The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-02
A TURKEY TRICK.
A Tale Which Illustrates Human
Nature and Turkey Character.
COPYRIGHT. 1881

Nature and Turkey Character.
COPYRIGHT. 1881
"Rowena. Rowena," called Aunt Abi-
gail from the front of the stairs. come
down here this minute"
whats the matter now?'' asked
Rowena, making her appearance in
the kitchen.
aunt Mary Simpsons over to Wil-
liams an they're comm here to sup
per-"
''Who told you?"
"William's boy; he's gone to the
spring for drink"
Here, as if to bear witness to her
words, the boy came in and stood
waiting, according to custom, for
cooky. The desired dainty was
brought from the pantry and the boy
took g, hasty leave.
Tell 'em, called Aunt Abigail. rush
ing out Of the house after him, ito
come right after dinner"
She came back and dropped into
chair. Il don't see what on earth ails
that boy" she said in answer to Row
ena's look of inquiry. when | got
round the house he was standin' on
his head in front of the bedroom win
dow, just like a circus man, an he
tumblet; over an rolled round laughin'
fit to kill hisself Then he jumped up
an went down the road like he was
shot outer gun"
Il wonder what he was laughin' at"
said Rowcna. The boy wouldn't
have told if he had been paid for it."
I'VE must get to work lively" said
Aunt Abigail. Its lucky I've got
sponge raisin so can make light bis
cult. Now, Rowena, you dust the front
room and see that the spare bed Is in
order OF course Aunt Mary will stay
all night" There was little similarity
between the sisters. Abigail, tall,
gaunt and energetic, was a strong con-
trast to Rowena, short, plump and
lackadais Abigail was the oldest,
Rowena the youngest of a large fami-
". Brothers and sisters had married
or died, father and mother were laid
to rest. The sisters were left alone
in the old home. Abigail took upon
herself the care of the house and farm.
If her patience was often tried by her
thoughtless sister, no word of complaint
ever passed her, lips. She was Aunt
Abigail to the whole neighborhood,
although no one ever thought of calling
Rowena aunt. But Abigail Hender-
son was mistress in the house and
on the farm. Everything, from the
least TO the greatest, yielded unques-
tioning obedience to her mild author
ity, with the exception of one old tur
key. That bird had ideas of her own
about seeking a nest and rearing her
young, and passed with silent con-
tempt the snug places her mistress pro-
vided for her. Other turkeys might be
beguiled into sheds or convenient fence
corners. not she. Only last spring she
had eluded the vigilance of Abigail,
Rowena and the hired man, and stolen
her nest in Deacon Shipman's pasture
half mile away.
"As if said Aunt Abigail, when,
after long search, she carried the
angry turkey home, ''ye hadn't good
home an must CAD off to the neighbors.
never see such fool. I'll look arter ye
next year, see if don't"
All the morning Aunt Abigail was
busy getting ready for the company.
Dear me-" she said, in the midst of
the mixing, Il amt seen the old tur-
key lately an it's time fur her to go to
setin'. I'll send Rowena to look fur
her"
But her hands were in the dough and
Rowena was dusting the front room;
SO the turkey was forgotten. Two
o'clock brought the company, and the
afternoon was spent in visiting. Once,
indeed, just at tea time, Aunt Abigail