The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-29
BY JAMES GORDON GILLESPIE

Day, and l distinctly caught the e
ton of my name.
/ have lived with MI. Man and Wo-
man nearly all my 1fe, and since I
grew up l have helped them u the
place. l have always had the kind
lest feeling for them, and it is for
that reason that I am leaving the
~ante-mortem statement, which ! want
them to publish in The Daily Com
monwealth. l wish them to read when
l am no more, and to know that I died
like a real turkey. l also wish to
shield any innocent persons from be-
ing unjustly accused of my murder.
Know then, whom this may con-
Germ, and especially you people Of
Greenwood where I expect my body
will be sent for ultimate disposal, that
I died, not in a vulgar fight, o by
the hand Of an assassin, but strictly
in the discharge of duty, to which, -af-
ter Mr.. Mans hired boy caught me
and tied my feet, l felt irresistably
drawn.
It is not PLEASANT ia think Of leav-
ing the warm sunshiny barnyard, of
never settling down comfortably on
my favorite limb in the apple tree
for a good nights rest, or. never see-
ing Mrs. Woman or her little girl
bring out a big dish Of nice clean
corn for my supper. But if one must
go, one seeks to find some consola-
ton to take with him, as while I am
not exactly happy, I try to feel re-
signed to my fate in the thought Of
the pleasure that I am going, to give
others on Thanksgiving Day-which,
take it from me, will be much.
I know what l am talking about,
for il l do say it myself, there r
mighty few turkeys Of my age in the
Delta who have bigger, sharper legs,
finer wings, q bigger, frmef breast or
a thicker rounder neck than yours
truly. / wish / could walk into that
certain dining room in Greenwood
where I am to play such an important
part in the feasting and e how the
cook fixes me up. ,
l harly expect that I will look nat
ural, but it would be a satisfaction if
l could call the diners attention to
those big round legs Of mine, and my
towering, swelling wish bone. Every
body, even people, have to die some
time, 10 what's the use Of my wor-
rying, especially when I am to have
such a funeral.
Thanksgiving Day, Xmas Day and
New Years Day are the principal fun
days for us turkeys. incidentally, I
wonder if those Turks the papers are
talking so much about these days are
any relatives Of mine. The narne is
not spelt quite the same, as we in
America write it. For my WI part
l am glad that fellow, Gar Ferdi-
nand lives in Bulgaria, for he seems
to have no regard for the calendar,
but kills Turks whenever and wher-
ever he finds them.
Now, it is so nice and different in
this country; there r three days in
the year which r very trying to
turkeys, but during the rest Of the
year we are treated fine and dandy,
live on the best the barn and house
provide and are jealously guarded
from harm.
/ will never forget when I first
heard of Thanksgiving, Xmas and
New Year, and Of the common fate
of all turkeys. And at first I rebelled
bitterly and denounesd such philoso-
phieal views as a tame and unworthy
submission to injustice. talked open
revolt all over the barnyard for the
next few days, and offered to head
a party and fly to the woods, where
we could enjoy freedom and not live
under the perpetual shadow Of the
impending axe. My eloquence failed
utterly, even to chickens and those
odious duck creatures putting on su-
perior airs and limiting I was crazy
with the pep.
Remember, kind reader, I was then
but eight months old; that I was but
q hot-headsd youth, md that:life was
very dear 70 me; remember that had
been publicly laughed at by the whole
barnyard community, and then do not
judge me harshly, when I confess that
I stole away alone myself that after
noon, and never Stopped until / reach
ed a dense grove away of. Al scon
the sun went down I took W
tall trees limb, and waited until it
was light next morning before Isven-
tured down.
fairly revealed in good things that
day. had never imagined there were
80 many delicacicus grubs and bugs
Of all kinds. TO say nothing Of tasty
tender leaves and roots and berries.
The weeks that followed went al too
and then my golden dream
WAS followed by cold, frosty nights
: v1 1Aa%1AsA <u>n. 49, 49, "