New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12
A ROMANCE SPOILED.
THE STORY OF A VERMONT TURKEY.
From The Boston Transcript.

From The Boston Transcript.
1t is, perhaps a little late for THANKSGIVING
story, but Christmas enters largely 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 sent
In fat Thanksgiving Turkey. A large bust
ness firm. following its usual custom of extend
ing the courteSieS Of the season, gave 10 each
employe good-sized Vermont turkey. one of
these men secured his turkey-a fat ten-pounder
at the market, and bore II In triumph to his
suburban home. Upon his arrival the members
OF his family gathered about the kitchen table,
upon which the prospective THANKSGIVING din
ner reposed. Being the night before Thanks
giving. ii was decided to dress the bird at once,
a process which brought to light folded piece
OF paper slowed carefully away in the gobbler's
capacious crop. The younger members Of the
family Immediately pOunced upon it, seeming
the conventional romantic note from some fair
and buxom country maid When spread out
for general inspection the contents were some
what of a surprise.
The note. written in a scrawly. labored hard.
looked like the production OF some youthful fist.
1t bore the date and the name Of a small Yer
mont village. and ran something as follows:
Dear Friends: My Folks is very posr and
have to work very hard TO earn my own Twin
please kindly send me little presint."
To this was appended a name. which. together
with that Of the village. will remain unknown
for reasons which will appear later. Here was
an opportunity to do little good In uncon.j
ventional way. and the younger members OF the
household began to draw a pretty little picture
OF poor country lad working from early in the
morning until late in the night helping TO sup
port large a ,n family Then surprise . was
that every member Of the family should
tribute one dollar 10 go toward some kind OF
present for the boy. who had modestly made
known his poverty and need through the me
dunn OF n turkey, which would be enjoyed by
sume family Thanksgiving Day. A suit OF
clothes and an oveicoat were the first things
that suggested themselves to the youthful mind.
The objection was offered, however, that the
boys size was unknown. He might be big.
strapping country lad diminutive and sickly
A apf nj
then suggested, but the foy's tastes were
not known. and the range OF literature from
Mother Goose Tales to Shakespeare Is practical
ly unlimited. Finally 1t decided that the
best plan would be to send the money itself and
let the boy buy Just whatever he desired. The
more enthusiastic were all impotence and want
ed to send the money at once. But older and
wiser heads threw cold water on the whole
scheme for the time being
1t was argued that the writer was quite I'M
known to them, and might be an unworthy per-
sOn. somebody who had written the note
Joke and was not really in need OF assistance.
1t suggested that they write to the post
master Of the town from which the note was
written and inquire to the life and WORTH
ness Of the author. On the whole. this was de-
cded to be the best plan and considerable time
was spent and not a little amusement created
before appropriate letter to the postmaster
was composed and mailed
The arrival Of the reply was anxiously await
ed, and when few days later a big official en-
velope was delivered at the house, II was decided
to wait until all OF the members Of the family
were gathered together before opening II. as on
the occasion Of receiving the first note. When
the family circle complete the seal was
broken. The contents of the letter were far
more Of a surprise than the first note. The let
ter read somewhat as follows: Mr.. X.-Dear
Sir: Your communication OF recent date duly re-
ceived. 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 workhouse Y is usually drunk In
the street. He is not deserving Yours. I,
postmaster at M"
1t Is safe to say that the poor little Vermont
boy will not receive his Christmas present.