother hen," replied Farmer Martin.
She's not likely to unless she
makes a better fight for her victuals,
Mary Ann returned. Pears like Simon
gets most of 'em in spite of all l can
do He's sich fool he don't know
when he's got enough. Most seems a
pity to kill such silly critter."
That night Mary Ann had every
thing in readiness for the morrow,
planning to rise early and prepare
Simon before breakfast. for even Mary
acknowledged that a goose is hard to
dress.
About four o'clock in the morning
she was aroused by an unearthly
quacking and kissing. Hastily throw
ing a quilt around her shoulders and
punging into her shoes, she rushed to
the chicken yard. A man fled toward
the fence with a bloody turkey in one
hand.
Drop that, drop that" yelled Mary
Ann, hurting the cloths stick at him
and bearing down upon him at full
speed as he neared the barbed wire
fence
The thief threw himself over. but
his trousers and turkey wing caught
on a barb. Gaunt Mary Ann, in her
motley quilt loomed up before him,
armed with chicken trough. With
desperate wrench he freed himself,
but he lost his prize.
Mary Ann grabbed up the turkey.
Its head had been wrung off. She ran
frantically to the coop. 1t had been
overturned.
He's stole Simon. he's stole 81
mon!" walled Mary Ann as Farmer
Martin appeared, hitching up his trou-
sers.
Suddenly familiar sound smote
her ear. Glancing up, she caught
glimpse of Simon quacking merrily
and waddlng rapidly through the
rusty weeds in the direction of the
corn pen.
We'll, reckon we'd better have
turkey for Christmas after all. Amt
no use of losin' two fowls said Farm
er Martin. after relieving his feelings.
La" muttered Mary Ann, as she
watched Simon blissfully quacking
and gobbling in the middle of the
corn pen. az do believe Simon amt
such a fool after all."-N. Y. Herald.