The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-12-02


white plaid.
It came pretty we'll up on the neck.
and Of course covered the naked legs ::
the wings were left inside. It was fas-
tened together at the breast, and was
really q pretty good Acknowledging.
As ornament Margery sewed some of
the fringe Of the shawl around the neck,
like aruff, at the edges where wings ought
to be, and around the legs. So, when
dressed, the unfortunate, or rather the
naughty turkey, looked like q new plaid
variety CT scarlet f1amingo, with side
pockets and fringed drawers.
The appearance of Kristine stalking
around in her new suit was very
funny. How the boys did laugh and
even papa had to wipe away the laugh
ing tears.
In this dress, tho next morning,
after she had been fed daintily, Mar
gerry introduced her to her old friends of
the poultry.yard by opening the kitchen
door and letting her walk out where the
turkeys We're taking their breakfast.
Margery thought they would he glad
to see her, but alas this distinguished
stranger in gay attire was not recog-
nized. They stared and scolded at her,
and the old gobbler ruffled up his
feathers, and dragged his wings on the
ground, and came to her, saying, an
grily-
"Gobble-gobble-gobble !"
Kristine seemed to be disheartened at
this GOODNESS on the part of her family,
and skunk into corner, as though
ashamed of her fine dress. Then the
family crowded around her to punish
her impertinence in coming among
them, and actually began to peck Mt her.
Margery, who was watching from the
window, could hardly believe her eyes
at first; but yes, they were actually
pecking at the poor outcast, who finally
fed screaming across the yard. Mar
gerry flew to the door, and Kristine hur-
ried in, just in time to escape the whole
family, who were close upon her.
"You poor, dear Pristine p she MUIR
Injured over her when she had her safely
in arms. "Did they peck you?-the
naughty things! You sha'n't go with
them any more! You shall stay with me
in the house."
So it came to be at last. Hannah
grumbled little, but, after all, she
couldn't say much, for it was by her
own fault that the poor thing lost its
own winter coat. Before long the fami-
~ grew quite attached to Margery's pet,
whose name they shortened to Kris.
On her part, Kris was very bright
bird. She would come when called by
name, and she never failed to be bll
hand at meal-times, when she would
walk around the table and receive deli
cate bits from every one.
While her little mistress was studying
or sewing, Kris would stand and look at
her, turning her knowing head first one
side and then the other, and sometimes
saying, in reflective way:
"Quit!"
As soon as books and work were put
away she was ready for play. In fact,
she enjoyed her strange life very much.
and grew fat under it, so that pretty
soon the boys began to tease Margery
by suggesting that her pet was ready to
take her place on the table.
The only time she seemed to be un-
comfortable was when the cheerful
kitchen was scrubbed.
No sooner did Hannah appear on the
scene with scrubbing- brush, and go down
on her knees to polish the floor, than
Kris would hop, by sort OF lalde,
which one of the boys had made for her.
up to corner Of the high mantel over
the fireplace, and there she would sit,
all bumped up and miserable, till the
work was done, or until her little mis-
tress came and took her into the sitting
room.
The place where Kris was intended to
spend the time of her Punishment
from the yard was a large chamber
over the woodshed, which was
kept warm by the kitchen chimney, and
there's where her bed or 1oost was pre-
pared for her, and where she was Shut
NJ every night; but she was so lonely
and unhappy, and tried so hard to get
out, and Margery was so fond of her for
q playmate, that she generally got down
before breakfast and did not go back
until bedtime, which is at dusk in the
turkey family, you know.
Well, the winter passed away and
spring came. Kris grew a new set Of
feathers under her plaid dress. and when
the weather became warm, mamma said
she must leave off her dress, and 90 out
OF doors with the rest. So the first really
warm day, Margery took off the red
dress and drove her out.
Kris had not forgotten her cool re-
ception in the winter, so she at first
was careful not to go too near the tur-
keys, though they did not object to her
now in her feather.dress. After few
days she stayed most of the time will,
them, only coming when called, and
generally making visit to the table for
her usual treats.
She had not been out very long whe,,
one morning Margery went out to sec
her, and she was gone. No one had
seen her since breakfast. Margery felt
very badly, and, after looking oil about,
came to the sad conclusion that she had
strayed away and got lost, for the whole
flock wandered far off to feed. But the
next morning, at breakfast time. Kris
walked in as usual and began to beg
for food. Margery Rugged her and
ted her, and she ate as though she was
starved.
When she had finished her meal she
went out again, and about noon her lit.
tie mistress sought her again, and again
she was missing.
This now became the regular thing
with Kris. Every morning Sue was on
hand for her breakfast, and, in spite Of
watching, she would slip away and hide
so that no one could find her again.
Poor Margery was almost heart-bro.
Ken ct this tendency to vagrancy in he1
pet, but Hannah on1y smiled and said
"Wait a bit, and you'll see something
But, though hannah had her sus-
plc!ons, she was not prepared for what
really occurred one day.
After this strange conduct had been
going on for few weeks, there came 9
day when Hannah had another scare,
She declared that tramps or thieves
were up in the wood-shed chamber she
heard them and she dared not go up.
While she stood in the wood-shed tell.
ing Margery in whisper about it, the
child heard step that she knew.