The Monticellonian., 1907-12-19

awful scarce this year and prices pig. I low mebbe we'd better sell all ourn and eat Simon for our Christmas din- ner. One goose ain't 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 a 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 GOODS. They must have the choicest food and be ready to deliver into the hands of the many stiff backed coaehmen who came for them daily. The gob- blers spread their fine young tails and grew red with indignation; but Simel took it all as philosophically as was his won't, contentedly eating more than was his share of food and on warm days wallowing ill 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 stiffly the young turkey strutted up and down the now roomy cage, and gobbled his 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 undersized hen turkey remained.
 "It ain't much of a turkey, that's a fact acknowledged Farmer Martin as he and Mary Ann passed the pen Fri day evening.
 "She ain't worth much. Wouldn't you ruther I'd kill her than Simon to ] morrow" tentatively queried Mary Ann. with her eyes on Simon, who rar to the bars to see If more food Wal forthcoming.
 Goose is good enough for me, ant
 Simon ain't no money value. Mebb'
 that turkey will fatten up 'gains'
 spring and make right respectable
 mother hen," replied Farmer Martin
 She's not likely to unless sh'
 makes better fight for her victuals,
 Mary Ann returned Pears like Simor
 gets most of 'em in spite of all cal
 do He's sich a fool be don't know
 when he's got enough. Most seems
 pity to kill such a silly critter."
 That night Mary Ann had every
 thing in readiness for the morrow
 planning to rise early and prepar'
 Simon before breakfast, for even Mar.
 acknowledged that a goose Is hard u
 dress
 About four o'clock in the morning
 she was aroused by an unearthl
 quacking and hissing. Hastily throw
 ing a quilt around her shoulders a1s
 plunging into her shoes. she rushed ,y
 the chicken yard A man fled toWsl ( the fence with bloody turkey ip1' tc
 hand. r.ard Drop that, drop that," yellee one
 Ann, hurling the cloths stick , and bearing down upon hiTi Mary } speed as he neared the bat at him fence. i at full The thief threw himsel ..bed wire , his trousers and turkey on barb. Gaunt Mar, over. but [ motley quilt, loomed p'wing caught | armed with a chickerS Ann. in her t a desperate wrench ID before him. but he lost his prize.a trough. With l Mary Ann grabbhe freed himself.
 It's head had been
 frantically to the.ed up the turkey.
 overturned. &rung off. She ran l Hes stole Scoop. It had been
 mon,s walled '
 Martin appeareimon. he's stole Si. sers. pary Ann as Farmer ) Suddenly a. hitching up his trou- 3 her ear. G}
 a glimpse of familiar sound smote 7 and waddli!! !!ancsg up, she caught l rusty weeda sipn quacking merrily . corn pen. . apidly through the l Well, ithe direction of the l turkey for
 ? no use of l, ron we'd better have 3 CT Martin, dtmas after all Ain't f "La!" TT two fowls" said Farm. 3 watched U relieving his feelings. : and gobVr.red Mary Ann, as she
 corn pen!' on blissfully quacking l. such f in the middle of the T do believe Simon ain't ) I after all."-N. Y. Herald, l and fol When to Moralize.