The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-25
THANKSGIVING STORY FOR BOYS.
How Bobs Turkey Turned Into Baby, Which Was Lucky
For Bob and the Baby.
BY P. Y. BLACK.

Copyright. 1897, S. S. Mcclure, L'td).
Bob placed the big basket between
his feet on the floor and looked out of
scattered farms, which he was leaving
after his four weeks of happy conva-
lescence from fever.
Il wish I was a farmer" said Bob,
cor could go to the country every day
like Mr.. Ray
Then he thought of his father, por-
ter in the big place of business, strug
Cling along, and his busy mother, and
his four SpraWling sisters and brothers,
always hungry and always pale and
always getting run over or something
in the street. And then, to dispel his
gloom, he peeped into the basket at his
feet, which his cousins had stored with
Thanksgiving provender, a big turkey,
jar of cranberries, apples to no end
and two huge mince pies. AT least the
mother and brothers would have col
ossal banquet tomorrow-Thanksgiv
day.
"MayviIlel" the conductor cried.
That's where Mr.. Ray lived, with all
the comforts the huge store had poured
into his lap. Bob stared out of the
window and recognized the house from
what he had heard tell of it from the
other boys in the store, where he him
self was a cash boy-was, truly, for he
doubted much if he would be taken
back to work now that he had broken
down in health. That was the house
on top of the hill, with great windows
and queer gables and Flagstaff, and
surrounded by trees.
GOSH" murmured Bob, Il guess
he'll have something like a Thanks
giving"
A man pushed along the aisle and
sat down beside Bob, the only vacant
seat. He seemed in a hurry, and, like
Bob he planted a basket between his
feet and seemed relieved to be rid of it's
wight. He looked all around the car,
when he had seated himself, in fur
ried way, and then got UP and went
and looked into the other cars, and
came back seeming satisfied.
Say, son. he said to Bob, 'let me
next to the Window"
Sure said Bob good naturally,
reaching for his basket, which he
changed to the place of the strangers.
Then the man sat looking steadily
out upon the fast falling evening, and
Bob felt drowsy and slumbered. He
was half aroused by the man passing
him to get a drink of water. Bob drew
close to the window to look out. and
just then the train drew up at the out
ermost station of the city. The stran-
ger came running back in a hurry,
seized his basket and rushed to the
door. Then Bob crept closer to the
glass, and renewed his acquaintance
with the noisy streets and the electric
lights and the busy crowds.
1t was dark when, with infinite pains,
he dragged his precious Thanksgiving
dinner I'D the tenement stairs, and, if
he had not been aware how badly
wanted it was he would have growled
at his cousins for loading it so heavily.
He was glad to put it down in the
bare little kitchen and kiss the babes,
and shake his fathers hand
Did you see the boss of my depart
ment? Am I to go back to work." he
eagerly asked his father But the tired
! looking man shook his head and smiled
sadly.
81 saw him, Bob" he answered. I'm
| afraid you can't go back yet awhile
They're laying US off, not taking any
| one on. Business is mighty poor, my
SON.
Bob looked Reenly at his father, then
at his mother The latter turned away
but the boy ran. to her and took he1
face in his hands and looked into he1
| eyes.
Mammie,' he said Indignantly
you've been crying" He looked at his
father and his face paled. Dad, has Mr.
Ray laid you off?'
MIR. Ray has nothing to do with it,
said his father, bitterly, but I'm lait
| off all right. Mr.. Ray doesn't bother
about messengers and porters. The
department bosses look to that"
Well said Bob. in dismay, this is
a nice thing to happen at Thanksgiv-
| ing time"
"Don't let's think of it, Bob, dear
said his mother AT least not till after
tomorrow. What's this you've brought
from the farm? You're looking well
| Bob, my SON."
wen have a jolly good dinner, any
how, mammie, if we never have an
other" Bob cried. There's turkey anc
apples and cranberries and stuffing anC
| mince."
The babes interrupted him with vel
and insisted upon seeing these things
at once. Bob solemnly stepped tC
the basket, and they gathered round
him.
Il say" he said, as he looked doubt
fully at the treasure, L didn't notice
much, but that don't look like aunt;
basket"
open it; open itg' screamed the
babes.
1t don't seem TIC hasten down INT
same way" said Bob. with suddeI
alarm, and he threw it open.
owl Mamar' the babes howled.
"Gosh!" Bob gasped, and looked a
his father and mother, who stared a
him, speeches..
In the basket, with a feeding bottl
by it's pillow, lay fat baby boy, heav
lily slumbering.
rs that your turkey?" cried Bob
father, and dropped in a chair to roa
with laughter. in spite of his disap
pointment The child lay quite still
with breath so imperceptible that tn
mother stopped quickly over it and eX
amined it with anxiety.
It's aliver' she cried. Poor littl
thingi But what queer smell! Bot
it's been given something to make
sleepr'
She took it I'D and walked it abou
children hung about her skirts, Gu
riously and jealousy. Bob had col
lapscd in q chair opposite his father
entirely upset.
But as soon as his brain recovere
from the shock he began to puzzle on
this transformation from turkey t
baby, and jumped up, excitedIy.
I've took his basket" said he, wit
a yell, and he's took minep'
.'Who?" they shouted.
Him The man who wanted to 81
down mex the window He was sort c
ratified, and he went out before w
came to the terminus, in an awft
. hurryr'
Hes took our turkeyr' walled tn
family