Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-11-16
THE LAME TURKEY.
A Story of THANKSGIVING Time.

'chlldern, Children. come mere 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's it gone to-?
Out in the orchard, or across the fieldsp"
"Under the hill, down by Uncle
Jakes old place." waving away the
painting figures who rushed into view
from behind the corn house. You
better hurry up, or he'll get clean away
this time" g.
George and Patty needed no second
warning. In the missing turkey were
bound up delightful visions of ''white
meat" swish bones,' 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?" -..-
Wouldn't have no Thanksgivin'
replied George, stolidly.
''Oh, but | just couldn t bear that. [
couldn't, truly. It is such an awful
long time since we had a taste O. turkey,
George" ls .... -a.....
Not since last Christmas, before we
ever thought O. comm here to live"
her brother unused, as he trimmed a
switch with deXterous fingers. ''Pa N
ma was alive then, N little sister, M
There 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 faint wreath of pale blue smoke
from the tumble-down chimney. In the
tiny door-yari stood the runaway,
calmly picking at few potato-skins in
rusty old tin pan.
The children crept softly up behind
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.
"Hushr' he whispered. Whats
that comin'?'
"Oh, 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'
''But it amt for u.s. said another
voice. Evidently Sally had come. lit
belongs to some 'un, 'Melia, n they'll
come after it. That means a Thanks
givin' dinner for somebody" a
heavy sigh.
''Oh dear!'' went on the younger
voice, don't you wish twas ours, Sal
ly9 l never tasted turkey'n all my life,
an / do hate corn meal son'
Turkeys for them that has fathers
to buy 'em,'' replied Sally, with a sob
in her voice; and then some one called
shrilly from All inner room:
"Come, girls, Miss Watson's wash
ms ready and the little forms, at
which our Patty and George had been
furtively 'peekng," disappeared.
1t was the work of a few moments to
catch the lame turkey, and to start him
homewafd at the point of Georges
switch; but someway neither child
looked happy over the achievement.
George finally began Patty's
pleading little voice. l#
.'Well, what d we wantP'' in his gruff-
est manner.
"They hahn got no father, George"
mo more Ua we, HOT uOtueE uellu-
er. We're orphans
ooh. George! when we've got such
good Aunt Polly, N such a Uncle Anna
sa. An n,ea', George. - i.' ',
Now Patty's brother '' hated corn
meal So" too, as his crafty sister knew.
There was little pause = ea@
"Well. what shell we doP" he in
CURED finally. 'tTell An t Polly, N
get her to send 'em something DOWN.
.'We couldn't do that" small Patty
answered. decidedly. '.They can't af-
ford to do much extra, Pm afraid,
George. You know we're quite expen-
sive, our keepin'; heard old Miss Gran
dali tell Mike so.''
Miss Crandalrs gossip, Uncle
Amasa says
"But know we are,' poor Patty
went on. .sAunt Polly amt had no fall
bunnit, you know, an she does her own
washin' since we come. Pm afraid we
cost EN- quite a deal'
+ s'Well, what she'll we dop' George
cried, desperately, and giving the lame