Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-01-10
SELECTED STORY
JOHN WARMERS TURKEY.

John Warner telt dreadtnlly queer, as be
hurried home. on Christmas Eve, with big
brown parcel under his arm
He felt queer because that parcel contained
a big turkey, and John Warner was bach
elor He bad for twenty years been book
keeper for Brown, Simpson & Co., and
when. that afternoon, they had presented each
of their employees with a turkey for their
Christmas dinner they had insisted on John 9
accepting one, although he had invariably
declined before.
Now, he was ashamed to be seen carry
ing it through the street, for everybody knew
he was bachelor However, he peedn't
have felt so shy about it, for the street were
crowded with people too busy about their
own errands to notice him
So, long before be got home. he began to
forget about the turkey, and actually stop
ped before toy shop window to gaze With
the crewd on wonderful wooden being
who was dancing lively hornpipe to the
unheard music of wooden violin Every.
body laughed and John laughed too.
On he went after that, in a good humor
whistling Tommy Dodd' unconsciously to
himself, until he reached home.
Now, John Warner did not live on any
fourth floor, back, and toast his own bread,
and toast his own tea in Tom Thumb tea.
pot.
Not he. For eleven years he had boarded
with Mrs Beam, the widow of his assistant
book keeper, who had left her nothing but
small life insurance beside the little house
they lived in.
With her aged mother and little boy to
take care Of, she had been obliged to have
recourse to her sewing machine for assistance
and many an evening, when Mr.. Warner
called on them, she was so busy, that the
machine had to be kept whirring all the
time.
Once she said that she wished she could
get some one to take her spare room and
board with her; it would help her a good
deal.
So John Warner, though man Of fixed
habits, gave mp his snug apartment else
where and came to live with Mrs. Beam.
They had logged along comfortably to-
gether. Their wants were few and simple,
and they lived in plain, quiet way, which
neither would have given up for life of
luxury,
John Warner, strange to say, had never
before thought Of carrying his annual turkey
to Mrs. Beam but this afternoon he worked
hard over his ledger, had settled up accounts
placed his books in the safe, locked it, and
turned off the gas in the dingy office an
hour earlier than usual. A fter all he forgot
the turkey till he was locking tho outside
door, and had to 60 back for it.
How heavy it felt Why it musi wiegh
eight or ten pounds. He never had carried
turkey home in his life, and he hoped the
long yellow legs were not sticking out
He went round to the. side door which
opened in the dining room, and startled
Mrs. Beam, who was just lighting the
lamp.
''Merey on me !! why how you scared
me, John 1t isn't six O'Clock, is it?
glancing anxiously at the timepiece, which
was just on the verge of five. II thought
I'd have time to run around to the butch
er's and get chicken for tomorrow, before
tea-oh what's that ?" giving little
scream as John fourished the turkey before
her eyes.
''That's our Christmas dinner answered
John, with chuckle to see the widow so
pleased.
"Well now, if that don't beat all ~ ejacu-
lated Mrs. Beam. II was saying to moth
err I'd most forgot how turkey tasted, and if
here amt splendid one come right to our
mouths John you are good friend"
The widow shook him warmly by the
hand. and Johns eyes began to moisten !;
but be said:
"Not go good, Mrs. Beam, after all, for
the turkey didn't cost me cent bnt I'll
get all the filings to 60 With it. I guess I
might as we'll go out now. if you'll give me
basket The biggest one you can raise"
he called out after her.
1t was pretty small basket, for the wild
ow had no occasion to use large one; but
John took it and started
At the gate be met Willie, Mrs. Beams
boy, and told him to ''hurry, in, for there
was somebody waiting to see him." the near
est approach to joke he ever made.
Willie few in, and hearing bis mothers
voice in the kitchen, rushed out there, and
saw big, fat turkey lying on the little pine
table.
He stopped short, in wonder, never be-
fore having seen such sight 10 their house
HIS mother and grandmother laughed at
his surprise
s.Mother." said he almost in a whisper.