lked gravely away, just as Mother Hubbard made
her appearance at the window.

"Boy," said Mother Hubbard, beaming mildly upon Davy through her
spectacles, "you shouldn't throw gravel."

"I haven't thrown any," said Davy.

"Fie!" said Mother Hubbard, shaking her head; "always speak the truth."

"I am speaking the truth," said Davy, indignantly. "It was Gobobbles."

"So I supposed," said Mother Hubbard, gently shaking her head again. "It
would have been far better if he had been cooked last Christmas instead
of being left over. Stuffing him and then letting him go has made a very
proud creature of him. You should never be proud."

"I'm not proud," replied Davy, provoked at being mixed up with Gobobbles
in this way.

"You may define the word _proud_, and give a few examples," continued
Mother Hubbard; and by this time she had grown to be so surprisingly
like Miss Peggs that Davy immediately clasped his hands behind him,
according to rule, and prepared to recite.

"Proud means being set up, I think," he said, respectfully; "but I don't
think I know any examples."

"You may take Gobobbles for an example," replied Mother Hubbard. "You'll
find _him_ set up in front of the house, and mind you don't aggravate
him;" and after again beaming mildly through her spectacles she
disappeared from the window, and Davy went cautiously around the corner
of the house, curious to see what Gobobbles might be like. As he
approached the front of the house he heard a loud, thumping noise, and
presently he came in sight of Gobobbles, who proved to be a large and
very bold-mannered turkey with all his feathers taken off except a
frowzy tuft about his neck. He was tied fast in a baby's high chair, and
was thumping his chest with his wings in such a violent and
ill-tempered manner that Davy at once made up his mind not to aggravate
him under any circumstances. As Gobobbles caught sight of him he
discontinued his thumping, and, after staring at him for a moment, said
sulkily:--

"I can't abide boys!"

"Why not?" said Davy.

"Oh, they're so hungry!" said Gobobbles, passionately. "They're so
everlastingly hungry. Now don't deny that you're fond of turkey."

"Well, I _do_ like turkey," said Davy, seeing no way out of the
difficulty.

"Of course you do!" said Gobobbles, tossing his head. "Now you might as
well know," he continued, resuming his thumping with increased energy,
"that I'm as hollow as a drum and as tough as a hat-box. Just