Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-12-27
NO. s&
1t didn't go there without hands, neither"
NNOw now father

'Now, now father"
'Didn't see Dick David skulkin roung nv
barn yesteday? What else was he after but my
turkey ? But he won't have it. I'm going
down there tomorrow an tell 'em l seen my
turkey in their barn an come to take it home.
Yes, l will ~
And he did. Gentle Mrs. Patten labored in
vain to make the deacon take more charitable
view of the circumstances, but his resentment
nourished over night had grown into pas
sion when he set out for the David homestead
the next day. Mrs Patten watched him depart
with a sinking heart. Her eyes followed him
down the road as he went with great strides
through the almost unbroken snow. Then she
dropped into chair by the window and watch
ed for his return. Almost before she expected TO
see him he came in sight Mrs. Patten rose to
her feet, shaded her eyes with her hand and
peered anXiously out at him as he approached.
He was empty handed. Onhe came, stumbling
along through the snow, pausinq here and
there to turn back and shake his fist toward the
receding home of the Davns. He had started
out full of anger, he was returning in a tower
chair with sigh, her heart filled with fore
bodings as to what might have happened.
when the deacon entered, closed the door be.
hind him with bang and threw himself info
his chair.
"You need never say another word for Them
Davids, he gasped, struggling to recover his
BREATH
"Now, father, whatever has happened, there's
no use of you getting SO excited"
''No use getting excited! Them Dayids
have eat up my white turkey!"
'Did they say SOP" quietly asked Mrs. Pat
ten. eff they did say so, it was because there
was mistake somewhere; and if they didn't
say so, how do you know they ate the turkev2"
GLOW do | know?' roared the deacon
Cant | see an hear?" And making an effort
to get control of his voice, he continued ct
just got to the door, an was goin to knock
when see something white BLOWN round on
the SNOW. 1t was feathers. was so upset, I
didn't know what to do. didn't expect thev'd
be so careless with their underhand work T
jest stood there, an then heard the dishes
ratlin, an one the girls says, Ill have some
more turkey, mother, an they all laughed"
'"rhat didn't make it your turkey, did it?"
"Didnt, hey? You wait Pretty soon
some one says, How did you ever ketch il.
Dick?' an Dick says, 'Oh, it went in the shed
behind the deacons barn, and l knocked if
over with hard SNOWFALL, and before it knew
where it was, it was coming home under nv
arm Then the littlest girl says, 4 wonder if
that old dufer has missed it vet'-mear;r, mo
Deacon Patten-that's been helpin' them for
three years. Me an old duffer!" and the deo-
cons voice rose higher and higher till if ended
in a shrek.
CHOW, .here, there, father. Perhaps thev did
all you say, said Mrs Patten, almost convinced
against her will "But if they did take the
turkey, you can just depend upon it, thew had
need of it, T,
"Need of it! Hain't l always helped ,e,n
an wouldn't give 'em all they asked for?p
"Taking things to them of your own free
will, that's giving; but letting them have what
they come and ask for, that's begging for them.
know you've been good to them So have
the other neighbors. But since this bad sne1,
Of weather, we haven't felt that we could 90
so far, and perhaps the other neighbors bav.
reelected them, too. There's no telIiro bo,,.
,ad off they might be-"
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