Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-03-24
WHAT CAME OF IT.
Hunting the New Years Turkey-A
New Years Sketch. e-as7zassa

y
mean," said stately Marian, Theo's cid.
est sister, who wore her calico wrapper
with the grace of a princess royal.
80, Miss Brlarby is always punctual
and she will be satisfied with the dress,
know"
"And be sure you get apples and raj
sins for the mince-meat, Theo," cried
Madge, the youngest of all. Lets have
real nice Christmas dinner tomorrow,
If it is week late. It's so long since
we've had real nice dinner"
but Pm only to get Sc for this dress,
you know, Madge. III do the best can
with that" And, snatching up small
basket containing the newly finished
dress, Theo tripped away in gay spirit.
The three girls kept house in the
Widow Spriggin's third-story front room.
Inside, the air was mild and baimy as a
summer morning, but outside it was sharp
and keen, and a fine, poWdery snow was
beginning to fall
The dress gave entire satisfaction, and
Miss Briarby wished Thee happy New
Year.
Theos purchases were soon made.
Such plump turkey! 1t almost filled
the basket on her arm. Then to the
meat shop for beef and suet; and the
jolly meat-man threw in a fresh crisp
bunch OF celery, smitten to the heart no
doubt, by Theo's bright eyes and ruby
lips. Next, two pounds of raisins, SO
rich and sugary it made ones mouth
water only to look at them.
Half dollar still remained, and Theo
entered fruit-store, tempted by the
display of golden-hued oranges and BAN
anas, Brazilian dates, choice clusters of
Malaga grapes. luscious figs, odorous
pineapples. The gas was brilliantly
lighted inside, for the short December
day was fast drawing to close.
A man in slouched hat and seedy
oyercoat lounged in after Thee, and
stood leaning against the counter.
"NoW, then, what do you want?" de-
handed the proprietor, roughly.
Nothing" was the reply.
"Then the sooner you 90 out of here
the betterp clustered" the vender of
tropical fruits. "We don't harbor
tramps!"
"I'm not tramp" answered the
stranger.
"Then you're drunk; and get out of
here before I call policeman
"For shame! 0 for shame!" cried Thee,
with blazing eyes. TO treat human
being so-on New Years Eve, toor
Hes an impostor," asserted the hard
hearted dealer.
"I've not tasted bread for two days."
said the man in husky tones.
"Here, SIR" and Theo followed the
stranger into the street; "Take this"
and she thrust the basket into his hand.
"No, mop said the poor man. Ct"
"But you must! You will need it. And
take this too! And she forced him re-
luctantly to accept her purse also, and
then quickly fastened away.
"She's coming!" cried Madge, flying
to the open door, as faint footstep
sounded on the stairs. "The basket
must be heavy, she walks so slowly.
haven't brought it. Was it too heavy?
Are they going to send it,"
Theo related her adventure.
"And I'm only sorry you and Marian
will be disappointed" she added regret
fully.
"You did perfectly right" said Mari
an, heroically. "We are not starving
yes, thank goodness! and he was, poor
man."
But Theo still shook her head, and
the tears sparkled in her eyes.
'I'm glad you gave it to him" cried
Madge, and added softly, "You know,
Tbeo, who has said, 'Inasmuch as we
have done il unto the least of these, We
have done it unto me-"
The white pine floor had been washed
and secured within an inch of its life;
the brightly polished window-panes
Oh Oh Il to
look at them and not blink: the round
brass knobs on the old-fashioned val
nut sideboard beamed good-naturedly in
the slant rays of the morning sun, a pot
of bright yellow chrysanthemums stood
in one of the white-curtained windows,
fragrant and full of bloom, and hand
some tortoise shell cat took her morning
nap on braided rug before the fire. 81
The three housekeepers washed up
their breakfast service. and swept the
room and busted, and put to rights with
a zeal worthy at least of a more ex-
tended sphere of action.
Suddenly a heavy, numbering step was
heard on the stairs, and a sounding rap
on the door caused mOmentary panic
in the little room,
Marian, rallying first, opened the
door.
ga box, mum for Miss Theo Clyde
expenses paid, num-"
The girls looked at each other in as
constituent.
There's no direction on the box"
said Marian examining it carefully.
cts mistake-it's net for u.s." said
Theo.
"Let's open'it," cried Madge. "It cant
hurt us, any way" and she produced
Ratchet.
They pounded and pried at the lid,
bruised their fingers, and finally got the
box open and exposed to view plump
turkey.
"And raisins!" cried Madge, pulling
open paper-bag and filling her mouth
with the contents.
"And beef! And suet! And celery"
said Marian.
Theo looked on as if stupefed.
"Why, it's mine!" she exclaimed at
'Of course it's yours! Who said it
wasn't" answered Madge, helping her.
self plentifully to the raisins again.
"But it's what bought and gave to the
manw persisted Theo.
but you didn't buy oranges and lem
ons and three big pineapples, did your"
asked Marian, still increduious.
mo; but bought the other things
know they are the same. And look
Marian, look, Madge. here's my purse.
too, with the half dollar still in it! What
can it nean?
No one could tell But wonders will
never cease. Another knock sounded
on the door. Theo opened it, her lips
and cheeks scarlet with excitement. Be-
fore her stood man with slouched hat
and seedy overcoat, muffied up to his
chin. Theo recognized him.
"Come in" she commanded, imperi-
ously, "and tell us the meaning of this"
And she pointed to the open box, where
fgs and raisins were scattered about,
oranges and suet lay in close proximity
to pineapples and beef, and the turkey
had fallen helpless on his back among
The rosy Pearmains that line d the bot
tom of the box, where he Eheld up one
plump drum-stick as if beseeching the
of the spectators.
The tramp walked obligingly in. He
pulled off his seedy overcoat; he threw
Town his slouched hat; and their stood
! handsome, broad.shouldered young
nan, with gray eyes and crisp chestnut |