Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-25
TWO XMAS TURKEYS.

IL,
sunshine and blue skies and nipping
frosty air that whisked about, tweaking
noses and filliping cheeks until they
bloomed like peonies!
Church was out, and stream of people
poured along the streets in the merriest
humor Imaginable, for, bless us all, it was
Christmas day, and their hearts were
aglow with the spirit of peace on earth
and good will toward men.
The youngsters went hurrying home
ward with skates slung over their shoul-
ders of the new and glittering pattern es-
pecially delighted in by Santa Claus, for
fine as the ice was the ringing of the
noontide bells had called up visions Of
turkey and stuffing, plum pudding and
mince pie which no mortal boy could re
sist.
AS for the little girls in tho new hoo
and mittens and muffs they had found
the chimney place that morning, between
vanity and appetite they stood irreso)ute
at their own front gates, such happy, rosy,
chubby creatures that everybody smiled
involuntarily at sight of them.
The policemen ON the corners slapped
their arms about like windmills to keep
themselves warm, grinning from ear to
ear Just because it was Christmas day.
And over all penled the joyous music of
the bells in carols that found an echo on
every lip.
Even the houses wore gala air.
Wreaths of evergroens hung in all the
windows high and low, and the market
on the corner was n thing Of beauty and
q JOY forever, with piles of crimson cram
berries, golden pumpkins, silver turnips,
celery, apples, pears and nuts heapcd pic
turesquely behind it's frost etched panes of
glass, and the whole framed in graceful
festoons of ducks and chickens.
1t was o triumph of art. No wonder the
passers stopped in spite of their hurry to
gaze upon it for the thousandth time and
fall to specializing as to what had become
of its two crowning glories-the biggest
turkey on record and the smallest-which
had hung there side by side for a week
past in contrast at once the joke and ad
miration of all beholders.
Popular belief held that the monster,
the 80 FOUNDER, had been purchased by
old Ebenezer Green, the rich and crusty
bachelor who lived by himself in big
house on the outskirts Of the town, for he
was the only person who could have afford
ed to buy it in such hard times. But the
little onel There was hardly more meat
on its tiny carcass than on a spring chick
en-. Who had family small enough to
get Christmas dinner out of that?
Ebenezer Green had been asking himself
the very question as he sat by the fire that
noon, now watching the flames leap up
the chimney, now turning to glance at the
woman who presided over the housekeep-
ing laying the table for his holiday feast
"a feast, alas Of solitary splendorl He had
been struck all at once at the absurdity of
setting such a gigantic bird before & sim
gle person, and when he saw a platter
half rs large as the table taken down from
the closet where his mothers blue and
white Canton china was stored he fell into
a silent fit of laughter.
The woman nodded grimly, with q
quick appreciation of the situation. D." lis
funny. | declare, she said presently, paus
ing as she reached the door with the great
platter in her arms, but the funniest part
of it all is that the little feller is cookin
this minute next door where they've got
six mouths to fill beside their own. 'Tis
honest Injun"
Next door," Ebenezer glanced up in
quiringly.
Eyes, in the cottage on the east side"
"Why, it's tumbling to pieces. 'Tisn't
fit for anybody to live in"
"Well, folks moved IN a month or so ago
respectable looking, but l guess they are
about as poor as can be. He's out of work,
and be. helps about the house handy as a
woman, and she takes in sewing. There's
a parcel of children, and don't believe
they ever have good square meal among
'em. Think of 'em setting down today to
that mite of q turkey"
And Ellen chuckled at the picture.
"How do you know they have that tur-
key" demanded the old gentleman, more
impressed than he would have liked to
own by the curious coincidence which had
kept the two fowls still near neighbors.
1.-The boy told me that brought ours
last night. 1t seems he chores for the
market sometimes, and they gave him the
little turkey when they found there wasn't
any prospect of its being bought. But,
lands sake! smell something burning" 4"
She hurried off in flutter of anxiety. A
Christmas dinner of all dinners to be
spoiled!
Her master rose and slowly crossed the
hall. He had been handsome man in his
day, and though his hair had whitcned
and his shoulders bowed under the bur
den Of years he was still an imposing fig
ure. He had few acquaintance in the
town and was regarded with awe, princi-
pally ON account of his wealth, which was
reputed to be fabulous, bat not little be-
cause of somewhat reserved and naughty
tiiI.
He made his way deliberately toward
the sitting room, a spacious, comfortably
furnished apartment, with windows look
ing out upon the shabby, weather beaten
cottage in which the other turkey was to
end it's mortal career. Sure enough, there
were unmsstakable signs of occupation
about it.
The neglected garden had been put In
order, tho broken gate repaired and re-
hung, and n general air of neatness gave
q new interest and attraction to the little
..ousc long empty and unnoticed The
shades were drawn high to let in all the
warmth Of sunshine OF the happy holiday,