The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1882-11-17
A RUNAWAY TURKEY.
A story ~ Thank~gi,Ing Time.

ssChildern. Children, come here quick.
That lame turkeys out ag'in.'
So called Mrs. Amasa Andrews, ID the
| kitchen doorway. and two shrill treblcS
answered her from the pumpkin patch:
"Oh. Aunt Polly. where's II gone 70?
Out in the orchard. or across the iieltS?'
-undcr the hill. down by Uncle
.Jakc's old place. waving away the
painting figures who rushed into view
from behind the corn-house. You'd
better hurry UP, or he'll get clean away
this time
George and Patty needed no second
warning. In the missing turkey Were
bound up delightful visions Of white
meat "wish.bones. aud I stuiling.'
on which they had been dwelling Tor
two months past. and which they had
no idea Of losing at thi- late day. only
one little week before Thanksgiving.
SO they tore like small w~hirlwinds across
the kitchen yard. squeezed under the
fence. and Slid down the steep hill.
never stopping "a take breath until they
had lost SIGHT II home. and had Uncle
Jake's old place in view.
..Gh. George" gasped little Patty.
then. .what II we didn't find it-what
cvcr would we do"
..Wouldn't have no Thanksgiving
replied George. stolidly.
..Oh. but just couldn't hear that !
couldn't. truly. II IS such an awful
long time since W. had a taste ~ turkey,
George
mot since last Christmas. before we
ever thought y comm here % live
her brother unused. as he trimmed 4
switch with dexterous fingers. PA m
ma was alive then. m little sister. n
There ) that gobbler now
They were close 70 the house which,
had long been vacant, but now shove
signs Of life in open door and windows,
and d faint wreath Of pale blue smoke
from the tumblc-down chimney. In thu
tiny door-yarl stood the runaway,
calmly picking At q few ~potato-skins u
a rusty old tin pan.
The children crept softly up behind q
brush heap. intending to rush from
thence and surprise him. and were
about 10 carry their scheme into effect,
when George laid a OBTAINING hand upon
his sisters arm.
Hush he whispered. "What''
that comm? f
..Oh. Sally called a thin voice from
the door OF the little house. s'come ans
see whats here. A turkey, sally;
real turkey. surc's you liyei'
.But il amt for US" said another
voice. Evidently Sally had come. ~
belongs to some I'M. 'Melia. m they'l
come after II. That means a Thanks
givin' dinner for somebody"with
heavy sigh.
..Oh dear!' went on the younge
voice. "don't You wish twas ours. Sal
"? never tasted turkey n all my life
|, an ! 10 hate corn meal sor'
r .Turkey's for them that has father
10 buy en-" replied Sally. with q so
in her Vol e: and then some n Gale
shrilly from an inner room:
"Comc. girls. Miss Watson's wash
mi ! ready and the little forms. .
y which our Patty and George had bee
? furtivcly ..pceking." Disappeared
II was the work u a few moments {
catch the lame turkey. and 70 start hiI
homeward At the point Of George
switch: but someway neither chill
looked happy owe the achievement
q George finally began Patty
y pleading little voice.
: well, what dye wantf" n his gruf
y est manner.
"Thcy hain't got no father, George,
mo more ha' we. nor mother neitl
or. We're orphans"
\ "Oh, George! when we We got such
good Aunt Polly, m such . Uncle Ann
81 An corn meal, George"
: Now Patty's brother 4 hated col
! meal so.'' too. - his crafty sister knov
There vas : little pause.