Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Newspaper Page Text
THE CHILDREN'S TRIBUNE on Thanksgiving 4? ? Father Turkey The Gob BY MARY GRAHAM BONNER CAN'T help gobbling, I can't help boasting, I can't help being proud and I can't help strutting," said Mr. Turkey. The barnyard animals looked at Mr. Turkey. He was quite an important looking fellow, but still he was pretty conceited; yes, he was pretty conceited. "There's a good deai you can't help, isn't there?" the other barnyard animals said, wink ing at each other. "You think, perhaps, Mother Turkey gobble, gobble, you think perhaps that I am un? duly conceited. But no, listen to me. This is my story: In the springtime, when I was born, my mother saw that all of us children were well looked after for the first four weeks. Especially did she see that we didn't get our feet wet. "Now, mothers are often particular that their children should not get their feet wet. They make them wear rubbers. There are no rubbers for turkeys, so our mothers cannot do such things. So they have to watch us all the time during these first four weeks. To be sure, 1 don't believe human children walk about when they're as young as that. But no matter. When they do walk about and if they do get their feet wet it may mean they'll have bad colds. But it's more im? portant with turkeys than that. If turkeys get their feet wet before they are four weeks old they will never grow up to be strong turkeys. They will be sickly and wretched. So the first four weeks of a turkey's life are most important. "But that is not why I am conceited, oh, no! I am strong. My mother took good care of me. said Mr. Turkey, "yes, But lately 1 have been fed more and more deli? cacies. I have not had to go looking for food myself. It has been brought to me, nice cornmeal and such good things. And I've had all I could eat. They've wanted to fatten me up for the great day to come. "The turkey is the great creature on Thanks? giving Day. Ask any one who is the favorite in school and a dozen names may be given. Ask any one who is the prettiest and a dozen names may be given. Ask any one who is the greatest man living and different people may think different ones are greatest. But ask any one what is most important at Thanksgiving and one and all will say 'The Turkey!' "I am fed for the great event. What matters it if then they turn the tables, so to speak, and eat me? It's the compliment, and up to the time the compliment is shown me ? enjoy myself hugely. Yes, the turkey is the most important thing about Thanksgiving, And it is a most important day, so I cannot help boasting. Gobble, gobble, gobble."