Native American Legends
Why the Turkey gobbles
A Cherokee Legend
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 today.
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 by 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.
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