Dear Little Ones:

A very suspicious-looking man came into the barnyard the other day. He looked all around among my brothers and cousins. Then he pointed at me and said I Gas a nice, big fellow. This made me feel very proud.

When he put his hand into his pocket, I supposed he was going to give me some corn. Instead he counted out money to my master. Then I knew he would take me away, and 1 began gobbling good-bye to my relatives and friends of the barnyard.

Now I am alone in the little pen he brought me to. I have been thinking of all this fuss over me, and having so many good things to eat must mean something. I gobbled to some other fowls running about in a yard, and found out from them that it was almost Christmas-time.

Now let me ease your tender little hearts about my career being so suddenly cut short. I want to tell you that in Turkeydom it is considered a great glory to be the center of attraction at a Christmas dinner-table; to be dressed up in a nice brown coat; to be surrounded by sparkling jellies, rich cranberry sauce, and all the other good things; to hear the children cry, "Oh! Oh!" and the papas and mamas say, "What a fine turkey!" This is 'what we live for, my little dears. So, when I have gobbled my last gobble, don't be sorry for me.

Yours, when fat,

TURKEYGOBBLER

Richards, Laura E. (1850-1943) "Four Feet, Two Feet and No Feet; or Furry and Feathery Pets, and How They Live" Boston: Page, 1886