The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-11-30
SIX Thanksgiving Turkeys.

this morning, though grandma always
said breakfast was tie time that Dan was
not absent minded She had known him
go to school without his hat, and go to
bed in his boots, and leave the candle
burning all night, and forget to mail a
letter for Il week: but he never failed,
grandma would say, with funny twin
kle, to hear Prue's step at the door. and
was always there to meet her and bring
in the hot cakes
But to-day he was baying debating
society with himself. and was 50 much
interested in the discussion that he didn't
even know how many cakes he was get
tlng away with.
k was two days before Thanksgiving.
There was a fine SNOW on the ground ana
Dan had 4 new sled. Ike Paxton. his
chUm, had no Sled and no time to make
one lit was all Ike's mother coUld do to
spare him school tines. and almost more
than She could do to feed him and clothe
him and the other three boys likeWisc).
should he let Ike coast with him Thanks
giving, when all the fellows met on Big
Spring Hill for, oi course, even Ike would
have some Thanksgiving holiday or
should be give him bis old piece oi 4 sled,
that wouldn't 60 straight ana would Ger
talnly 60 to smash the tirst time it struck
against a tree !
Meanwhile. grandma was interviewing
grandpa about ner Thanksgiving dinner.
Son John was going 10 drive over in his
big Sleigh with his wife and siN children
and daughter Carolina would bring her
family to dinner and am determined
to cook two turkeys" said this old lady.
as liercely as if somebody were going to
oppose her.
"Nery we'll, said Farmer Riley, slnil-
ing. ~ ou don't say nothn bout how
many ears Of corn pobbim gets aint
got nothin to say against YOUR Two tur-
keys
And that amt all' continued grand
ma. still dching an imaginary oppoScr.
Il want another one killed for Wddel
Aldrch. Don't YOU think, father, when
Iaskcd hera Miss Rogers qultn' Wheth-
er she put chopped parsley in her turkey
gravy, she said She hadn't had turkey
II cook iol 50 long She most forgot.
just made up my mind that minute III
XIII three turkeys, stead Of two. ths
Thanks1iving
"AIl right, old woman" said the farm
er, finishing of bis breakfast With glass
of fresh buttermilk ''But have IN Killed
fore night and hung up. DO YOU hear,
Dan If granny wants all her turkeys
killed don't ask no questions Just ~
ahead and do it."
"And Dan" said grandma, 'don't tie
to0 late getting at it,"
Dan was busy picturng himself alone
III his glory, flashing down Biz Spring
Hill on 'The Rainbow ANA trying to
persuade himself that to a fellow Who bad
no sled an old, rickety trap would seem a
very fine affair He didn't take in very
clearly what was expected Of him but
contented himself With a vagueasSurance
that he was to kill all grandma's turkeys
ana ask no questions
lie thought be was beginning his lob
pretty early that evening bat the Noy-
emher twilight seemed very short, and he
had only killed six turkeys when he
heard the suppeT-beIl rung out OF the
window ut him, and knew he must give
up the job for the night ie lugged
them up to the kitchen door, washed his
hands at the pump, and, by no means in
gentle humor, went in 10 supper
swell, Dan" said grandma, putting
an extra spoonful OF sugar in his cup,
did YOU get through z
"Nom," lie said in very injured tone
mot half through. | only killed sin"
"SiX :" said Grandma Riley, and set
down the cup and saucer. There was a
blank silence, while an uncomfortable
suspicion began to dawn upon absent
minded Dan.
"Grandpa said was to kill all your
turkeys, without asking any questions, :
he said, presently: and then grandpa
roared out laughing, and laughed ana
laughed, until grandma herself had to
join, and Dan. They were still at it when
Pruc rushed il With the overwhelming
statement that there were six "kilt"
turkeys at the kitchen door.
Iler chances for scolding Dan being
spoiled by all this laughing, Grandma
Riley took the fact of the six turkeys
very quietly.
faint often you make me present
mother, said the old farmer land !
want one Of them turkeys for jim Coales's
family"
"Grandma, can't have one for Ike
PaNt0n's mother 2" said Dan, conscious of
a guilty thought that this might buy oft
his conscience about that cOaSting bust
ness.
ooh 60 long said grandma: "but
you needn't ask for t'other, cause Prue is
a-goin' to fetch it to her Old uncle And
now come long and help me and Prue to
pick them sin turkeys, Daniel Riley"
off II, Il, .
round getting rid Of those turkeys But
giving is very spreading sort Of thing
When Dan got to Mrs. Paxton-s he had
almost forgotten his old broken Sled, and
ne and Ike laid their plans for double
riding On "Thc Rainbow" And the
spreading did not stop there That was
the gayest Thanksgiving the Rileys had
even known The story Of the six tur-
keys was told, amid shouts of happy laugh
ter, and when it had quieted down, Johns
wife said
">ister Caroline, While We come home
to eat mothers turkeys. think we might
Kill our own for somebody that hasn't
auy' And they made the bargain be-
tween them.
When Grandpa Riley was covering the
DtN-ipVii iilN lOI ltt tiiSIIt, StdlllllId, l,
shook her head at him from the pillows,
and said, in the tone Of one who quells an
enemy
You needn't say a word old man, !
mean to Kill six turkeys every Thanks
giving as long as live" independent.
1t is now given out by an intimate of
ex-senator Conkling that he predicted
long before the election the defeat of the
Republicans. The New York Times re-
torts that no one should know it better
than Mr.. Conkling since no one did more
to bring it about than he did as the at
torney of Jay Gould. The Times concludes
with the observation that ''neither Mr.
Conklings predictions nor his eNplana-
tions, however, are Of any more conse
quence than the views of Louis NNIII.
on the French Revolution"
Ben Butler says the tax on whiskey is
an intolerable burden on producers. and
should be removed. Butler is qualifying