The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-12-19
TWO XMAS TURKEYS.

a
Oh, il was glorious Christmas wealth
| er-sunshine and blue skies and nip
ping frosty air that whisked about,
tweakins noses and filliplng cheeks
until they bloOmed like peonies.
Church was out, and a stream OF peo-
pie poured along the streets in.the mer-
riest hunor imaginable, for, bless us
all, it was Christl~s day, and their
hearts were agiow with the spirit Of
peace on earth and good VIII toward
men.
The Youngsters went hurrying home
ward with skates Slung over their
shoulders OF the new aud giittering pat
tern especially delighted in by Santa
Claus, for fine as the ice was the ring
ing of the nooatide bells had called up
visions of turkey and stufling, plum
pudding and mince pie which no NOR
tai boy could resist.
As for the little girls in the new
hoods and nlit,ens and mufis they had
found in the chimney place that morn
ing, between vanity and appetite they
stood irresolute at their own.fTont gates
such happy, rosy, chubby creatures
that everybody smiled involuntarily at
sight Of them.
The policemen on the corners slap
ped their arms about like windmills to
keep themselves warm, grinning from
ear to ear just because it was Christmas
day. And over all pealed the Joyous
music of the bells in carols that found
an echo on every lip.
Even the houses wore gala air.
Wreaths ofevergreens hung in all the
windows high and low, and the market
on the corner was q thing Of beauty aud
joy forever, with piles Of crimson
cranberries, golden pumpkins, silver
turnips, celery, apples, pears and nuts
heaped pieturesquely behind it, frost
etched panes Of glass, and the whole
framed i'm graceful fcstoons ofduck and
chickens.
Ii was triumph of art No wonder
the pasSers stopped in spite OF their
hurry to gaze upon it for the thou
sandth time and fall to specializing as
10 what had become OF its crowning
gIories-the biggest turkey on record
and the smallest-which had hung
there side 10y side for week past in Il
contrast at once the joke and admira-
ton 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 a big
house on the outskirts of the town, for
he Was the only person who could have
afforded to buy it in such hard times.
But the little one, There was hardly
more meat on its tiny carcass than on
a spring chicken. Who had family
small enough to get Christmas din
ner out of that?
Ebenezer Green had been asking him
self the very question a. he sat by the
fire that noon, now watching the flames
leapup the chimney, now turning to
glance al the woman who presided
over the housekeeping laying the table
for his holiday feast-a feast, alas. of
solitary splendor! He had been struck
all nj once at the absurdity of setting
such a gigantic bird before single
person, and when he saw q platter half
as large as the table taken down from
the closet where his mothers blue and
white Canton china was stored he fell
into silent fit of laughter.
The woman nodded grimly, with a
quick appreciation of the situation.
'"Tis funny, declare" she said pres
emily, pausing as she reached the door
with the great platter in herarsns, ''but
the funniest part Of il all i that the
little feIler il coohin' this minute next
door where they've got six month. to
fill beside their own lis, homes; In
jun -
Next door?'' Ebenezer glancedup
inquiringiy.
"Yes, in the cottage on the east side
"Why, it's tumbling to pieces.
'Tisn't fit for anybody to live i'm
"Well, folks moved in a month or 50
ago, respectable looking, but / guess
they are about as pooras can be. He's
out of work, and lie helps about the
house handy ~ a woman, and she takes
in sewing. There's a parcel Of children
and don't believe they ever have a
good square meal among 'em. Tank
OF 'em setting down to-day 20 that mite
OF a turkey -
And Ellen chuckled at the picture.
"How do yoI know they have that
turkey??" demanded the old gentle
man, more impressed than he would
have liked TO own 10y the curious coin
cidence which had kept the two fowls
still near neighbors.
''rhe boy told me that brought ours
last night. II seems he chores for the
market sometimes, and they gave him
the little turkey when they found there
wasn't any prospect ofits being bought.
But. lands sakei | smell something
burning" She hurried of i'm flutter
of anxiety. a Christmas dinner of all
dinners 10 be spoiled.
Her master rose and slowly crossed
the hall. He had been a handsome
man in his day, and though his hair
had whitened and his shoulders bowed
under the burden of years he was still
an imposing figure. He had few ac-
auaintances in the town and was re-
gar,ied with awe, principally on ac-
count of his wealth, which was rcput-