The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-01-07
THE KIND TURxEx.MAN.

i he sun had gone down behind the
hills 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 dinner. The trees waved
their tall, bare branches in the bitter
cold, but they knew that their roots
were sheltered by the knid earth. The
cold winter shouted merry s'goodeve-
ming" to every thing, as he rushed over
the frozen ground.
He raced over she bare hills; the
squirrels drew closer together, and ex-
nlted over their crowl storehouse :;
the trees bowed stately goodnight, as
he whisked away; but he Gained down
as he met a little figure on the frozen
road, and gave her time 30 draw her
faded cloak tighter over her blue hands,
before he rushed on again.
y wagon was heard E'Rattle, rat
tlep' Even the wagon is cold, the
child thought, as she heard the loose
spokes rafting in the wheels.
She stepped aside for the wagon to
pass; the driver, a pIeasant-looking
man, stopped his horses, and asked her
whittier she was going.
"To the city," answered the child.
s'To the cityp' cried the man.
"Vhy, you viii never get there,
unless you are blown there, or take
YOU"
"WTill you take me?' she asked, Lot
eagerly, but like one accustomed to re-
fHsals.
HIS answer was to reach down his
hand to help her up.
''Now," said he, as lie put her under
the heavy buffalo robe, ''what's your
name?''
"Mary-onIy Mary" she ans vered
hastily.
"Aiary," said the man, softly, more
to himself than to the child. 81 wish it
hadn't been that"
"Why, there's lots of Marys,' SAID
the child.
"Yes, know it," he said, .'I had 3
little Mary last Thanksgiving. IL
don't like to see any one named Mary
in trouble"
81 amt crying" said the child srnil-
ing, "because Pm in trouble, but cause
Pm SO cold. ought to have trouble,
Granny says"
Sought to have trouble, hey?" said
the man, stopping his horse, and draw
ing from under the buffalo robe can
of hot coffee. s.'rhat hasn't been off the
stove more than fine minutes" he said,
as he filed little tin cup and handed
it to her. stake that, and drink to
your Granny!'
"It is very nice,'' she said, when she
lad 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 her chin, aud tod
the horse to ssget up and 'sgo along;
shen he whistled awhile; then be said;
seIt's mighty cold. I hope il will
keep so!''
s Ii, don'tn' exclaimed tie child
g COS il makes turkeys cost SO much
poor folks can't have any,
ssDon't you care any thing for me p
cried the man patheticaliy; sshere's my
wagon fnIt of turkeys"
81 didn't know you were turkey
man, she said, gently.
tsYes, I am tturkey-man,' and
think even poor people can afford to buy
a turkey once year, if they are high
The turkey-men have been waiting {
whole year for this day"
There was twinkle in his eye sht
did not see; be looked down into th'
little pale face. 81 am afraid you dom
care for the turkey-men p he said
soberly. ~
She hung down her head, started t
say something, and stopped.
swell, what is it2'' he said, laugh
ing.
ssI do ike you,' size answered., earn
estly; shut the poor people, hay
known them always"
They rode on for while in silence
The hot coffee had worked wonders; th
blue little hands had stopped shaking
and the child smiled as she saw the cit
lights IN the distance.
Now you are little more comforts
ble,'s said the turkey-man, sslet us hes
where you are going, and what yor
other name is.
aMy name is only Mary, and / 81
roing TO find my cousin. 2
.sNonsense!'' lie said, little sharl
". OF course you have got name
ssThey call me Mary Kenk. but
late It, and / WON'T have It e she erie
passionately.
why did they call you sbatY's
asked, gently.
S Cause my father ran away, 81
left me IN Granny Coles house, when
was little. lie pinned q paper on i
dress. that said on It: Lett 20 pay q
rent
The turkey man whistied, and ask
Granny Cole were good % her
kind 4 aid The child wea
Any way, We aIdnst 'epise
Ike sally did