Middletown transcript., 1893-11-25

csS9. .NoSSgES cried and ran int
Ssf the house, Will, Will
-, Il Farmer Ketcb
Z UH pence turned Il
look pityingly after his daughter, say
ing: "Poor young one! she did low
the critter, and she ought ter keep 1t
but the folks down in Boston will hav'
Thanksgivin', and what would Thanks
givin' be without a turkey, I'D like re-
know? And then there's the money
we must have the moneyl'' and thi'
consideration sealed the fate of Merry
thought; and up went Nan to ber littl'
room to "bawl it out by herself" az
big brother Jack said, with an air Oh
what he called dignity.
In the garret window Of an old farm
house, away up amid the hills OF Yer
mont, sat Nan, not sobbing and crying
but truly -'bawlfng it out by herself Y
as Jack had said. Here was Merry
thought, the pet that she had watched
over, tended, and loved all the summer,
called to meet tragic end which we
can believe never occurred to him, bui
did cast shadow over the loving
heart of Nan. Somehow she had felt
that when November came, perhaps
Merrrythought would be Ispared:
there might be enough without him.
But that great american factor, "How
much is he worth?" had taken hold OF
the Vermont farmer, and since Merry.
thought was a little better in every
way for the good care Nan had given
him, it was felt that he was worth
more than any of the other turkeys.
He met his end with Turkish fortitude.
and Nan-poor Nanl-was trying t.
bear it with equal fortitude down
below the sobbing and bawling.
sI'll do it'll Yes, l will do it,
thought Nan, and she hunted about in
the dim old room to find Something to
write upon; but nothing was to be
found except brown wrapping paper,
for stationery was luxury unknown
to the farmers family.
With stubby pencil Nan wrote on
the brown paper these words:
This is Merrythought, my pet turkey.
I have taken care of him all summer.
feel awful bad to have him go. He
is sweet, and tender, and nice, l no,
but l wud like TO no fer sure if he eats
we'll, and bow much money you had To
pay to get him. Please will you rite
and tell me.
NAN KATCHPENCE, Upland, vt.
Down the stairs Nan glided, for she
was lighter of heart now, and into the
kitchen she went, for she was the
eldest girl in large family, and the
little maid of all work. There was no
time for lettering at this busy season,
and down sat Nan amidst the heap of
turkeys waiting for the finishing
touches of her deft hands. Each sep
arate feather plucked from Merry
thought was separate tug at her
heartstrings; but the bawling had
turned to bravery, for wasn't there
something waiting in her pocket to
travel away with the brightest, bon-
niest, and best of all turkeys? When
the golden moment came, as come it
always does when we are bent on low
ing deeds, Mans hand tenderly tucked
beneath one of Merrythought's wings,
the crumpled, brown paper note.
"Och, shure, Missusl what GURUS
thing is this the knowin' burrd's
brought under his arrml-nately done
up wild brown paper! Ocbl och!"
And Bridget stood in the dining-room
door where innocent Merrythought lay
on a platter, with the mysterious
crumpled brown-paper note beside
him.
Mrs. Goodheart took the crumpled
paper, read what Nan had written,
and said, "There's no harm, Bridget;
it is only note about the turkey from
the little girl who had it for pet. l
will keep it till Mr.. Goodheart comes
to dinner"
A few hours later, at bountifully
spread table in this beautiful house sat
the genial Mr.. Goodheart and his good
wife. Beside his plate lay the crumpled
note. ''Ah, what's this. my dearY"
and he read the scribbling upon the
brown paper. ''Well! WE'LL Ha, hal"
and he laughed heartily. ''Nan has
an eye to business; we must look into
this matter after Thanksgiving, if
Merrythought seats well, as no doubt
he will after all the loving care he has
had"
Thanksgiving Day had come. Folks
big and little had gathered around the
table where Merrythought, handsomely
Drowned and garnished, lay in state,
'the observed of all observers. All
knew the story of far-away Nan and
her pet, and all were anxiously waiting
to know if Merrythought "eats WE'LL"
SkiIfully the genial host cut first a
wing. then leg, next the breast, and
now the merrythcnghi, which the two
little folks hung up to dry, for by and
by they would wish all sorts of good
things for little Nan upon this tiny
bringer of good luck.
After much chattering and laughing,
Mrs. Goodheart said, :..Who'll write to
Nan9" And one said, .Ohl 1 don't
like to write," and another said, 81
can, but | do hate to write,'' and
another said, II know who'll write the
best letter;'' and it was agreed that
Aunf who could write letter "with