The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-11-28
comfortable for our appetites and the

Little Knew they oil the storm tnat
rocked their little cottage and drifted
the snow around it. But with the morn
ing light they saw it and with a sinking
of heart. 1t was as a death blow to the
plans John Austin had made for their
Thanksgiving dinner. He had INDUCED
in no fanciful dreams of turkey and
huge chicken pie, of salad and jelly.
They were as far beyond his means as
oyster pate, terrapin, canvas. back and
! champagne. A practical man, he had
thought out no sumptuous or elaborate
menu, but had resolved 80 be up early,
take his gun, go to the<woods and see if
he could not "knock over" something
for Thanksgiving feast.
Under ordinary circumstances hunting
would have been recreation and one
seldom INDUCED in, for necessity com
PEELED uninterrupted labor. "Whewm
/ he whistled under his breath as he saw
how deep was the snow, strong the wind
and freezing the air. But it was Thanks
giving and the children must not be dis
appointed. So, after building rousing
fire and bringing in plenty OF wood, he
kissed his wife, promised to be back as
early as possible, took his gun and
started uDon the uncertain quest for
game, like money, has perverse fashion
of being out of the way when most
wanted.
Tramping along over the unbroken
fields and in the full sweep of the ICY
blasts, he was glad to reach q little
grove where he could find shelter and
regain his breath. He seated himself
upon stump and to him came the
greatest temptation of his life. In
tree, within easy shot, roasted numerous
turkeys. Hatch d from the eggs of
wild ones and with the distinctive
feather marks, it would be the easiest
thing to secure one and pass it off, if
seen, as legitimate game. Great fat,
luscious fowls they were, and the vision
of how happy his wife and children
would be in the eating arose before
him.
Almost before he was aware of the act
his gun was raised and aim taken. Then
conscience whispered "They are not
yours, John AUSTIN" and turning his
steps away he answered mentally if not
vocally: "No, and I'm not gong to be
thief, even for q Thanksgiving dinner"
Pushing on again over the broad
meadow he struck the road-an unbroken
OuO hON-blub lNu W AllC lOiCSI NntIC
game was likely to be found, and was
passing the log cabin of family even
poorer than his own, for the husband
was lying very i'll. He glanced up at
the chimuey-the most natural thing to
do upon such day-and saw no smoke.
Either the poor man must be dead or the
supply of wood had given out. In.
stantly his own situation was forgotten
and he was not long in finding out that
his latter surmise was correct.
Don't worry" he said to the anxious
wife, gathering and bringing IN all the
wood he could find, "Pll run over to
neighbor SIMPSONS and borrow his
team and get you load. There's lots
of dead timber on this land, and he
isn't the meanest man in the world by u
long shot"
To accomplish his purpose he was
forced to retrace his steps and again look
at the temptation of the turkeys.
Certainly no birds ever looked so large,
and they stretched out their necks and
gobbled at him in the most provoking
fashion and as if they knew what was
passing in his mind.
"Yes, John" said the farmer in an-
swer to his request, "take the oxen and
get as much wood as you can haul. But
you will have to cut it. Everything
down must be showed under except it
may be some rotten stuff that is OF no
account"
"All right, but you will have to lend
me an axe. Istarted TO find some game
fer dinner, but now the children will have
to get along with whatever their mother
can manage to fix up"
"Well, here's an axe, and you had
better leave your gun here till you come
back. I'd like to use it if you can tell
me where | will find my flock of turkeys
49, the tame-wild ones mean. | believe
they know it's Thanksgiving and have
run away"
Austin told him where the birds were
to lie found, thought of how little there
would be upon his own table, and
hastened upon his errand of mercy
fastened as fast as an OK team, discOn-
tented with being out such cold morn
ing and wading through such deep snow,
could be persuaded to go.
Tramping along after the sled Austin
at last reached the woods and looked
for convenient tree to fall" An oak
stood near and tap of his AK convinced
him it was hollow. That suited him
exactly. He could easily cut oil a coupe
of logs, roll them upon the sled and re
duce them to burnable size afterward.
A strong armed and willing hearted
man, he was not long in separating the
trunk, drawing and unloading in front
of the house of his sick friend The
poor wife thanked him heartily aud sa d
her brother had come and would do the
chopping.
"All right-no thanks" he replied in
his hearty way. "lIope your Thanks
giving will lie bri2h er than you antici-
pated. "Now I'll get my gun and see
what can do for my own dinner"
; lie had gotten some little distance
when the woman shouted:
"You have forgotten your satchel,
John Austinw
mime" he questioned, returning.
"0f course it is. You must have
placed it in the hollow trunk and for
gotten it. Anyhow it rolled out and
here is your wife's name on it. Gracious,
but it is marked plain enough"
In mute a>tonishmeut John Austin
took up the satchel and brushed off the
snow. 1t was a small affair, battered,
worn, stained aud las he afterward said
might have come out Of the ark. A
piece of buckskin was iooped through
the handles and rudely marked Mrs.
Jane Austin, wife of John Austin and