The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-12-20

awful scarce this year and prices big
| low mebbe we'd better sell all ourr
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 a month before Christmas city
people began TO send out TO engage
one or two of Farmer Martins we'll
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 stlff backed coachmeu
who came for them daily. The COB.
blers spread their fine young tails and
grew red with indignation; but Simon
took 1t all as philosophicaliy 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, a hand.
some young gobbler, Col. Robertson
and his grandson would call for on
Thursday, Proudly and stifHy 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 al his
irate companion as II the air around
MIN did not fairly rcck with garlic.
Whenever the turkey came too near
IN his swollen pride It was only ncccs.
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 Yolubly Only Simon and an
understood hen turkey remained
1t amt much Of n turkey. that's n
fact. acknowledged Farmer Martin as
he and Mary ANA passed the pen Fri.
day evening.
She amt worth much Wouldn't
You ruthor I'd kin her than Simon to.
morrow" tentatively quericd Mary
Ann with her eyes on Simon. who ran
to the bars TO see II more food was
Goose is good enough for me. and /.
Simon amt no money value Mebhe /
that turkey will fatten up gainst
spring and make right respectable |
mother hen" replied Farmer Martin.
Shes not likely to unless she
makes a better fight for her victuals,"
Nary Ann returned Pears like Simon
,ets most of 'em in spite of al! | can
10. He's sich a fool he don't know
When he's got enough. Most seems a
'ity TO kill such silly critter."
That night Mary Ann had every
hing In readiness for the morrow.
tanning to rise early and prepare
imon before breakfast. for even Mary
that a goose is hard to
ress.
About four o'clock in the morning
he was aroused by an unearthly
hacking and Kissing Hastily throw.
~ quilt around her shoulders and
lunging into her shoes, she rushed to
nc chicken yard. A man fled toward
he fence with bloody turkey in one
and.
Drop that, drop that" yelled Mary ,
mn, hurting the cloths stick at him
nd bearing down upon him at fun
leed as he neared the barbed wire {
nee. ,
The thief threw himself over, but g
trousers and turkey wing caught {
barb. Gaunt Mary Ann, in her t
otley quilt doomed up before him. :
med with chicken trough. With
desperate wrench he freed himself, t
It he lost his prize. b
Mary Ann grabbed up the turkey a
3 head had been wrung on. She ran II
to the coop. 1t had been
erturned. %
Hes stole Simon, he's stole ST. n
on walled Mary Ann as Farmer {,
lrtin appeared, hitching up his trou. p
RS :,
suddenly familiar sound sm0te VI
r ear. CHANGING up, she caught A,
glimpse of Simon quacking merrily I,
d waddling rapidly through the HI
sly weeds. in the direction OF the fir
IN pen. q,
Well, reckon we'd better have 81
key for Christmas after all Amt m
use of losln' two fowls" said Farm. M
Martin. after relieving his feelings. bi
La" muttered Mary Ann, as Bhe to
tched Simon blissfully quacking W
! gobbling In the middle of the &C
n pen. Il do believe Simon amt IN
h fool after all.".-N. Y. Herald tn
When to McraIize.
We will not eXpatlate upon the evil
IL - T.