Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-12-24

of a turkey"
And Ellen chuckled at the picture.
"How do you know they have that
turkey" 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.
"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 ofits being bought.
But, lands sake l smell something
burning" She hurried off in futter
of anxiety. A Christmas dinner of all
dinners 10 be spoiled
Her master rose and slowly crossed
the hall. He had been 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-
uuaintances in the town and was re-
garded with awe, principally on ac-
count of his wealth, which was reputed
to be fabulous, but not little because
of a somewhat reserved and naughty
air.
He made his way deliberately to-
ward the sitting-room, spacious,
comfortably furnished apartment, with
windows looking out upon the shabby,
weather-beaten cottage in which the
other turkey was to end its mortal
career. Sure enough, there were un-
mistakable signs of occupation about
it. The neglected garden had been
put in order, the broken gate repaired
and rehung, and general air Of neat
ness gave a new interest and attraction
to the little house long empty and un-
noticed. The shades were drawn high
to let in all the warmth of sunshine
of the happy holiday, and Ebenezer
Green could see what was going on IN
the room as well as if he had been one
of the busy people in it.
Busy they were, for the table was
spread with a clean white cloth, and the
father, with troop of excited children
to help, was at that instant engaged In
the thrilling occupation of taking up
the children's dinner. The mother,
pale, thin and sweet-faced, was evil
dently the guest Of honor, ensconced
in tn. one comfortable chair, with a
cushion at her back and watching the
proceedings with charming smile,
half amused, half melancholy.
The eldest boy, tall lad of y, who
did the chores at the market, filed the
glasses with water fresh drawn from
the well. Two gleeful little girls
danced in with dishes of potato and
turnip, and a brace Of chubby young
sters in much-patched trousers trotted
after with the bread and butter, proud
to assist in the serving of such feast.
And last of all the father appeared
in the doorway enveloped in big
white apron, to be greeted by an up
roarious shout of delight. For he bore
on a platter-oh, me, such tiny plat
ter the crowning splendor of the
day, the turkey, done to a turn and
smelling more delicious than ever a
turkey smelled before, as the whole
family unanimously agreed. There
was gravy, too, in funny china pot
with a large handle, and who brought
that in, feeling the importance of the
occasion to the utmost, but the baby,
toddling along as gravely as Judge,
deep anxiety in her blue eyes. And
cider A whole quart in the big white
pitcher-extravagance which could
only be justified by the recollection
that it was Christmas day.
And now the father laid aside the
apron. The cook vanished the head
of the house appeared. He led the
pale mother tenderly to the table, and
the children followed, prancing to then
places around the large table, which
nobody thought bare or poorly SCI
forth. There came pause for mo-
ment-the little heads, brown, black
and faxen, were bent silently over th'
plates while the father asked bless
ing and thanked God for his goodness
in keeping them all together and giving
them so many comforts And theI
he took up the carving knife as h
gazed anxiously at the turkey. Th'
revel was about to begin.
Ebenezer Green turned away, will
a sigh. The bell had sounded in hi
own dining-room, and standing on tn,
threshold of the apartment he bent
fixed stare upon the table, where ther