Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1916 — Page 6

YANK, THE TURK

by Charles Frederick

—URKEY had been a V part, the principal part, J Jj of the Scott’s Thanks- ® giving bill of fare ever

since Bob could remember, real Vermont turkey that they raised on their Vermont farm and fed with corn from the Vermont hills. But the particular hill on which the Scott acres

lay seemed better suited to the turkeys than to the corn; and, along in the very early spring of 1861, Bob’s father decided to try a newer country to the South and West. Late March found them breaking a clearing for a new farm in East Tennessee. They got their corn in, although a little late; they bred a few hogs and a small flock of sheep; but, when they wanted Turkey, they didn’t go to the barnyard for it, but up into the hills; for father’s trusty rifle and trusty eye were a combination no wild turkey could hope to escape.

There were plenty of rumors of war while the Yankee from Vermont was carving out a home there in the South. When war came, that Yankee made his way overland and enlisted in the company from his old Valley in Vermont, leaving Bob to take the responsibility of the Tennessee farm on his young shoulders. Bob did very well; and, when November came in due course, he got the rifle down from its pegs above the fireplace and went up the hills in search of a bird. He had been up there before with his father, but this was his first turkey hunt alone. < There was a trail that led from the hog-lot up to the ridge, and along the ridge, among the granddaddy poplars and cherries and the sweetgum orush. Bob followed it until three that afternoon without so much as a sign of :urkey; and, as he had no intention of spending a night in the hills, it oegan to look as though he must return empty-handed. Then suddenly he heard a racket off

there to the east of the trail — ' ‘Whir-r-r-r-’’ Some great living thing swept across the ridge like a cloud. Bob’s gun was up to his shoulder in an instant, although he_ shook with as bad a case of buck fever as a boy ever had. “Bang!” he blazed away at the flying cloud. It did not stop. He must have missed. But as the report died aw’ay he heard

the whir change to a flutter, and the flutter to a thud, arid the thud to a struggle in the brush down the hillside. He followed the sound of that struggle till he came upon the bird, and bird It was, a turkey not so big of body as Us spread of wings had indicated, but a turkey none the less fit to grace the Scott Thanksgiving board. The shot had broken its right wing. The boy decided to tote it home as it was, and he soon had it slung from his rifle barrel over his shoulder and was picking his way down the mountainside to find the trail at a lower point. It was moonlight when he reached the hog-yard, and then the house, with his trophy, which was now quite still. Having exhibited the bird to his mother and young sister, he laid it in the hay loft in the stable, and, after a full recital of his hunt, went to bed, as tired a boy as ever bagged a turkey, and probably more tired than any boy who never did. Now, a most surprising thing happened the next morning. When Bob opened the stable door the turkey was still there, but it was standing on both feet and with one wing trailing on the ground. And, instead of fluttering away as a regular wild turkey should, it looked up at him with a look half curiosity and half appeal. It hopped a few steps away when he approached, and then allowed Bob to touch It with his hand. “Well, fellow,” said Bob, “you don’t seem to be very much a-scart.”

Turkey-Producing States.

It may be surprising to learn that only 3 per cent of the New England farms produce turkeys. Texas leads in raising this fowl with over 364,000 to her credit, while Missouri, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky follow her closely.

Just a Thought.

The Puritan fathers couldn’t really have been such ascetics as they made themselves out to be, according to the feast which they left to their descendants, one of their chief memorials.

Blazed Away at the Flying Cloud.

