Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-10
4 RoxAmce Spoiled
How hote in Vermont Turkey Failed "a
Bring a Christmas Git.

IT Is perhaps. Il little late for a Thanks
giving story. but Christmas enters large
Iy into this tale of "a romance that was
rudely nipped In the bud. The beginning
and end was In note The first came
from little Vermont town. and was SEN
in fat Thanksgiving turkey A large
business firm, following its usual custom
of extending the courtesies Of the season
gave to each employee gOOd-siZed Yer.
mont turkey. One of these men secured
his turkey fat ten-pounder-at tho
market, and bore II in triumph to his SUI
burban home. Upon his arrival the mem.
bers of his family gathered about the
kitchen table, upon which the prospective
Thanksgiving dinner reposed. Being the
night before THANKSGIVING 1t was decided
to dress the bird at once, process which
brought to light a folded piece of paper
slowed carefully away in the gObbler :
capacious crop. he younger members OF
the family Immediately bounced upon it,
seeming the conventional romantic note
from some fair and buxOm country maid.
When spread out for general inspection
the contents were somewhat OF a sur
prise.
The note. written in a scrawly. Iabored
hand. looked like the production of some
youthful fist 1t bore the date and the
name of small Vermont village, and ran
something as follows:
Dear Friends: My Folks Is very poor
and have to work very hard to earn my
own Twin please kindly send me a little
presint."
TO this was appended name. which
together with that Of the village. will re-
main unknown for reasons which will ap-
pear later. Here was an opportunity to
do a little good in an unconventional way
and the younger members of the house
hold began to draw a pretty little picture
of poor country lad working from early
i'm the morning until late in the night
helping to support a large family. Then
a surprise was planned for the little fell
low. II was decided that every member
of the family should contribute one dol
lar to go towards some kind of a present
for the boy. who had modestly made
known his poverty and need through the
medium of a turkey. which would IN en-
joyed by some family on Thanksgiving
day. suit of clothes and an overcoat
were the first things that suggested
themselves 10 the youthful mind. The
objection was offered, however. that the
boys size was unknown He might be
big, strappng country lad or u diminu
tive and sickly boy. So that was aban-
doned. 4 set of books was then suggest
ed but the boys tastes We're not known,
and the range Of literature from Mother
Goose Tales to Shakespeare is practical
ly unlimited. Finally il was decided that
the best plan would be to send the money
itself and let the boy buy just whatever
ne desired. The more enthusiastic were
all Impotence and wanted TO send the
money at once But older and wiser
heads threw cold water on the whole
scheme for the time being.
II was argued that the writer va:
quite unknown To them, and might be an
unworthy person or somebody who had
written the note as a joke and was not
really In need of assistance 1t was sug-
gested that they write to the postmaster
of the town from which the note was
written and inquire as to the life and
worthiness of the author. on the whole
this was decided TO be the best plan. and
considerable time was spent and not a
little amusement Gated before an APP
propriate letter 10 the postmaster was
and mailed.
The arrival of the reply was anxiously
awaited, and when. a few days later, a
big official envelope was delivered at the
house. it was decided to wait until all of
the members of the family We're gathered
together before opening II. as on the oc-
casion of receiving the first note. When
the family circle was complete the seal
was broken. The contents of the letter
We're far more OF Il surprise than the first
note. The letter read somewhat as fol-
lows; MIR. X.-Dear Sir: Your commu-
nication of recent date duly received. In
reply would say that the person men
toned lives in this town. As far as |
can learn his parents do not live here.
nor have they ever lived here. When he
is not in the county Jail or in the work
house Y-is usually drunk in the street
He is not deserving. Yours. 4. Post
master at NJ.
1t is safe to say that the poor little
Vermont boy will not receive his Christ
mas present.-Boston Transcript.