An Old Story Revived.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 October 1911, Page 4

An Old Story Revived.

THE TALE OF A TURKEY

; A certain learned judge in Mexico, walking one morning into court, felt for his. repeater, but found it . was not in his pocket.' ".As usual," said iio to a friend, as ho passed through the crowd near the door, "1 hare again left my watcli under my pillow.' So he went on the bench and thought no .more of it. The donrt adjourned and Hie returned homo. As soon as he was quietly seated in nis parlour he hethough't him of his timepiece, and turning to his wifo requested her to send it to their clian her. "But my dear judge,' said she, "I sent it to you three liwirs ago!" "Sent it" to me. my dear? Certainly not." "Unquestionably," replied the lady, "and by tho person you sent for iifc! You had not left home .more than an hour when a well-dressed man 'knocked at tho door and asked to see me. He hought one of the finest turkeys I over saw; and said that on your way to court you met an Indian with a number of fowls, and ha.ving bought this one ouito a 'bargain, you had given him'a couple of reals to bring it home, with the request that I should hare it killed, picked, and put to cool, ns you intended to invite your brother judges for a dish of Molle with you to-morrow. And 'Oh, .by the way, .Sonorita.' said he, 'his excellency the judge requested me to ask you lo give yourself the trouble to go to your lied chani'ber and take his watcli from under the pillow, whero he said lue left it as usual this morning, and send it to him by me,' and of course, me querido, T did so.' "You did!' said the judge. "Ooitainlv," said the lady. "Well," replied his honour, "all T can say to you .my dear, is that yon are ns great a goose as the bird is a turkey. You've been ro.bhed. madam : the man was a thief, T never soul for my watch; you've heen imposed upon, and as a consequence the watch is lost for ever!" The trick was a cunning one: and alter a laugh, and the restoration of the judge's good humour by a good dinner, it was resolved actually to have the turkey for to-morrow's dinner, and his honour's brothers of the hench to enjoy a morsel so dear. Accordingly, after the adjournment of court next day. they all repaired td his dwelling, with appetites s'hadpened by the expectation of a rare repast. Scarcely had they entered the sal? and "exchanged" the ordinary salutations, when the lady .broke forth with congratulations to his honour upon the recovery of his stolen watch. "How happy am I!" exclaimed she. "that the villian was apprehended!" _ "Apprehended!" said the judge with surprise. "Yes, and doubtless convicted, too, Ivy this time,' 'said his wife. "You are always _ talking riddles." he replied; explain yourself, my dear. I know nothing of thief, watch, or conviction." "Tt can't he possible that T ■have been again deceived." nnoth the lady; "but this is the story: 'Ahout pno o'clock to-day a pale and interesting yrnne; man. dressed in a seedy suit oi' buck, came to the house in great haste-almost out of "breath. He said he had just come from court, that he was one of the clerks: that the great villain who had had the audacity to steal voiur honour's watch had just boon arrested : that the evidence was nearly perfect t-o convict him, and all that was reqi ired to complete it was the turkey, which' must he hronght into court, and for that he had heen sent with a porter by your express orders.' " And you gave it to him?" "Of course T did: who could have denoted him or resisted the orders of a judge?" "Watch— and turkey—both gone! Pray what on earth, madam, are we to do for dinner?" But the lady had taken care of her guests, notwithstanding her simplicity, and the party enjoyed both joke and viands.