The Tale of Turkey Proudfoot / Slumber-Town Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21844

Title

The Tale of Turkey Proudfoot / Slumber-Town Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Arthur Scott Bailey's whimsical fable follows Turkey Proudfoot, a vain and quarrelsome gobbler who believes himself the farm's ruler. Through a series of comedic encounters with geese, a brave rooster, a haughty peacock, and a mysterious new pet, Proudfoot learns humility. With charming illustrations and a gentle moral, this tale offers delightful entertainment for young readers while exploring themes of pride, friendship, and self-discovery.

Summary up to 500 words

In Arthur Scott Bailey's *The Tale of Turkey Proudfoot*, a fable from the *Slumber-Town Tales* collection, the story centers on Turkey Proudfoot, the vain and arrogant ruler of Farmer Green's farmyard. Admired by the hen turkeys for his magnificent, glittering tail and loud gobble, Proudfoot is despised by others for his vanity, noise, and constant quarreling. He believes he can whip anyone or anything, including Farmer Green himself, until a blow from a stick teaches him a lesson. His reign is first challenged by the 'Silly Six' geese. Proudfoot attempts to command them to avoid the cold duck pond, but they ignore his warnings and hiss at him. When Proudfoot tries to scare them, their collective hissing proves more intimidating than his threats, forcing him to retreat. The conflict escalates when Henrietta Hen brings her new brood of chicks to the yard. Proudfoot bluffs his way into defending them against the rooster, only to realize the rooster is actually protecting the hens from Proudfoot's aggression. Proudfoot's ego is further shattered by the arrival of Johnnie Green's new pet, a magnificent peacock. Initially dismissive, Proudfoot is humbled by the peacock's stunning beauty and terrifying, non-verbal roar. The peacock's indifference to Proudfoot's status and his decision to perch high on a wall for travelers to admire completely shatters Proudfoot's sense of superiority. Seeking solace, Proudfoot travels to the woods for his annual vacation to meet his brother, Tom. Despite their reunion, the cold night and Proudfoot's lingering shivers remind him of his isolation. The story concludes with a Thanksgiving message, suggesting that even the proudest among us must learn to appreciate community and the warmth of family, as Proudfoot finally finds comfort in the shelter of his brother's wing.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Local file path

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Categories

• Animals
• Conduct of Life
• Turkeys