The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13

would buy turkey and surprise Aunt
Chloe. But how to obtain the money
he could not think. Just now Aunt
Chloe began to sing softly and Erastus
was lulled into dreamland.
The next morning bright and early
Erastus started on his usual mission.
He whistled and sang, again revolving
in his mind the problem of the turkey.
The stockings went more slowly this
morning and at noon little Erastus was
such a distance from home, he decided
to stop at Mr.. Jennings where he had
often spent many happy hours. He
found the children, Rob and Dick alone
in the kitchen preparing the noon meal
in which Erastus gladly assisted. At
ter all was ready they partook heartily
each considering it fine dinner. 1--WE
must feed the turkeys" said Dick; at
which statement Erastus exclaimed,
You dun got turkeys too?" This was
soon proved, as they looked over into
the small poultry yard. ''Yes sir, da's
even up whole dozen," continued
Erastus. He then told the boys how
much he wished to buy one, and learned
they intended selling nearly all of them
by Christmas.
Erastus reluctantly and not without
a lingering look at the turkeys started
for home. He darted along to the end
of the alley, turned three or four corners
and entered a pleasant street. Sud-
denly his quick ear caught the distant
strains of ahand- organ, and going sew
eral blocks saw an Italian turning the
crank. He was surrounded by group
of white children and Erastrs ran to-
ward it. AS he reached the place the
music changed to a gay waltz, and hav-
ing true negro love for music, Erastus
began to whirl and dance on the tips of
his toes as lightly as a feather blown by
the breeze. The Italian watched him
ailing several days, had died that morn
ing and he knew his harvest of pennies
would be far less plentiful. When the
tune was finished he said: Look hear
little boy, take this cup and hand it
round, give you TIRES cents for it.
The Italian soon heard the pennies
rafting in rapidly. He was delighted
and easily engaged the bright little fel.
low to follow him. The two attracted
many groups that afternoon and at
night Erastus' pennies counted up
twenty-one cents. A more delighted
boy one could hardly find. This he
kept secret from Aunt Chloe, but con.
fided to Laura the next morning. yves
gwine ter hab Christmas ter our house. .
Every day he followed the Italian, each
time bringing home small sum.
Only one day till Christmas. Erastus
now started for Mr.. jennings to pur.
chase that much desired article. q
turkey. ~ wants ter buy turkey
Mista Jennings, Use got heaps o. money
and Use mighty shuh can buy one
dem tine turkeys" Though at some
sacrifice Mr.. Jennings smilingly selected
a turkey and made no objections to the
sum offered him. 'tWhar shall I keep
dis turkey till Christmas" thought he
'smammy mustn't know till Christmas. .
Glad Use got him cause da's shuh 'nuf1
sold EN- nearly all. Fir ally he came to
little old deserted dwelling and walk
ing up to it pushed the door open and
looked in. dis am de berry place. ,
After tying the turkey to the leg of a
broken stove. he closed the door secure.
lv and ran home. "Whar 70 been 70
sRastus Melchisedec Grow? Jes' clal