St. Landry democrat., 1882-11-18
A RUNAWAY TURKEY.
A Story of Thanksgiving Time.

"Childern, Children, come here quick.
That lame turkeys out ag'in.."
So called Mrs. Amasa Andrews, in the
kitchen doorway, and two shrill trebles
answered her from the pumpkin patch:
''Oh, Aunt Polly, where it gone to?
Out in the orchard, or across the fields?''
''Under' the hill, down by Uncle
Jake's old place." waving away the
painting figures who rushed into view
from behind the courthouse. You'd
better hurry up, or he'll get clean away
this time.'' -" r..
George and Patty needed no second
warning. In the missing turkey were
bound up delightful visions of "white
meat wish bones,n and stuffing,"
on which they had been dwelling for
two months past, and which they had
no idea of losing at this late day, only
one little week before Thanksgiving.
So they tore like small whirlwinds across
the kitchen yard, squeezed under the
fence, and slid down the steep hill.
never stopping to take breath until they
| had lost sight of home, and had "Uncle
Jake's old place. in view.
''Oh, George" gasped little Patty,
then, "what if we didn't find it-what
ever would we do?" = .- ..s....
Wouldn't have no Thanksgivin'
replied George. stolidly. s"-s
''Oh, but just couldn't bear that. L
couldn't truly. It is such an awful
long time since we had a taste O. turkey,
George -" lH% t"., ysz', -
..Not since last Christmas, before we
ever thought o comm here to live,"
her brother mused, as he trimmed a
switch with dexterous fingers. 'sPa m
ma was alive then, IN little sister, M
There's that gobbler now!' i5,... ~. =.
They We're close to the, house which,
had long been vacant, but now showed
signs OF lfein open door and windows,
and faint wreath of pale blue smoke
from the tumble down chimney In the
tiny door-yard stood the runaway,
calmly picking at a few potato-skins in
a rusty old tin PAN r. - tj4I.
The children crept'softly up behind a
brush heap, intending to rush from
thence and surprise him.. and were
about to carry their scheme into effect,
when George laid a OBTAINING hand upon
his sisters arm. =
"Hush"' he whispered. whats
that comin'?'' ..,f5t,4 .t... &c.. -.. g..
sob, Sally called thin voice from
the door of the little house, ''come and
see what's here. A turkey, Sally-a
real turkey, sure's you liver'
:. "Bpt it amt for u.s." said another
voice. Evidently Sally had come ut
belongs to some 'un, 'Melia, n they'll
come after it. That means a Thanks
givin'2 dinner for y"-l-with a
heavy sigh. t'l5'i "a"
.sOh dear!r' went on the Younger
voice, don't you wish twas ours, Sal
~? 1 never tasted turkey n all my life, |
an DO hate corn meal so!',' l..f.i',it.;i. !
=. - Turkeys for them that has fathers
to buy EN- replied Sally. with a sob !
in her voice; and then some! one called
shrilly from an inner room: ef 3aazs i
1.,'' Come, girls, Miss Watson's wash.
in ready and the little forms, at
which our Patty and George had been
furtively ''peeking,'' disappeared as d
1t was the work of few moments to !
catch the lame turkey, and to start him
homeward at the point of Georges |
switch; but tsomeway neither child /
looked happy over the achievement.
George" finally began Patty's /
pleading little voice -
..Well, what d ye want?' in his grutf-
est manner. f.
"They hahn tgot no father, Georgia"
No more ha' We. nor mother Meth
er, We're orphans" etef
oh, George! when we've got such a.
good Aunt Polly, n suchsa Uncle Anna
So: An corn meal, George /,
Now Patty's brother sshated corn
N. so," too, as his crafty sister knew
There was a little pause. |