The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-01-11
A PERPLEXED HOST.
A TURKEY DINNER AT WHICH The
BIG TURKEY WAS ABSENT.

Nicely framed edSL- NySObA" D
appearance of a Roast Turkey The
Flight of a Tender MorseL
A gentleman noted for his originality
made the following improvement to the
old saving, There's many a slip 'twixt
the cup and the saucer" the other day
in speaking Of a disappointment a friend
of his had experienced in losing his dim
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 thar set off at the old General
Shields hotel, on the West Chester pike.
A company Of twelve Pniladelphians in
terested in real estate developments had
gone ont in the country for the purpose
of looking about for profitable invest
ments, and had sent word to the prOprie-
tor Of the old h~ostelry 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 prepare
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
,,,oc ron1v 70 no rrio1 +n tho IjninO
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 were 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 a 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 n COuntenance beaming with
satisfaction, Dave strutted toward the
door and disappeared by descending the
stairs leading to the kitchen, and a few
moments later ~reappeared, carrying on
a large dish the turkey, done to a lovely
brown and beautifully garnished with
carved roses, sprays Of parsley and Gel
cry tops. Walking toward the table he
found that nc room had been left for the
central and chief adOrnment of the
table. Taking the situation in at a
glance, lave saw his mistake, and hur-
riedly set the dish down upon the broad
sill of the window through which the
boys We're peering, and began rearrang-
ing the table to make room for the
turkey.
No sooner had he turned his back to
the window than one of the boys softly
and quietly raised the sash, while an
other grabbed the turkey from the dish
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 the
window, raised the dish and placed it in
its position III 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 was
ready.
This way. gentlemen; this way.
please" spoke the proprietor to his
guests; "step this way, gentlemen"
leading them through a narrow passage
from the bar to the dining room. No
sooner had he reached the dining room
than his gaze fell upon the empty plate,
when he exclaimed, David, where in
the name of General jackson is that
turkey
Poor Dave! Never was a man taken
more by surprise. When for the first
time he noticed the broken platter his
DIOdl SllllIc NdllSieL. III an instant his
jaw fell and his large eyeballs stared
most frightfully, while his whole frame
shook with a terrible tremor. All he
could say in reply to the abrupt and en-
phatic question was, Don't know, sir;
1t was dar, it was dar," and hurrying to
the kitchen stairs he shouted down.
You, PhHby, whar in debts dat tur-
key
Go erloug now, you's got it up dar
long ergo" The disappearance was not
only a mystery to the waiter and cook.
but TO the proprietor as we'll. who in al.
apologize manner asked the guests to
repair again to the barroom while a
thorough investigation could be made.
Every one in the house, including the
hoStler, was questioned and cross Ques-
toned, yet no light could be thrown on
the mystery. After wasting an hour in
trying TO find the missing bird, and after
a consultation with the guests. fried ham
and eggs were substituted for the turkey.
II was not till two hours later, when