The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1907-12-20


pan Of peelings and dashed them in.
Peep! peep!" murmured the gos
ling. bobbing up and down.
"La!" calculated Mary Ann, and ran
for the shovel
When she had shoveled him out on
the grass she finished her exclamation.
La! aint that fool goose got no
more sense that to go swimmin' in the
slop bucket"
"Peep!" replied the gosling, placidly
turning over on the grass in the warm
sun with deliciously filled feeling.
Lazily the summer months drifted
by. Cne day and another that fool
goose" as every one came to designate
him, figured continually before the
public eye. So entirely devoid of
sens" did his escapades seem that the
! nired man named him Simple ST.
mon," for short.
With the coming of the snappy De-
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 arc
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 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. week before toe
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 coachm
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
carried away. One of the two, hand
some young gobbler, Col Robertson
and his graz dson would call for on
Thursday. Proudly and stihiy 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 IL the air around
him did not fairly reek with garlic
Whenever the turkey came too near
In his swollen pride 1t 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.
ut amt much of turkey that's 8
fact acknowledged Farmer Martin as
he and Mary Ann passed the pen Fri
day evening.
"She amt worth much. Wouldn'
you ruther I'd kill her than Simon to
morrow" tentatively Gueried Mar.
, Ann. with her eyes on Simon. who raj
to the bars to see II more food wa!
forthcoming.
Goose is good enough for me. ant
Simon amt nc 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 a better fight for her victuals,