The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-11-24
rnE DsAcoN.s TURKEY.
lNex York Ledger.

bonded with his profession but the ssose he set by that turkey, some of the stricter sort shook their heads and satd. was alto gether greater than t was meet for one of his ealing to set by any oarnsl creature.
 Bu, there was great excuse tor the worthy man. for It mus; have been A very spititually-mlndedp person whose mouth would not have watered at the sight of such iowl as the deacon was tA,ting for the coming Thanksgiving,
 That turkey. 1t IS our candid heaef. stood full four feet barekcosed. at what ngure he turned the scales IS 10, set down m the records ot cospulent statistics, and we prefer not to shock the readers ere dulity by hasarding An opinion. Not old enough to be tough. but in the full per tection ot completed adolescence. plamp in contour without the srosses obesity ot declining years. a,hed ~ith every gallln. aceous grace, he was indeed b,ped to be proud ot
 Now. whilst iuicy visions were fitting before the minds oi expeetant guests. and more than one mature maiden was long ,ngly anticipating tug at his ~ishbone, the deacon's turkey bec anne stumbling block ot temptation n the way ot Sam Wh,pple and Dlek Spangler-a psir q: hght-minded youths who could see grea, deal oi iun m very poor loke.
 What capital sror, uwould be 10 steal that turkey Thanksgiving eve, suggested Sam. with wink at D,ck.
 " And ge, Tom Gnll. the colored cook. ,o roast him. and then all in To, oi the boys and have a glorious time" added the latter
 Then. as we're both among the youngsters invited 10 the deaoons d,n. net. won't II he lolly to hear his lamentations over the missing fowl They'll beat eat ot sight all the .ighs ever heased inr the hesh.pots ot Egypt. ohusAled sam.
 " He he he" s1eeled pi,k.
 flaw haW' hA~ '" euifs~ed sam
 /" Let's do Il. said tho one
 Agreed. returned the other
 Alter laylng theu heads together hal tn h TUT a plan Mas matute,t. and the t~o separated Tn great eiee.
 The dcacons turkey roasted tn the wood house. winch had a shutter opening on an adlAoen, alley and fastened by hook and staple .ns,de
 on a vlsh winch sam N ipplc made Ia the premises an Wednesday afternoon, under preteNt oi borrowing the deacons Sawbuok. he managed sl,iy to undo the hook, thus leaving the WAY clear for the night operations,
 \, Il sate hour after daik the oonspltt,. ors started on thetr errand. htst casting lots to tic, de who should enter the wood. house and bi,ns oil the pI3e and she should keep watch the former task tall ,nE ta sam and Inc latter te Di,k
 ' lou stand hete. sad sam, as they ueaied the mouth ni the aiies.
 plok took hts station. and Sam advant ihg sieaith,iy. soon tcsched the shutter. winch he had m difficulty m opcn,ne Then elmhinE n he was not long in ttnd. ing the oblre, ei btN scateh.
 i'at put sdus~ked the turkey. and flop. flop went hIs NtngS. ~ S1m gtaspcd hls legs and pule,l hrn down iIom h.s perch.
 Alter a sharp scu;'ie. Sam was ,rum- phant. and held h,s gobblcrshlp last un der one arm anu securely gagged him ~i,h the other hand.
 The noise of the s,ru gle had aroused the deacon's dog, who gro~lcd and parked hercely but sam kep, quict, and soon all was stall
 :" Is that you, Diek /: he whispered, as he heard steps apptoa, hIng softly out. side
 Yes" was the answer. m the same tone.
 Here. take him, sad sam, passlng out the turkey. sh,eh the other received Then climbing out hlnseif winch took httlc tune. for he moved cautiously, he looked about Tor bitk but neither he nor the turkey was Tn sight He walked up and down the alley, bu, the search was m van
 s We'll. ! call tha, d shabby triok." nut tered sam Alter taking all the tisk too. Bu, maybe he'll turn up all nght in the morning. He had better. tell hlm =
 So saying sam walked sulkily home
 Next morning. bright and early. he stared in search of Ditk. whom he mei shortly aitersatd. apparently on A similar hun, for him
 Where's ,ha, turkey :. va sam hra question
 "~hore is he your.eli,s = ,e,or,ed Diek
 !" handed h,m out ,o yaa,' returned sam
 " You ardn',, rephcd the other When the dog barkrd l lodged round the corner When 4fne back l wen, up ;o inc wood house and called you as loudly As dared. but you had gone
 Fhat's too thin sneetcd sam.
 !. @ha, do yon mean :"
 Ina, you've turned traitor and made way ~l,h the turkey"
 t That's A he H
 I ior the space of three minutes there was rapid and promiscuous motion of four fists. at the end of which tune Sam hauled of ~ith bl4ckened eye, and Dlck wi'h bloody nose. Both seemed to have had enough for the present. and went iher respective ways
 When, 4, the appointed hour, they se.eraiIy entered the deaeon's parlof each fearing fl he stayed away he would be liable ,o suspicion sam had con- eealed his damaged optic ~ith pair of goggles. worn. he said, for sore eyes