Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-11-30
Ned's Thanksgiving Turkey.

berries an there's no turkey an nam
not making no-no-p-pie.
Mans busy looking after pop,
Loo" said Ned, in great worriment,
"an' he S awful down with 'lalia. l
guess we'll have to do without pie
this Thanksgiving"
NO pie An no turkey We al
ways have pie an turkey on Thanks
giving, Ned, else it amt no Thanks
giving 1t can't be Thanksgiving"
But ye amt on the farm now,
Loo" her big brother demonstrated,
were in the Injun Territory"
q don't care" cried Miss Loo.
"Aip't there turkeys an cranberries
in the Injun Territory p
Il guess there are, but l amt sure
about cranberries.
Then, why don't you buy one?'
Cause there nobody round here
for miles an miles to buy from, and, "
he added dolefulIy to himself, there 5
no money to buy one with. "
"When I was little wee girl, " said
Miss Loo, reproachlully, 81 once
caught a turkey all by myself, in the
yard, did
She rose from the bank of the creek
and walked slowly and tearfully back
to the wagon. She was only eight
years old, but she was already posi-
tive about the rights of little women,
and one of these was unalterably the
proper celebration of Thanksgiving.
Her brother, Ned, sat by the chilly
waters and thought dismally. He was
thinking and just old enough to real
ize plainly that things witt his FAMILY
had gone all wrong. He knew that
times had been hard in Wyoming,
where they had come from. He knew
that his father had lost all his cattle
and had to leave the ranch. He
knew they were travelling with their
few household goods down to join his
uncle in Texas-traveling in the slow
est, most laborious but cheapest way,
with his fathers last wagon, and his
father last tour horses.
Ned sat until the falling sun warned
him it was time to fetch wood for the
fire and help his mother make the
poor meal they were getting accus-
toned to.
Mother" he said, as they hung
over the fle together, "to-morrOw's
Thanksgiving.
"a poor one for US, sonny" " she
answered. "No pie for little Loo to-
morrow I'm afraid-poor child. But
well soon be in Texas, Ned.
"Ain't there turkeys in the terri
tory, man? Wild ones, l mean?"
80 l am told but, gracious, you
can't expect your father to get up sick
as he Is, and shoot turkeys"
Couldn't I? I've shot pops gun
off twice. An Loo wants turkey,
She's tired OF pork and faRjacks.
Your father said, when he left
home, you were never to leave the
trail. You might get lost on these
big prairies.
He said unless necessary, and
when we entered the territory, the
people told US We were quite safe.
The Indians are all quiet on their res
ervations, and we've only seen two
all the way through, 50 there's no
danger off the trail
Get the coffee, Ned, said his moth
er, and don t talk nonsense
But Ned thought long over the fire
that night and early next morning
when his mother got up she found the
camp fire ready lighted and ragged
piece Of paper attached to the wheel
of the wagon. She read it with diff
Guilty.
"Ned has gone to catch turkey
for Loo. It's necessary"
Far off on the never ending plain
he rode on his fresh and willing horse,
the gun resting, both barrels loade i,
on the pommeI before hlm. Inc chill
of the morning air was speedily soft
ened by the rays of warm sun. The
boy began to feel the real glory of the
plains, as the wind swept past him,
and the galloping hoofs OF his horse
made music IN his ear
:. His cheeks flushed f.; his uncut nair
foated behind him his eyes shone,
and he shouted with novel delight.
But be saw no turkeys. Ii he had
known more he would have got up at
night and "potted" them from their
roosts in the branches of the scanty
trees it is unsportsmanlike, but efec-
tive. Now they were far abroad feed