The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-06

Then they held out their hands.
I'll take mine now" said Tommy
Atkins.
IN take mine now" said Johnny
Jones.
But the big policeman had the tur-
key under one arm and the goose I'M
der the other. "Ah, my gracious" he
said again, and started to walk off.
The boys followed him. Give me
my goose" said Tommy Atkins, red
faced and angry.
Give me my turkey said Johnny
Jones, mad as a hornet.
'Oh, go way, go way, little boys"
said the big policeman. Then he shook
his club at the youngsters, stepped on
a passing trolley car and was gone.
Great was the mourning at the At
kins' and Jones households when the
tale was told, for money was scarce
and neither family could afford an
other fowl for the Christmas dinner.
I'VE will just have a rasher of ba-
CON- said Mrs. Atkins, when Tommy
told his tale, and all the little At
kinses wept.
1--WE will have a slice of ham," said
Mrs. Jones, when Johnny told his tale,
and all the little Joneses wept.
But early Christmas morning Tommy
and Johnny met on a corner and talk
ed over the situation.
ITS a beastly shame" said the
small Englishman.
IT'S a mean trick" said the small
American.
Just then, far up the street, the big
policeman came in sight.
The two boys crouched back in a
doorway and watched him. When he
had passed they stood up.
Lets follow him. they said to-
gether, and for long time they shad-
owed him through the snowy streets.
At last, about noon, the big police
man reached a small house, and went
in. AS he opened the door, a delicious
fragrance was borne upon the air-of
sage and onions and of brown, roast
ing birds.
That's my goose" said Tommy At
kins. shifting
And that's my turkey" said John
| ny Jones, shifting.
They crept around to the side OF
the house. where they could peer
through the shutters of window. In
| big room was a we'll loaded table
Chairs were set for four. and through
the door beyond. the boys could see
the big policeman and three fat
| friends. They were smoking long
pipes and drinking beer, and now and
then they laughed loudly.
"Ah, that goose!" said one.
And, ah, dat turkey!" said another
"Ah, my gracious!" said the big
policeman.
Behind the dining room was the
kitchen, and there an old negro wom-
an was arranging two we'll Drowned
fowls on huge platters. Surrounded
by wreaths of green they were won
derful to look upon, and most enticine
to the appetite. She placed one al
| the head and one at the foot of the
| table. and to the boys it seemed that
they glorified the place.
Then came a cry from the front
room.
More beer, Topsy!" ordered the
| big policeman, and he came into the
dining room with a pitcher; then he
went back into the parlor and shut
the door behind him.
The old darkey descended, grum-
bling. into the cellar.
Now is our chance" said Johnny
Zones.
The English boy, slower of COM
prehension, looked at him. Then his
| face lighted up. and the two young
sters darted through the kitchen, each
seized a fowl on its platter. and in a
second were out again into the snowy
street.
I'VE can return the platters some
other time" laughed Johnny Jones,
as they ran.
"Ah, my gracious!" painted Tommy
Atkins, and they both gigled so that
they could hardly stand.
And five minutes later Tommy At
kins rushed into his house with a
beautiful brown goose, and slapped it
down in front of his mother.
There's our goose" he said, and
the little Atkinses gazed with all their
eyes while he told his story.
And at the same time Johnny Jones
rushed into his house with beautiful
brown turkey. which he slapped down
in front of his mother.
There's our turkey" he said, and
the little Joneses gazed with all their
eyes while he told his story.
And then such Christmas dinners
as they all ate'
But the big pollceman-ah, my
gracious!
-Encouragement-Pu Eager re-
peated attempts)-"oh, I'm sure new
err shall be able to-" Professor-"Oh,