Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-12-02
THE KIND TURKEY-MAN.

of Greenville, leaving them cold and bare
against the dull sky. The squirrels were
safe and warm'in their own little houses,
cracking nuts for their Thanksgiving din
ner. The trees waved their tall, bare
branches in the biting cold, but they know
that their roots were sheltered by the kind
earth. The cold wind shouted n merry
'good-evening to everything, as he rush
cd over the frozen ground.
He raced over the bare hills the sQuir-
res drew closer together and eXultod over
theircrowded storehouse the trees bowed
a stately good night, rs he whisked away
but lie calmed down as he met little
figure on the frozen road, and gave her
time to draw her faded cloak over her
blue hands, before he rushed on again.
A wagon was heard-rattle, rattle :
Even the wagon is cold, thought the child
as she heard the loose spokGs rattling in
the wheels.
She stepped aside forth wagon to pass
the driver, real pleasant looking man,
stopped his horse and asked her whittier
she was going.
"To tho city," answered the child.
ITO the city !" cried the man. Why
you will never get there unless you are
blown there, or take you"
"Win you take me ?" she asked, not
eagerly, but more like one accustomed to
retusals.
His answer was to reach down his hand
to help her up
"Now," said he, as he put her under
the heavy buffalo robe, "what is your
name ?"
Mary-only Mary she answered,
hastily.
Mary" said the man softly, more to
himself than the child, wish it hadn't
been that"
Why, there's lots Of Marys, said the
child.
"Yes, | know it," he said. Il had Il
little Mary last Thanksgiving. II
don't like to see any one named Mary in
trouble.
a. amt crying" said the child, smil-
ing, " because Pm in trouble, but cause
Pm so cold. ought to have trouble,
Granny says"
"Ought to have trouble, hey ~ said
the man, stopping his horse and drawing
from under the buffalo II can Of hot coffee.
"That hasn't been off the stove more
than five minutes" he said, rs he filled a
little lineup and handed it to her. "Tal;c
that and drink to your Granny"
at is very nice" she said, when she
had drank it all. She did not say, have
tasted nothing before to day. Why should
she, when there had been so many days
like this in her short life.
The man replaced the can, pulled the
robe up even with heI chin, and told the
horse to get up and go along : then
he whi,ted awhile then he said, " 1t is
mighty cold / hope it will keep So"
"Oh, don'tl" exclaimed the child
"'cos it makes turkey cost 50 much poor
folks can't have any"
Don't you care anything for me =
cried the man pathetically here's my
wagon fun Of turkeys"
81 didn't know you were a turkey
man" she said gently.
" Yes, | am turkey man. and
think even poor people can afford to buy
turkey once year, if they are high
The turkey men have been waiting yeal
FOR this day"
There was twinkle in his eye she did
not see he looked down into the little
pale face Pm afraid you don't care fol
the turkey men," he said soberly.
She hung down her head, started to say
something, but stopped.
"Well, what is it ?" he asked, laugh
ingly.
a. do like you," she said, earnestly
"but the poor people, have known
them always"
They rode on for awhile in silence
The hot coffee had worked wonders the
blue little hands had stopped shaking, and
the child smiled as she saw the city lights
in the distance.
"Now you are a little more comfort
able" said the turkey man, " let Us hear
where yoa are going, and what your Other
name is"
MY name is only Mary, and Pm go
ing to find my cousin"
Nonsense =" he said, little sharply
"Of course you have got name"
"They call me Mary Rent, but ! hate
it. and | won't have it !! she cried pas
sionately.
"Why did they call you that ?" he
asked gently.
"Cause my father ran away, and let'
me in Granny Coles house, when was
little. lie pinned paper on my dress
that said Left to pay the rent.
The turkey man whistled, and asked II
Granny Cole was good to her.
Pretty kind" said the child wearlly'
Anyway she didn't 'spise mo like Sally
did"
Who may Sally be ?" asked The tur-
! key-man.
"She is Granny Coles daughter"
"Did Granny Cole'send you alone to
the city ?" said he, watching her suspi-
ciously.
"she told me the other day." said the
child mournfuly, " that if ever come
home and found her gone, to go to the
city and find my cousin. Yesterday she
sent me off with Sally, an when | come
back Sally ran away from me, an then
couldn't find Granny"
"Are you quite sure you can had your