Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-23

who was wondering what Uncle Dave
was laughing at.
"W-a-a-l, guess I can give you
job" said Uncle Dave. 'sI've got
hull lot o. potaters down cellar, an
some on 'em's goin' to rot if they hain't
looked 10. Eff you want to sort 'em you
can, an I'll let you hev turkey when
Thanksgivin' comes"
EN- do it, said Josy. 'sWhen shall
/ beginP"
And the boys face shone so brightly
that it made a warm spot in Uncle
Dawes heart, and that spot kept warm
for a long time.
Such spots are the best things in the
world to make the heart warm.
Begin tomorrow, if you like" said
Uncle Dave.
81 will, then," said Josy. sim
awful glad, an I thank you"
And he made dignifed, little bow,
and was off.
IS Smart little teller, that Joseph"
said Uncle Dave. $50 be all the Tod.
dlekins, for that NATTER 81
| Josy hadn't been gone half an hour
before Ned came in. . 8
| "Hello!" exclaimed Uncle Dave, with
broad grin. s'Here comes the other
one. wonder, now, if he's after q
turkey? III bet cookey he is"
"Have you got anything could do?"
asked Ned, coming UP to the counter.
81 don't care what it is, if 1 can earn
enough to pay for turkey
Uncle Dave laughed till he cried, much
to Ned's wonderment. Indeed, he be-
gan to look offended at the old mans
merriment.
"I-I wasn't laughing at you," ex-
planned Uncle Dave. ''It was at the
| idee!''
| What the ssidee" was he did not ex-
explain, but Ned felt relieved to know
that Uncle Dave was not making sport
of his proposal.
"You want it for Thanksgivin', I
s'pose?' said Uncle Dave, as he wiped
his eyes.
eyes, I do" answered Ned. "It's
awful hard times, you know, anyway it's
| for poor folks, an mother she's got her
hands full now, an she can't afford to
spend cent for turkey. l heard her
an grandmother talkin' about how
they'd like to keep Thanksgivin' as they
used to, an thought may be I could
do somethin' for you an earn turkey
to s'prise 'em with when Thanksgivin'
comes.''
81 shouldn't wonder eff l could find
somethin' for you to do,' said Uncle
Dave, chuckling all the while. ''You
come in to-morrer mornin' an III give
you some kind of job.''
When Ned was gone, Uncle Dave
slet himself out' in laughing.
"Such good joke!" he said, looking
over to the corner where the turkeys
hung in rows, as if he thought they could
appreciate it as keenlv as he did, bless
his old soul! "!Satch joke, to be sure!
I'D be willin' to give another turkey if
could be there an see fust one an then
t'other a-marehn' in an presentin' a
Thanksgivin' turkey. fancy the boys
will be the most s'prised of anybody, if
they keep their plans to themselves"
and then Uncle Dave laughed again,
| harder than ever.
II hadn't no need of M" he told his
wife that night at supper. ''But knew
bthat Mrs. Green had a hard time O. get
tin along, an it seemed such good
joke l thought I'd help 'em carry it out.
Three turkeys won't come amiss, l
guess
"No, of course not" responded his
was. "I'm glad you helped 'em along,
| bhFio. ~ ShO"S tHCy VIC SoU lcdl hlllu
hearts, I'm sure, an it's allus best to
encourage such feelin's in children.''
Such time as the three little Toddle-
kins had in keeping their undertaking
to themselves! If euer they wanted to
tell of what they were going to do, they
wanted to do so now, you may be very
sure.
| PART II.
To- morrow was to be Thanksgiving
| At last the "auspicious day. was near
at hand, and the Toddlekins were on
the tip-toe of excitement and went about
/ looking very knowing and mysterious.
About o'clock, Ned came after his
turkey, and went home with it partly
concealed under his coat. He had Sc
lected a hiding place for it in an empty
room adjoining their little kitchen.
There he deposited it to await Thanks
giving morning.
About four o'clock, Tom puffed into
Uncle Dawes establishment after his
turkey.
al tell you I've come pretty near
lettin' out on myself more'n once" he
said, while Uncle Dave was wrapping
the fowl in brown paper. "My! won't
|
when 1 hand it over an tell 'em we'll
have turkey for Thanksgivin' as well as
other folksP''
81 shouldn't wonder if somebody's
eyes did stick out Tomorrow" chuckled
the delighted old man behind the eoun-
ter. "Come over'n tell me about it, if
you have good time s'prisin' 'em-an'
bein' s'prised," added Uncle Dave, to
himself.
81 WILL" answered Tom, as he took
his departure.
He hid his turkey under the stairs,
where no one would ever think of look
ing for turkeys, or anything else, for
that matter.
About five o'clock Josy put in an ap-
pearance for his turkey.
"Do you s'pose one turkey'n be
'nough to go 'roundp" asked Uncle
Dave, his fat sides shaking with merri-
ment, as he picked out plump young
| foo uEn