Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-01-13
THE BIRD HAD FLOWN.
TURKEY DINNER AT WHICH THE
TURKEY WAS ABSENT.
How Crowd OF Country Boys spoiled n
Nicely Planned Feast-MysteriOus
Disappearance of the
Roast Turkey.

phians interested in real estate de-
velopments had gone out in the coun-
try for the purpose of looking about
for profitable investments and had
sent word to the proprietor OF tho
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 establish
ment into an unusual furry OF excit-
ing preparation. The hostler hurried
to the nearest farm house 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 plucke it in great
haste. Every thing was excitement
in the large kitchen from the time
the order was announced until late
on Thursday afternoon. when the
last dish was ready to be carried to
the dining room, and old black
Phoebe the cook threw herself into
her favorite rocking. chair exclaim-
ing:
We'll if dat dinner don't suit dem
city fokeses dey don't gone know
what's good. JUS calklate dey
neber saw fine r turkey IN dere born
days den de one just prepared
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 greater
interest in the affair than the boys.
They had finished their chores I'M
usually early and were promptly or
hand long before the hour for serving
the supper. says the Philadelphia
Times. OF the entire community
more than Dave Peters, the colored
! waiter.
After viewing the effect OF tie 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 reappeared
| carrying on a large dish the turkey,
done TO lovely brown. and beauti-
fully garnished with carved roses
sprays of parsley and celery tops
Walking toward the table he found
that no room had been left for the
central and chief adornment OF the
table. q Taking the situation in at
a glance, Dave saw his mistake. and
hurriedly set the dish down on the
broad sill OF the window through which
the boys were peering, and began re-
arranging the table to make room for
the turkey.
No sooner had he turned his back
to the window when one of the bows
softly and quietly raised the SASH
while another grabbed the turkey
from the dish and fled across the
hotel yard toward the old stable. fol-
lowed by his companions. After
making room for the large dish Dave
turned around. stepped to the win.
dow. raised the dish and placed in its
position in the center oil tho table.
never noticing that the bird had
flown. Going to the sideboard he
picked up the supper bell and gave it
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 pas
sage from the bar 10 the dining room.
No sooner had he reached the din ing
room than his gaze fell upon the emp
ty plate, when he exclaimed: David,
where in the name of General Jack
son is that turkeyp"
Poor Dave! Never was man
taken more by surprise. When for
the first time he noticed the vacant
platter his broad smile vanished. In
an iostant his .aw 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 emphatic question
was Don't know, sir; it was dar il
was dar," and hurrying to the kitch-
en- stairs, he shouted down: You.
Phpby. whar in debts dat turkey p"
60 erlong 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 an apologize manner. asked
the guests to repair again to the bar
room while a thorough investigation
could be made. Every one in the
house. including the hostler was
questioned and cross questioned. vet
no light could be thrown on the mys.
terry. After wasting an hour in try
| ing TO find the missing bird and after
consultation with the guests fried
ham and eggs were substituted for
the turkey.
1t was not till two hours later
| when the guests were about to depart
that the proprietor learned what had
become OF the turkey. One OF the
boys more bold than his companions,
came back to the hotel to see how the
Joke worked and, thinkiu the story
Of the birds disappearance zoo good
to keep told 1t 10 one of the men that
! were lettering about The outside of
I the hotel
| The next morning the picked homes
OF the turkey were found scattered
about on the ground back OF the stable,