Evening journal., 1892-12-24
A PERPLEXED HOST.
A TURKEY DINNER AT WHICH THE
BIG TURKEY WAS ABSENT.

Flight Of a Tender EIorseI.
A gentleman noted for his originality |
made the following improvement to the |
old saying, "There's many a slip 'twixt |
the cup and the saucer" the other day
in speaking of disappointment friend
Of his had experienced in losing his din
ner through missing a train--a dinner to
which he had been invited and at which
he had been selected to respond to one
Of the toasts.
The simple missing Of the dinner was
more than set off at the old General
Shields hotel on the West Chester pike.
A company Of twelve Philadelphians in
terested in real estate developments had
! gone out in the country for the purpose
Of looking about for profitable invest
ments, and had sent word to the proprie-
tor Of the old hostelry Of their coming
and ordered an old fashioned turkey din
ner to be ready at 6 o'clock
The order put the proprietor in his best
humor and the entire establishment into
an unusual furry Of exciting prepara-
ton. The hostler hurried to the nearest
farmhouse, where he purchased the
finest turkey to be had, and carried it
back to the hotel in triumph. Taking
it into the stable he dispatched and
plucked it in great haste. Everything
was excitement in the large kitchen from
the time the order was announced until
late in the afternoon, when the last dish
was ready to be carried to the dining
room.
The news of the gentlemen coming
spread through the village, and every
one felt duty bound to go to the hotel
and see them, and none took a greater
interest in the affair than the boys.
They had finished their chores unusually
early and We're promptly on hand long
before the hour OF Serving the supper.
OF the entire community none felt his
personal importance more than Dave
Peters, the colored waiter.
Dave was Of portly build and prided
himself in his appearance, and if he had
a hatred for one thing more than any
other, that thing was a claw hammer
coat, which he said belonged to society
gentlemen and not to a waiter, conse-
quently he held to the old fashioned
roundabout jacket. just before the
time for announcing that dinner was
ready number Of the village boys stood
peering through one Of the dining room
windows, watching Dave arrange the
different dishes on the table and adj
miring the display made by the twelve
, napkins in as many cut glass goblets.
After viewing the effects of the
table with a countenance beaming with
satisfaction, Dave strutted toward the
door and disappeared by descending the
stairs leading to the kitchen, and few
moments later reappelred, carrying on
a large dish the turkey, done to a lovely
, brown and beautifully garnished with
carved roses. sprays Of parsley and cell
cry tops. Walking toward the table he
) found that no room had been left for the
central and chief adornment of the
table. Taking the situation in at a
glance. Dave saw his mistake, and hur-
, riedly set the dish down upon the broad
= sill of the window through which the
boys were peering, and began rearrang-
ing the table to make room for the
turkey.
No sooner had he turned his back tC
the window than one of the boys softly
and quietly raised the sash, while an
other grabbed the turkey from the disl
and fled across the hotel yard toward
the old stable, followed by his compan
ions. After making room for the large
dish Dave turned around, stepped to tn,
window, raised the dish and placed it il
its position in the center Of the table
never noticing that the bird had flown
Going to the sideboard he picked up tn,
supper bell and gave it a violent ring
thus notifying the host that dinner wa.
ready.
This way, gentlemen; this way
please" spoke the proprietor to hi
guests; "step this way, gentlemen,
leading them through a narrow passage
from the bar to the dining room. N,
sooner had he reached the dining room
io than his gaze fell upon the empty plate
e. when he exclaimed, david, where IL
the name of General Jackson is tina
Fl turkey"
n Poor Davel Never was a man takei
I more by surprise. When for the trs
"a time he noticed tho broken platter hi
y broad smile vanished. In an instant hi
Z, Jaw fell and his large eyeballs starel
y most frightfully. while his whole fran
Nv shook with n terrible tremor All IA
i. could say in reply to the abrupt and EN-
O. phatic question was, Don't know, sii
IS, it was dur, it was dar," and hurying t
as the kitchen stairs he shouted down
You, Pheby, whar in debts dat tm
~ ~ keyg"
W SEQ erlong now you's got 1t mp da
5s long ergo" The disappearance was nc
'm only mystery TO the waiter and cool
ct but to the proprietor as well, who in a
on apologetic manner asked the guests
he repair again to the barroom while
ID: thorough investigation could be made
'e, Every one i'm the house, including Oh
eiH hostler, was questioned and cross que
~; toned, yet no light could be thrown o
~ the mystery. After wasting an hour
an trying tofnd the missing bird, and aft'
Of n consultation with the guests. fried han
iat and eggs were substituted for the turke.
on tt was not till two hours later, whe
en the guests We're about TO depart, that Il
ek proprietor learned what had become
fb, fs,rlyr,- One Df the hovs more bol