Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-21
A YOUTHFUL TYR
Ansonia Boy Will Start New Iear's $
 Morning for California

Morning Tor CallfOrnla.
 Says the AnsOnia Sentinel: Clifford C. Turk. the G-year-oId grandson of Mrs R. C. Merkle, who lives in one Of the houses opposite the gun shop. will start on journey across the continent on New Years morning, alone. Cliff ford is the son of John Turk. of Pas adena, California. but has.not seen his father since he was about one year old. He is Il smart l1Itie fellow, large for his age, with a rather pretty face and black eyes, and he is very anxious for New Years day to come 80 that he can begin his three thousand mile journey.
 John Turk formerly lived in Sey- mour. and married a daughter of Mrs Merklc. shortly after the birth of Clifford q weakness of the lungs deVel- 0ped in Mrs Turk and il was thought that only trip to California would save her life. Her husband was d ma chinist and arrangements were made for him and his wife to go to Pasadena and Clifford. who was then about one year old, was left with his grand mother in Seymour. Mrs Turks health was not particularly benefited by the | California climate, although at times 1 she seemed better. and about year | and half after going to Pasadena she l died. Her body was creTntted. accord | ing to her WiSh and the ashes were sent to Seymour and inferred there. ! One promise Mrs Turk secured from | her husband was that he should come east at once and get their child and make q home for him. but his health was so poor his physician forbade him | coming to New England. So he rC- mainod ill PaSadeEa and has since mar i ried again, and this year he and his wife have frequently written to Mrs Mcrkle to send the boy to them. They wanted him to get out there by Christ mas, but Mrs Merkle said she was so lcath to let him go that Christmas was almost here bo fore she finally con | scented. When she did his father promptly made all arrangements for the trip.
 Clifford will leave Derby New Year :, 1 morning and will go to Springfield. his father having paid all expenses through the railroad companies from Derby to Pasadena.
 At Springfield he will board an ey- cursion car which is going all the way through. passing over the Boston and Albany. the New York Central. the Michigan Central and the santa Fe railroads. He leaves Springfield al 6:25 o'clock D. m., New Years evening ' istS' car who will have his tickets fol the trip and for his berth and the money to pay for his meals. Five days later he will land in California and vii be met by his father.
 Clifford was not at home, WcdneS day afternoon. when d Sentinel re porter called at Mrs Merkles. having gone out to mail q letter, which con tained some of the final instructions rt Il 1,n lNn Tp I,,, ,l., = sage. Mrs Merklr talked of the triI and showed the reporter a picture O. the boy. She said lie was very anX iOus to make the trip, us he wanted t' See his father. and was also very iOnt Of the cars. and did not seem at al Frightened at the iUea of making th' journey alone or going among #trang CTS. He was born October .23. lS9f and is slightly over six years of age She said ne Was q sturdy lad, bfigh and smart and understood well enougl how to take care of himself ana caused very little trouble to any one : Mrs Merkle said. before starting tn boy on the trip she should have a Ittl | tag made upon which should he writ ten the boys name and age, and tell ing to what point he was going ant from what place he started. and alS | telling the route over which he was l. | travel. liliS WOnIt: be fastened to string around lis neck and he woul' \ be told to show il if anything hap pened to him. Sine thought tina through arrangements already mad and by this tag. every possible dange would be avoided.
 John Turk is a machiniSt in an cleo tric power station ill paSndena and ha made arrangements to have q Christ mas tree when his son reaches there
 He has one child by his second wife and his second wife is also anxious |
 have Clifford come to live with then
 Mrs Mcrhle says Mr Turk thinks tha his son will have better Opp0rtunilie to secure an education there than il
 the ecSt.
 Clifford has been going to flaw thorne school for about q year and ha
 made fine progress. Mrs Merkle Ina
 q letter from Miss Bailey, the teachc ] in the school. in which she cOmpi
 ments the little fellow very highly an
 says she hates to lose him. He is yer
 popular with his little schOolmates.
 Hospital Gets Handsome Gift.