Middletown transcript., 1901-11-23
The Ministers Turkey
BYL. o. 1ENNARE.

crowd in this countryr Thet they will
After dinner, when all the dishes hev
ben washed and put away, Pm goin' to
fetch ont bag-s big one-filled brimful
OF nuts-thet all the time I've been hidin'
ia my coat, and then I'll cay, Here's
sumthin' else yir ole daddy hez brought
his babies Mebbe they won't holIer I"
and he fell back in his chair, laughing
loudly.
The minister gazed at him rather cur
iously.
"Some hot tea" he said to Martha.
| As she left the room Howe turned sud
denly upon the minister
dispose you're goin' to hev Thanke-
givin' dinner too?''
"Yes, have planned to have a cele-
bration," replied Reverend Hobartson,
"but it is not going to be quite as elabo-
rate as yours" he added, modestly.
"You're goin' to hev puddin' an pies ?"
Frhat depends upon Martha" with a
dubious glance at that person as she en-
tered the room.
cam cranberry sauce?' iealously.
Without doubt. sampled it today
"Jess SO, jess so. And O. course you're
goin' to hev turkey?" he went on in
convincing tone, as he put down his knife
and fork and anxiously awaited reply.
"O' course he isl' cried Martha, forget
ting, in her anxiety to uphold the minis-
ter's reputation, the little formalities to
which she generally restricted herself in
the presence Of strangers, "an' it's
bonnie bird tae."
'But a hull" began Howe, and
then stopped abruptly. He pushed his
plate away from him and arose. II
must co." he went on, as he picked up
his hat from the floor. mo, I don't
want any more. I'm in too much of a
hurry. I hev to see bout gettin' them
nuts tonight. Hope yen enjoy your
Thanksgivin' dinner" and with laugh
he left the house.
"A' nae sorry he's game" said Martha,
with q shudder, as she locked the door,
"rn' it's all lee about tha' dinner-it's
all he can dae tae get bread for his
bairns."
Thanksgiving Day dawned bright and
clear. The air was crisp and cold, the
sky without q cloud. Directly after
breakfast the minister and Martha went
out to kill the turkey. Martha had
large dish-pan and the minister carried
an axe. At the chicken coup in which
the turkey was kept they stopped. Mar
tina opened the door and looked in. To
her amazement all was silent. The coup
was enaptyi
"Why, it's gone p gasped the aston
ished minister.
"Gonep p calculated Martha, trembling
with rage. "Tt's stole. Paul Howe
ag'in, O. coorse. A ken him over weel."
"But he said he was going to have q
turkey of his own," expostulated the
minister in bewilderment.
"He thocht about yir bonnie bird, the
wratch II he wass here noo-there's
that lad Collie, he's comm this way.
Mebbe he ill gle an account O yir puir
bird. Hi, hi, Collie--this way"
Collie needed no call He was already
bound for the minister's place, and was
running as fast as he could. In a mo-
ment he stood hatless and breathless be-
fore them.
They've caught him he gasped.
"WhoT' questioned the minister, his |
face looking rather white in the winter
sunlight.
paul Howe" answered the boy 4
"Him that stole that turkey o. ycurn.
His family was starvin' - cudn't git
nothin' to eat nohow-Redson's got holt
o him-they're comm this way. Here
they're now"
The minister saw them as in dream
the excited lad, the neighboring farmer
with the unlucky bird, unmistakably the
missing one, the triumphant constable,I 1
Paul Howe, sullen and silent, and the
crowd of curious onhangers.
give got him at lastp' shouted the cons
table, pushing Howe forward. "Tisnt
the first time I've been after this pesky |
ritter, either. But he's as slipp'ry as an
,el, an alters managed TO crawl through
somehow or other" and he tightened
mis- grasp upon Howe.s arm. gBut I've
nipped him fast enuf this time, an hain't
yoin' to let him squirm away again in
hurry. There's that bird O. your'n, your
,everence. If ,twan't fer Tommy Coles,
your Thanksgivin' dinner wud hev ben
minus turkey. He wus the one tot,
,eryide your fust course"
"Twa'n't much n interposed Tommy,
nodestly, as he twirled his hat in his
lands. cit didn't even take me out OF
ny way. l was just comm home as
lsuai from Slater's store bout 'leyen,
vhen who shsald see walkin' away I'm
our house but old Howe with thet tur- !;
,ey O. your'n under his arm. Perhaps
,ou don't think laid holt o. him? By
iminyl I had him out in the road quick
r'n wink, an was shakin' him fit to
make his teeth rattle in his head. At
ast, when he cotched his breath, I tole
i'm wanted to know why he was round
het time o. the night carryin' away re-
pect'ble peoples property, and mind
-ou, the old duffer actu'lly tried to make
ne believe"
ssThat / gave il to him ~ interrupted
he minister with smile. "And you
hought he had stolen il ] You have
made great mistake" ("
"Wa'al, ! swan r.
80 all this trouble is over nothing, =
continued the minister. II
The constable dropped Howe'a arm.
Tommy Coles looked rather uncomforta-
lie. The minister, however, seemed per
ectly at ease. He turned to Howe with
smile. ID
II found this purse after you had gone