WHY THE TURKEY GOBBLES

WHY THE TURKEY GOBBLES

The Grouse used to have a fine voice and a good halloo in the ballplay. All the
animals and birds used to play ball in those days and were just as proud of a loud
halloo as the ball players of to-day. The Turkey had not a good voice, so he
asked the Grouse to give him lessons. The Grouse agreed to teach him, but
wanted pay for his trouble, and the Turkey promised to give him some feathers
to make himself a collar. That is how the Grouse got his collar of turkey
feathers. They began the lessons and the Turkey learned very fast until the
Grouse thought it was time to try his voice. “Now,” said the Grouse, “I’ll stand
on this hollow log, and when I give the signal tapping on it, you must halloo
as loudly as you can.” So he got upon the log ready to tap on it, as a Grouse
does, but when he gave the signal the Turkey was so eager and excited that he
could not raise his voice for a shout, but only gobbled, and ever since then he
gobbles whenever he hears a noise.