He looked at the wounded wing, then scratched hfs head a moment, and then

Cautious Knock on the Cabin Door.

same to you, ma,” he said that night, “I’d a-just as soon have bacon fer dinner tomorrow.” “All right, sonny,” the mother laughed and agreed. And that is how Yank became a member of the Scott family. • For Yank he was named. To Southern ' partisans it was a term of opprobrium, but to Bob a term of affection —so everybody was satisfied. By good financiering in the spring Mrs. Scott was able to add a small flock of fowls to the Scott possessions, ■ including some turkeys. With these ' Yank mingled, not without a tinge of condescension. He never did recover ( the use of that wing, but he could run like a dog, using the good left wing as a plane now and then to lift him to the top of a fence. If Olive Chanute, the inventor of the aeroplane, had seen Yank, we might have had that invention a half century before we did. Yank showed no disposition to leave 1 the Scott place, seeming to prefer the

good corn to woodland pickings. It was seldom that any word or rumor trickled through from Bob’s father, and then there was a silence of months that left the Scott household very solemn indeed. The sympathies of the neighbors were Southern; but, be it recorded to their credit, they treated the Scotts with just as much kidjjness as if the head of the family not gone into the Union army. But when the guerrillas began to operate in the valleys below, there was reason for some uneasiness, regardless of one’s sympathies. One morning, just at the break of dawn, there was a cautious knock on the cabin door. Trembling with apprehension, the family roused itself. The latch lifted, but the man who entered was clothed in blue. Bob could scarcely believe that this red-bearded man was his father. His story was short and soon told. He had been wounded and separated from his regiment. When he recovered, he was assigned, quite willingly, to a detail to round up the guerrillas; and, as he was familiar with the vicinity he was now scouting on their trail. He was to lie quiet that day, gathering such information as he could, and return to hls comrades that 1 night. “I tell you, pop,” cried Bob. “I’ll go ■ down below and see what I can see j and let you know!”" It appealed to the | boy’s desire for adventure and to the soldier’s desire for information. So, after some reluctance and many cautions, the boy was allowed to go. To ' divert suspicion, for the turkey would attract more attention than the. boy, ; Yank was permitted to accompany him. i The boy and the bird were familiar figures in the neighborhood. Three miles from home a voice laughed, “Here’s a turk fer your dinner, captain,” and Bob' found he had walked into a hornets’ nest They took ' the two to a cabin a little back from i the pike and asked the boy a few ques-1 tions, without gaining any information.' Nor did he loose his hold on Yank, . though the bird struggled to be free. A black-browed giant entered

“There’s a Yank up on the ridge in a cabin thar, and a hundred of ’em yonder on the tother side.” “Y o u fellahs make a ride for it at sundown,” said the captain, “and grab that Yank. They are the fellahs that hung Jed Speed. We’ll have a little hangin’ party ourselves.” What could Bob do to warn his father? Run for it himself? That was hopeless.

Then he thought of Yank. Hardly knowing why, he let go his hold. There was a squawk and a flutter, a man at the door was nearly knocked from his feet, and a feathered thing that half ran and half flew made for the pike and the woods beyomj. “He got away!” “Thar goes your dinner, captain,” and a half-dozen shots all came at the same instant. As for the boy, he poured outdoors with the rest and plunged into the woods back of the cabin. Two hours later a turkey, both of whose wings drooped now, the left one stained with blood, fluttered into the Scott clearing. To go to the boy was the father’s first thought, to go for help the second and better one. It was a bit risky, but over the ridge he went and down the mountainside. Bob circled and crossed the pike a mile above. On a white stone by the road he saw a drop of red. “Well, they hit him but didn’t git him,” he said. That evening, Just as the sun dipped to the West, there was another hornets’ nest on the ridge. But this time it was the enemy that walked into it,

was off to the cabin on a run, shutting the stable door behind him. When he returned he went to work with bandages. He may not have been much of a surgeon or a bonesetter, but what he lacked in skill he made up in good intentions. Meanwhile his en- ! thuslasm regard- j ing the Thanksgiving feast rather oozed away from him. “If it’s all the

Familiar Figures in the Neighborhood.

There was time for only a few shots. But the guerrilla captain heard them in the valley below and decided that it would be well to move on, leaving his missing men to join him as best they could. But they never did. Next night, 20 miles away, the captain turned to one of his men and asked: “Do you reckon that fool bird had anything to do with it?” As for Yank, the battle-scarred veteran, what was one wing more or less? He lived to see peace return to the mountains, and to all Tennessee, and to the nation. And you may be sure he never played the principal part in any Thanksgiving dinner. (Copyright. 191®, Western Newspaper Union.)

