The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-11-30
A RUNAWAY TURKEY.
A sssry Of Thanksgiving Time.

from the PUMPKIN patcn.
'Oh, Aunt Polly, where's it gone tot Out in
the orchard. or across the ieldsf"
"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
George and Patty needed no second warning
In the missing turkey were bound up delightful
visions of "white meat" "wish bones,' and
"stufing," 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 bill,
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"
Wouldn't have no Thanksgivin'," replied
George, stolidly.
.Oh, but Just couldn't bear that. couldn't,
truly 1t is such an awful long time since We
had taste o turkey. George"
Mot since last Christmas, before we ever
thought o. coming here to live" her brother
unused, as he trimmed a switch with dexterous
fingers ''Pa'n' ma was alive then, m little sis
ter, n-there's that gObbler now
They were close to the house, which had long
been vacant, but now showed signs of life in
open door and windows, and a faint wreath of
pale blue smoke from the tumble-down chimney.
In tie tiny door yard stood the runaway, calm
ly picking at few potato-skins in 4 rusty old
tin pan.
The children crept softly up behind q brush
heap, intending to rush from thence and surprise
him, and were about TO carry their scheme into
effect, when George laid OBTAINING hand upon
his sisters arm.
Hush ~ he whispered. whats that comin'''
"0h, Sally" called q thin voice from the door
Of the little house, ''come and see what's here.
A turkey, Sally; real turkey, sure's you livet'
'But il amt for u.s. said another voice. En-
identity Sally had come. at belongs TO some
'un, 'Mela, n they'll come after it. That means
Thanksgivin' dinner for somebody'-with s
heavy sigh.
'Oh, DEAR went on the younger voice, don't
you wish twas ours, Sallyi never tasted tur-
key n all my life, an do hate corn meal SOL"
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:
"Come. girls Miss watson's washin's ready
and the little forms, at which our Patty and
George had been furtiyely "peeking," disap-
peared.
1t was the work of few moments to catch
the lame turkey, and to start him homeward,
at the point of Georges switch; but someway
neither child looked happy over the achieve
ment.
"GeOrge, finally began Patty's pleading little
"well, what dye want ~ in hi, gruffest man
ner.
They hant got no father, George"
mo more ha' We, nor mother neither. We're
orphans"
i'Oh. George! when we've got such good
Aunt Polly, n such Uncle Amasa. An cora
meal, George"
Now, Patty's brother "hated corn meal So"
too, as his crafty sister knew. There was lit
tie pause.
well, what shall we do - he inquired, final
ly. Tell Aunt Polly, m get her to send 'em
something DOWN.
1--WE conldn't do that" small Patty answered,
decidedly. "They can't afford TO do much ex
ira, I'm afraid, George. You know we're quite
expensive, our keepn; heard old Miss Gran
dali tell Mike So"
Miss Crsndalrs a gossip, Uncle Amasa says"
But know we are" poor Patty went on.
"Aunt Polly amt had no fall bunnit, you know,
an she does her own washin', since come.
I'm afraid We cost 'em quite a deal"
well, what shall do" George cried, drs-
perately, and giving the lame turkey savage
cut over his saucy tail.
Il don't know what you'll do" was Pattys
calm response, "but shall give that M-lia every
smiteh o my turkey, next Thursday. So there"
There was another pause, and then George re-
marked, with great showing of coolness:
"Well, all right. An I'll take Sally my turkey,
an all my pumpkin pie"
''Oh, you dear Georger began his sister, and
then broke down and cried.
what air you children whisperin' about r.
queried Aunt Polly, coming upon the two sit
ting side by side on the wood pile, later in the
day.
Patty hesftated. Good and kind as Aunt Pol
~ always was, her sharp eyes and sharper voice
were awe-inspiring to her small niece. But
George, whose bravery was the glory of his sis
ter, looked up at the tall woman with his fear
less gray eyes, and told the story of that morn
iugs adventures, and their resolution, adding:
'An' We were inst a-wonderin', Aunt Polly,
how we'd get the things down there, an if you'd
let Mike go with us, may be, cause, you know,
nav m 10 On Nyh her mn
know the folks"
.'That'Il he all right his aunt said. simply,
IAN I'm glad you Thought of it, children. It's
more blessed to give you know. George,
wish you'd get me some chips"
So she turned the subject then but that even
ing, as Mr.. and Mrs. Andrews sat together over
the kitchen fire, with their charges asleep up
stairs. Aunt Polly retold Georges story, keen
ly watching her husbands face she did so,
although her eyes were apparently fixed upon
her knitting.
Uncle Amasa took his pipe out of his mouth,
and drew long breath. "Bless them chill
dren," he said, heartily. Il yum, now, Polly.
that makes me feel putty small-don't it you
To think O. their thinkin' of it, an they a look
in forward to Thanksgivin' Day so long,'
well, what kin we do, Amass = was his
wifos quiet question.
Massey! 1 don't know. But we'll send that
widder her dinner, anyway; an we won't rob
them little Children o th-ir'n, neither"
But, Amasa"-Aunt Polly laid down her
knitting-'don't you see that won't be the chill
dern's givin'f don't want to take away their
dinners, dear knows; but wouldn't be right,
after ALL you know, for them to he gen'rous, an
keep their turkey, too
Uncle Amasa unused q moment. That's So
he said, ruefuly, at last. II tell We, Polly,
man, we'll give 'em the hull turkey, an we'll
throw in the pies. guess won't starve on
bacon an cabbage, an on Christmas I'll manage
SOS they can have a turkey, an we, too. love
my dinner much the next 'un, but swan
to massy them babies o. our'n make me feel put
ty small-putty small"
And, gathering up his boots and pipe. Uncle
Amass strobe off to bed.
And so it came to pass that on Thanksgiving
eve George and Patty, accompanied by Uncle
Amasa, not Mike, again followed the lame tur-
key under the hill to Uncle Jake's old place.
But this time the recreant fowl was borne on
their uncle's shoulders, in the hinge market bas
kst, in company with potatoes, and onions. and
golden pies, and rosy cranberries; in short,
with the pSrty's Thanksgiving dinner.
Uncle Amasa first placed the basket on the
cracked doorstep, and then he and George
cealed themselves in the darkness behind the
brush heap, while Patty. the lightest and feet
est of the three knocke., at the door, and then
ran swiftly to the common hiding place.
faint streak of light came from the door
way, as Sally appeared, holding tallow candle
aloft. A moments silencr while she stared a;
at the basket. and kne-lng by it, explored the
contents; then
.'Oh, mother, 'Meliar7 she screamed; Its a
turkey, and it's pies, an'-oh, come Quick, an
seew
There was the hurry of other footsteps, and a
cry from 'Mela: 'Jnst 10 look at the onions!
Oh, do love Them and then some one upset
and extingushed the candle, and under cover
of the darkness Uncle Amasa drew the eager
children away.
As they went up the hill together, George re-
marked: Il am glad she likes onions; so do l."
But Uncle Amssa drew his rough hand across
his eyes, murmuring, in choked sort of voice:
''Well, swan, if between them two SETS o chill
dern. them that gives an them that takes, I
don't feel putty small! Yes, do that, putty
smallr'-Hdrper's Young People.
First Thanksgiving.
The following is the first Thanksgiving proc
lamation ever issued in Kansas:
A PROCLAMATION