The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-11-26

throughout the summer, that. contrary
to all expectations, he lived and
thrived, and grew into as fine a turkey
gobbIer as any one would wish to see.
Mrs. Pettingill's. however, fulfilled
her prediction, took cold, and dwind-
led away, until not one was left of all
the ten.
Bah named her bird Christopher Co
lumbus, because he was such an explor-
er, always diving into odd and unex-
pected places.
Now he tried the cupboard. next in
yestigated the oven, while, moment
later, he was foraging among the CAP
bages, and once almost singed his bill
poking it into pan OF hot ashes.
He was devoted to his little mistress,
and hoped after her, up and down
stairs, and around the garden, and,
like Mary's lamb, even followed her
to school one day."
'.He is the dearest, sweetest pet that
ever livesn Bah would exclaim, hug
ging Christopher around the neck, and
showering his head with kisses. "And
did you ever see more lovely feathers
ali green and blue and gold?"
At which he would spread his tail,
swell out his throat, and strut around
as though he knew he was being ad-
mired.
Your one turkey beats mine ali hol-
Iow," SAID Farmer PettingiIl one mel
low October day, stopping to lean over
the fence and Chat with Bah. 'Al-
though the brown hen has replaced
opeckle's brood, L have none as bic or
fat He will bring a nice little sum at
Thanksgiving.
What! Sell Christopher Columbus?
Neverr' And Bab's eyes flashed indig-
nantly ut the idea. My darling pet
shall never be roasted and eaten, but
die of old age, like a respectable bird
why, the money he would bring
would get you no end of ribbons and
Lace continued the farmer, teasing
~. 'And girls love tinery more than
anything l know"
Il would rather 90 in rags, and keep
Christopher Columbus" said Bah,
firmly, picking caterpillar off cab
bage, and presenting it to the turkey,
who made way with the dainty morsel
in q twinkling.
4'Lls l. Ct III III 9HtN ntdI anu
passed on; but he thought
''She is q spicy little thing. l wish
she was my daughter. How she would
brighten mp the old homestead"
The cold weather came very early
that year, and the first part of Novem-
ber hirs. Frick had severe attack of
her old complaint. and was unable to
leave her bed.
1t was hard lines, then, for Hans and
Bah; for though they stayed home from
school, and worked all the odd jobs
they could get, they daily saw their
mother growing thinner and paler,
and the small supply of silver in the
old blue woolen stocking that served
them for a bank rapidly waxing less
and less.
The doctor looked grave when he
was finally called in, but said he
thought rest and good nourishing food
would do great deal for Mrs. Frick,
and, above all, she must have a certain
tonic, which he mentioned.
''lt is three dollars a bot
tle," he said, at parting, as he button
ed up his heavy fur coat, "but it has
worked wonderful cures in these ma
larial cases, and | AMI sure is just what
she needs"
And he nodded ''good-day'' and
rode home to his dinner OF roast beef
and oysters, leaving poor, hard-worked
Hans and Barbara gazing at each other
in dismay.
''Oh, brother! what shall we do?"
asked Bah. There is only one dollar
and half left in the stocking, and
am not TO be paid for the socks L am
knitting until they are finished, while
there is nothing IN the house to make
broth OF, and as for wine for the moth
Ell. that is out of the question:
81 don't KNOW said Hans, sadly,
going to the window, and looking out
into the little garden, where Christie
pher Columbus was marching up and
down, making deep tracks in the pure
white snow al wish | did"
Bah was crying softly, the big tears
running down her cheeks, and drop
ping into the bean soup she was taking
from the fire, when Hans suddenly re-
marked:
''Bab, do you know it only wants
three days to Thanksgiving"
Yes; but we need not trouble our
selves about our Thanksgivin dinner.
1t viii be only bread and beans, as
usual. The other vegetables must be
saved for mother"
''Bab Christopher is very big and
fat-almoSt the biggest turkey | ever
saw"
What do you mean?" cried Barba-
ra. stopping in the middle OF the floor,
saucepan in hand.
Hans turned very red, and he did
not look at his sister. but stammered:
"Ah, Bah, we can't let the mother
die!''
And then he ran out of the room and
the house, slammiug the door after
him.
Bah set down the iron vessel,
dropped into Il chair, and covered her
face with her hands, and she never
moved until her mother called her
from the adjoining bedroom, when she
answered the summons with pale
cheeks and swollen eyes, but new
look of determination about her rosy
lips.
She found Mrs. Fricll feeling much
worse, and was busy with her until
Hans came back to dinner. Barbara
could not eat, but loud '.gobble!
gobbe"' outside told that Christopher
was hungry, and she carried out her
share of the meat for him. She watched
him enjoy Is until the iost bean had
disappeared, but, as she picked up the
empty dish, cried:
'-On, Chris, Christ dear Chris! I'm
afraid You will have to go, after all.
And. throwing her arms around the
BIRDS slender neck. she sobbed as
though her heart would break.
The turkey pecked at her cheek af-
fectionately, and tried to follow her in
doors, but she smut him out, and going
straight to her brother, said:
Hams, you may take Christopher to
Farmer Pettingill tonight and ask him
to carry him to market with his own
u0ultry tomorrow at which Hans
moo ted assent. but did not venture to
utter single word.
So it hap .@aned that the good farmer
was surprised hat night by the ap-