his sisters out to help him to dig a grave and give the goose a proper burial When older brother arrived home the next afternoon, out to the barn he went to check up on the prized goose. He was now attached to the goose and had second thoughts on killing it for the big scoff. Not able to find the goose he went into the house and told his mother. They both returned to the barn and searched the fields and found no goose. When younger brother returned to the barnyard he told the sad tale of woe. Knowing him to be a bit of a comic, older brother did not believe the story until his sisters came and confirmed it to be true. Together they paraded out behind the barn and dug up the evidence. The older brother, in shock, took the goose into the house for his mother to prepare for the planned feast, but on examining it, and seeing it discolored, ordered the older brother to again lay it to rest. Knowing a kindly lady who helped his mother to prepare the foul for canning, off he went with the goose and for 25 cents she prepared it for the oven. The next evening the six young fellows gathered at one of the lucky winners houses. The father and mother being away, the housekeeper cooked them up a roaring feast as planned. Only one lad knowing the fate of the goose, they laughed and told stories all through the meal. The housekeeper made them a molasses pie served with buttermilk for dessert and those six young lads all lived health ever after. Playing cards for fowl was also a great pastime for young lads, during those long winter evenings back in the 30s. With feed scarce and no money to buy more, farmers could be pressured into playing cards for even an animal on the farm. 142