Cause for Thanks.

There have been times in the history of the country when Thanksgiving day was rather the occasion of expressions of hope for blessings to come than of gratitude for those being enjoyed, but even so the nation has not been unmindful of its peculiar position as the most fortunate of the countries of the earth. Much more, then, should there be thankfulness on every side today when not only are the people of the land enjoying peace while thousands mourn abroad, but with peace is plenty in contrast with the hunger that stalks elsewhere to carry out the horror that shot and shell did not complete.

LOWER THE HAULING COSTS

Improved Roads Effect Gross Saving of $627,409 in Eight Counties. Improvement of roads in eight selected counties in different sections of the United States resulted, in the aggregate, in a total gross annual saving in hauling costs of $627,409, according to recent economic studies made by the office of public roads and rural engineering of the department. The cost of haulage for the group of counties is lower since the roads were improved, it was found, even w’hen 1 charges, are made in the comparative computations for interest on bonds and annual maintenance costs. The results of the studies, which extended from 1909 to 1915, and which included other ejects of improved highways than those on traffic, are shown in department bulletin 393, recently published. The eight counties in which the j studies were made are Spotsylvania, I Dinwiddie, Lee and Wise counties, ’Virginia; Franklin county, New | York; Dallas county, Alabama; I Lauderdale county, Mississippi, and . Manatee county, Florida. These counties were selected because they I had just issued bonds for road improvement when it was decided to make the studies, and it would ! therefore be possible to cover the road improvements from outset to completion.

The average gross annual saving in £auling costs due to the road improvements in these eight counties was found to be 17.9 cents per ton-mile, while the net saving was found to be 11.6 cents. The investigators point out in the bulletih that an actual cash saving to the amount indicated is not effected, but that this is the indicated saving when the time of workers and use of draft animals and equipment are given cash values at the rates prevailing in the several communities. In Spotsylvania county, Virginia, a bond issue of $173,000 was provided and seventy-six miles of road were improved. The average loads hauled in a two-horse wagon increased materially after the roads were improved, and ton-mile costs I dropped from 30 cents to 13.7 cents. This meant a gross ton-mile saving of 16.3 cents, or a net ton-mile saving, when charges were made for interest on bonds and maintenance of roads, of 14.9 cents. The gross total annual saving in the county is, therefore, approximately $150,000; and when deductions are made for interest and maintenance costs, the annual indicated net saving is $130,670.

In Dinwiddie county, Virginia, a bond issue of $105,000 was provided, and the state contributed, in addition, nearly $40,00® worth ot convict labor. The improved road mileage at the comparison of the study was 101 miles. Average loads for a two-horse wagon increased from about 2,000 pounds to about 3,200 pounds, and ton-mile costs decreased from 36 cents to 15 cents. The net ton-milq saving is 13.7 cents, and the indicated gross saving for the county is $124,970. In Lee county, Virginia, a fund of $364,000 was provided by bonds, and the state contributed labor worth more than $21,000. Ninetynine miles of road were improved. Average loads increased from 1,500 to 4,000 pounds, and ton-mile costs

wer© reduced from 40 to 20 cents, with a net ton-mile saving of 10.6 cents. The gross annual saving for the county was $59,400. | In Franklin county, New York, •bonds to the amount of $500,000 were issued, and 135 miles of road ! were improved. Average loads increased from about 2,400 pounds to [5,557 pounds. Ton-mile costs dropped from 30.3 to 9.6 cents, and the net ton-mile saving was 11.7 cents. The gross annual saving in the county for hauling charges has been approximately $50,000 since the roads were improved. In Dallas county, Alabama, $366,,977 secured from the bond issue j was used to improve 101 miles of road. Average loads increased from 1,500 pounds to 2,500 pounds, and ton-mile hauling costs fell from 30 to 15 cents. The net ton-mile saving was 10.9 cents. It is estimated that the county saves annually $90,- ( ood grqss in hauling costs as a result of the road improvement. In Lauderdale county, Mississippi, $500,000 worth of bonds were issued, and ninety-six miles of road improved. Average loads increased

