The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-21
OUR CHRISTMAS TURKEY.

It was Christmas Eve and our little draw wing
room looked snug and bright as room could
look. 1t was not by any means n difficult apart
ment to light, being some What less than four
teen feet square, the spacious bow-window not
included, and, execrable as Is suburban gas,
you might have seen to read the most dimly-
printed penny paper In our most distant corner.
But small as was the room, 1t was the sort of
evening that would have made you instiuctively
draw your chair close up to the cheerful fire
that went blazing up the Liliputian chimney.
BY the way il cracked, you could tell there was
bitter frost outsde you might have guessed
it. too by the marked difference of temperature
you experienced in the aforesaid boW-window.
Suburban window-frames would hardly carry
of gold medals at universal exhibitions as
triumphs of neauiSeyie. It was, indeed, most
seasonable weather for any one who had a snug
roof overhead, aud credit with his coal merchant
and tradespeople generally. With these and an
easy mind the intense cold without ought to
have given but keener zest to the quiet enjoy
ment within.
Unfortunately the minds OF both my wife and
myself were much disturbed. The fortunes Of
the morrow depended on the events of the
night; and we were waiting expectant, in all
the feverish anxiety of wishes unsatisded and
hopes deferred.
Nine O'Clock striking, John. Well, if it does
not come in another hour give it up"
'Aiter ALL" said ], affecting a confidence l was
very far from feeling, ''the rail way companies
must have great deal to do to night. Upon
my word now that l think OF it, it's much
more likely that they will deliver it the first
thing o.mortow."
Nonsense John. You know that Uncle
Wurzel said it should be here by Christmas Eve
at latest, and he is quite sure 10 have kept the
safe side, and sent it off IN time.'
1t was our Christmas turkey that was in ques-
tiou-ours by promise and by Gift, at least;
although doubts, shadowy at first, had gone on
gradually assuming consistency and shape,
until we had nearly arrived at the conclusion
that it must have become some one elses by
rieht OF capture. My wife's uncle old Mr..
Wurzel OF Wesuepps, had promised to cOntri-
butte 10 our Christmas dinner one OF the primest
of his celebrated breed Of Norfolk turkeys. In
the hospitality Of our hearts We had imme-
diately taken steps accordingly.
The fatted turkey being, as we fondly
imagined, provided, we had imm ediately hidden
the guests TO come and feast on him, Our little
diningroom was but snail edition of the
drawing.room; and even when four chairs were
arranged round its dwarf table there was but
sCant space left for the evolutiOns of our plump
maid-servapt. So the invitations issued were
perforce limited to two; these were addressed
first 10 my friend Quilter, whose articles to an
eminent solicitor had just expired, and who was
''looking about him" with view to starting on
his own account; and secondly, to my Wifes
cousin Palette, azealous artist, who hoped one
day to take high rank as an historical painter,
and who meantime ! Ist no opportunity of max
ing study of the passions. Quilter, as kne ",
had thrown over several other engagements to
come to us, for he had told me so; and as for
Palette, he was the most frank Of men, and had
had small sCruple in intimatBg to us that he
looked forward with at least as much pleasure
TO a meeting with the Westrepps turkey as TO
the reunion with his cousin aud her husband.
For Westrepps is and has from tune immemo-
rial been famed for its turkeys; and Mr.. Wurzel
has made a reputation by them, as his neghoOr,
lIn Lott TOrA E,Dip hoc I0,, hv ne Cha1n
III autumn you see them trooping by hundreds
over the wheat stubbe, and through the
rick-yards among the falling grains. They pass
q brief but happy lie in that Norfolk Eden,
asfging and Tegorgng their pOltly persons.
When cut down in their golden prime, aud
despatched 10 the London market, they enjoy
posthumous triumph as the Gro wing glories of
the choicest stalls in Leadenhail Roasted, and
Ieposing on monster dish, oVerbearing in death
as in life, they almost elbow the less substantial
fare from modest.s sized table; and next day,
when 1t reappeaTs orilled and peppered the very
thigh has more substance 10 shO than leg Of
black faced Welsh mutton. No wonder, then,
with SO much at stake, that we felt anxious and
depressed. We felt that, if our looked-for guest
should not arrive in time, we should have but
blank board and blank faces round it at our little
Christmas merry-making.
How we longed and listened as each football
on the pavement echoed clear and loud III the
frosty airl How we hoped that it might pause,
and, turning IN at onr little doorway, be fol
lowed by the peal OF the changing bell. Thanks
10 the liUeIdl dG sjy III runs 'l6-
Grand, we had postal delivery about once in
each twenty minutes; and when we heard the
postman ply knocker or pull bell-wire anywhere
in the neighborhOod, how anXiously we waited
in some vague hope of an explanation that we
felt to be impossible. believe We had some
underlined idea that the mighty fowl might
have been despatched at the eleventh
hour by pattern post, and be delivered
with his blue drumsticks hanging out
at one end Of the parcel, and his red wat
Ties depending from the other. Oars is semi
detached mdisOnette. and the gravel walks that
merely separated by low wire railing;
consequently when foot tread5 on either. it
is heard with equal distincmess in one house
and the other, and for a moment it remains
is bound. Twice was tho cup Of hope raised
TO our lips by such q football, and twice was it
dashed down again, as we woke to the
painful truth that the errand was not to
us. Once a sustained conversation car
ried on in the neighboring garden boiled
up my Wife's excitement 10 fever point and
at last, declaring that 1t was evident that there
was some mistake which wanted clearing up,
she insisted on my gong out TO examine the
night and be IN the way 10 rectiiy any mi5un-
deTstauding.
The voices of the night came from the servant
next door and railway porter, Notwithstand-
ing the extreme loWness of the temperature, he
seemed to have been tightening With sSne pass.
ing gallantres a conversation which must have
been OF a business character, in so lar as it
regarded hamper which lay at their feet. On
my emerging, the young lady made a snatch at
the hamper, aud cut short the dialogue with au
irate slam of the door. The young man glanced
Indignantly at me from under the gas.amp, and
seemed to be breathing something the very re-
verse ofthe good viii supposed to be congenial to
the especial season OF love and charity. A
sudden thought struck me Providence had sent
me not the turkey, unluckily, but perhaps the