Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-21

turkey for their Christmas dinner. They
knew it sure the day before Christmas,
all 'eept this one. The family thsst
wasn't sure the day before Christmas
morning lived on the top floor, and it
vast was-'' ~ r6lN
MRS. Todd, Neal Todd, Hetty TODD
and Puppy Todd prompted the girl,
les, it was tEem,'' said the bog:
and went on with his story again.
j" Mrs. Todd was Meals and Hettv $
mother-they hadn't any father; lie
died three years ago-and Puppy ws,s
their dog. Mrs Todd is one of the best
mothers ever lived, and she sews but
ION holes on boys jackets for Gig
store; and Hetty cleans up the house,
and gets the supper. and such things;
and IL mean Neal-runs errands for
folks when he can get a chance after
school. His mother wants him to go
to school till he's fourteen, anyhow,
cause boy that has some education
can get along better than boy that
don't know anything. And this family,
though they were very poor. had always
managed to have turkey dinner till the
Christmas I'm telling about. and Mira
Todd loved turkey
'tDidn't Hetty and Neal?' asked MIR.
Golong, closing his eyes and wrnkling
his nose again; and he hurried away to
wait on stout lady, all covered with
glttcring Jet ornaments and bang es,
who must have been very particu-
lar customer, she talke1 SO loud and so
much.
Didn't Hetty and Neal?' he repeat
ed, when he came back.
Oh. my! guess they did!' said the
girl, her eyes sparkling.
They'd been funny fellows if
they didn't" added the boy; ''but, pom
their words and honors, they wanted it
more for their mother-she's such 4
good mother, and has SO few things to
than they did for themselves. And
it made them. feel awful bad when she
came home and cried cause some
wicked thief had stolen her pocket
book with half a week earnings in it.
and the two-dollar bill that the boss
had given her to buy a Christmas din
ner with besides. And so the boy
Neal-he's kind of a nice chap. amt he,
Hetty9'' -.a..,.. ,.-.s
:. Awful nice.'' replied Hetty, with Q
mischievous little giggle.
''And he says to his sister-she s aw-
full nice, amt she. Hetty?''
other little giggle.
HE saws TO his sister," continued
the boy. b ".Don't say any thing to moth
basket. and we II make a try for mer-
~ Christmas dinner-turkey and ALL
And they went round the corner to &
beautiful market. kept by gentle
man who looked exactly like Santa
Claus -
Mr. Onosander Golong laughed aloud
particular customer.
$50 he looked like Santa Claus?'' he
said. with chuckle. when he sat down
ON the barrel OF potatoes again.
THE very image OF him. said the
girl, with great emphasis.
:. The bow began the boy once
more, chad run errands for him two
or three times, and each time had gos
two apples or oranges besides the reg
lar paw; and he was good TO cats and
dogs. So this chap went TO this gentle.
mamie took his sister along, cause he
thought Mr. Golong would like to see
her-and they told him their story. And
the boy says, when it was done: If you
would only trust us for turk-1 mean,
turkey, and few other things, I'll
work for you all holiday week, and an
other week. too, after school. My
name Neal Todd. and my mother is 4
real nice woman, and love her just as
you used to love your mother when you
was little boy And the gentleman,
says he: Being as it's Christmas time,
and look so much like Santa Claus,
Til do it. And he did. And that 8
all.''
Mr. Onosander Golong burst out a.
laughing, and oh! how he laughed! He
laughed until the tears ran down his
cheeks. He laughed until he nearly fell
off the barrel. He laughed until every
body far and near who heard him
laughed, too, and the very ROSTERS in
the poultry shop over the way joined
in, and crowed with all their might and
main. And they got the turkey.-Mrs.
Margaret Eutange.