from 1,500 to 2,500 pounds, and hauling costs dropped from 37 to 20 cents per ton-mile. This brought about a net saving of 3.9 cents per ton-mile when all annual charges against the road improvements were considered. The annua! gross saving to the county is approximately $43,490. In Manatee county, Florida, $2"52,500 obtained from a bond issue improved sixty-three miles of road. Average loads increased from 1,500 pounds to 4,800 pounds, which resulted in a reduction of ton-mile hauling costs from 45 to 20 cents. The net saving per ton-mile since the roads have been improved is 12% cents. It is estimated that the county saves annually in gross hauling costs $32,573. In Wise county, Virginia, $1,031,578.54 was provided for road work by bond issues, state contributions and in other ways. From this fund eighty-three miles of road have been surfaced and sixty-six miles graded. Average loads have increased from 1,500 to 2,500 pounds and ton-mile hauling costs have been reduced from 57 to 23 cents. The gross saving to the county, w’hen hauling costs alone are considered, is approximately $68,000 a year.

IS GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER

Jury Convicts Farmer for Hurling Bucket of Corn at Auto. Hartford City, November 19. Albert Thomas, a farmer near here, was found guilty of manslaughter for the killing of 8-year-old Epiily Stout of Upland in a verdict returned late last night by a jury in the circuit court. The jury in effect rejected Thomas’ plea that it was an accident when he hurled a bucket at the girl as she was riding in an automobile wdiich almost ran Thomas down on a road near his home. The penalty is two to fourteen years in prison. The child was killed May 28 while riding with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Trent Stout. Thomas was walking along the road, carrying a bucket of corn. As he stepped from the path of the automobile the farmer whirled the bucket about his head and let it fly at the occupants of the car. The bucket struck the little girl.

Sale Bills WE have a large assortment of cuts--=horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, farming tools, etc.—from which to make a selection for use in printing sale bills. We are prepared to print your bills on very short notice, in fact, we will print them while you wait. With each set of bills we publish a complete notice of your sale in each issue of The Democrat - - up to date of sale without extra charge. Remember, when in need of them, to order your set of sale bills here. The Democrat

who was sitting on her mother’s lap, and broke her neck, killing her instantly. In a frenzy Dr. Stout attempted to kill Thomas, but was restrained. Feeling against the farmer was so high that he was closely guarded and when a large crowd surrounded the county jail here the prisoner was slipped into an automobile and taken to Muncie for safe keeping. Thomas protested that the killing was accidental. He asserted that he raised the bucket to maintain his balance-as he scrambled from the path of the automobile and that it flew from his hand unintentionally. ,He has a wife and several children.

BABY HAD WHOOPING COUGH Mrs. Sam C. Small, Clayton, N. M., writes: “My grandson had whooping cough when he was three months old. We used Foley’s Honey and Tar and I believe it saved his life. He is now big and fat.” Fpley’s Honey and Tar is a fine thing to have in the house for whooping cough, croup, coughs, colds.—Sold everywhere.

notice of grade letting, NO. 2946. Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, December 5, 1916, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper county, Indiana, will receive sealed proposals for the construction of a grade in Keener township on the north and south road between sections 2 and 3, 10 and 11, 14 and 15, all in township 32 north, range 7 west, beginning at the Kankakee river and running south. Said grade to be built according to plans and specifications on file in the auditor’s office, all bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by bond and affidavit according to law. The board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper county, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor Jasper County,' Indiana.

NOTICE OF LETTING CONTRACT FOR COUNTY FARM SUPPLIES Notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of JaspbF county, Indiana, will on Tuesday, December 5, 1916, receive sealed proposals for furnishing groceries, dry goods and meat for the use of county poor asylum. All bids to be on file by 2 o’clock of said date and to be accompanied by affidavit as required by law. The board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. By order of the Board of Commissioners of Jasper county, Indiana. JOSEPH P. HAMMOND, Auditor. More than 260,000 boys and girls were enrolled in 1915 in agricultural and canning clubs conducted co-operatively by the state colleges and the department.

BIG PUBLIC SALE As I have rented my farm and am going to move to. town, I will sell at public auction at my farm 9 miles north and 3 miles east of Rensselaer, li/ ? miles west of Gifford, commencing at IQ a. m., on WEDNESDAY, NOV. 22, 1916, 4 Head of Horses—Consisting of 1 driving horse, 4 years old, automobile broke, gentle and good driver; 1 spring colt; 1 2-year-old colt; 1 mare, 9 years old. 27 Head of Cattle—Consisting of 8 head of good milk cows, 4 to be fresh soon, 4 giving milk now. The

above cows are all bred to a purs bred Hereford bull; 2 yearling heifers; 7 head of yearling steers; 7 head of spring calves, 5 of them Herefords; 1 yearling bull; 1 3-year-old Hereford bull, pure bred, papers furnished. 5 Head of Shotes— Weighing 60 to 80 pounds each. Farm Implements— Consisting of 1 good Studebaker wagon; 1 old wagon and rack; 2 old buggies; 1 set of gravel boards; .1 scoopboardr 1 spring wagon; 1 set of heavy work harness, almost good as new; 1 set of buggy harness; gome extra collars; some clover* seed and numerous other articles. Terms— lo months’ credit will be given on sums over >lO without interest if paid when due; 6 per cent discount for cash when entitled to credit. WILLIAM MARKIN. , Fred Phillips, auctioneer. J. H. Chapman, clerk. Hot lunch on grounds. BIG PUBLIC SALE. The undersigned, having purchased a farm in Michigan, will offer at Public Sale at his present residence, 1 mile west and 2% miles north of Mt. Ayr, 10% miles south of Roselawn, on the Ransom Elijah farm, commencing at 10 a. m. on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1916 3 Head of Horses— l bay mare., 5 years old, weight about 1150; 1 bay gelding, eomirig 4 years old, weight about 1250; 1 gray gelding, a good worker, weight about 1300. 15 Head of Cattle— l 5-year-old white face cow, calf by side, 6 weeks old; 2 Durham heifers 1 year old last August; 2 yearling steers, 1 red and 1 black; 1 yearling Shorthorn bull; 6 spring heifer calves; 2 spring steer calves. 10 Head of Shotes— Weight about 60 pounds each. Chickens— About 175 R. I. Red year-old hens and pullets, good stock. Implements, Wagons, etc.—Consisting of 1 David Bradley sulkey plow, good as new; 1 David Bradley disc, -7-foot, new; 1 J. I. Case corn planter with fertilizer attachment, good as new; 1 10-foot Osborn harrow; 1 1 flfoot Milwaukee hay rake; 1 farm wagon with double box; 1 hay rack; 1 set gravel boards; 1 good top road wagon; 1 1-horse 5-sbovel truck cultivator, cultivator shovels and shields; washing machine, kitchen cabinet, table and other small articles. Terms—Ten dollars and under cash in hand; on sums over sl9 a credit of 9 months will be given, purchaser executing note with approved security bearing 6 per cent interest from date if paid when due, if not paid when due 8 per cent interest from date; 2 per cent off for cash when entitled to credit. No property to be removed until termgof sale are complied with. Hot lunch by the Ladies’ Aid of the Mt. Ayr M. E. church. J. W. HARLOW. W. A. McCurtain, Auctioneer. C. G. Spitler, Clerk

Co|. W. A. McCurtain’s Sale Dates Phone Rensselaer, 92G-R. Terms—l per cent. ■ -- * Nov. 22, Mr. Spurgeon, general sale. November 29, Mr. Harlow, 2*& miles north of Mt. Ayr, general sale. Dec. 5, Estil Markin, general sale. Dec. 15, George Salrin; general sale, including 75 head of cattle. Dec. 27, Joe Thomas; •general sale. Jan. 11, Dana Rlshling, general sale. Feb. 14, John R, Lewis; Hampshire hog sale.