Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-11-18
CAS- WATT E RS
TURKEY " ~ ~
A Story of Art and a Thanks
giving Dinner

I
know just exactly where the money
was to come from With rare provi-
dence he had set apart five-dollar bill
from the sale Of his "Prometheus," but
the coal had run out and more had to
be bought.
Never mind" said Caswatter, "I'll
take that Autumn Sunset down to
Perdigan tomorrow. I'd made up my
mind that I'd keep it if / couldn't get
s1O0 for it, but If Perdigan wants it
for $50 he can have it,"
Mrs. Caswatter almost wept, for she
knew how much her artist husband
thought of that Autumn Sunset" He
would almost rather have parted with
his Solitude" or his Cleaning" or
his Achilles in His Tent" 1t was
masterpiece. Solitude" Cleaning"
and Achilles" were also masterpieces.
There were few things that Caswatter
painted that were not masterpieces.
The great difficulty was that they
would not SELL.
On the oath Caswatter took the "Au-
tumn Sunset" under his arm and Of
fered it to Perdigan. But Perdigan de-
clined to give him the $50 for it, In
fact, he wouldn't have it at any price
Caswatter bore his disappointment
with an air of Indifference, but he fell
1t nevertheless.
He went upstairs to his attic studio
and began to pace the floor in great
agitation. He was an artist, but he
was also father, and the thought of
little Leonard's disappointment when
invited to sit down to pork chops was
maddening, and the pork chops seemed
inevitable. AS he walked and gnawed
his beard his eye fell upon Solitude"
and he made sudden resolve. He
would have that Thanksgiving dinner
at all costs He wrapped the picture
carefully in the paper that he had just
taken off "An Autumn Sunset" and
started out.
Perdigan looked at it with his under
lip pushed out and said:
well, I'd like to make you an offer
for it, but-you see, it isn't the sort
of thing that sells. I'll tell you, though,
if you would like to leave 1t here I'll
do the best can with it on a commits
sion"
II suppose you wouldn't care to ad-
vance me little on it," said Caswat-
ter.
why, I'd like to, but you know
that's altogether against our rules"
"I'll leave it," said Caswatter.
Caswatter went back to his studio
and did some more walking. Usually
, he dismissed household cares easily
from his mind, but this dinner he had
counted on so surely. He could see it
actually see it. He laughed savagely
and, sitting down before his easel. be-
gan to sketch the outlines of nam
moth turkey. Then the idea took him
and he forgot his woes. Gradually the
turkey took shape and form and eel.
cry glass topped with a fringing bou-
quet of stalks and leaves, appeared be-
side it; then bowl and a background
of pies. He drew up his stool closer
and began to spread on the color and
worked more and more feverishly until
the waning light forced him to desist.
Early on the morning of the 25th he
arose and attacked his "Barcemide 9
Feast" with undiminished fury. BY II
O'Clock it was finished. He took ii down
into the little dining room, set it on
the mantelpiece and then called Mrs
Caswatter to look at it. There's your
Thanksgiving dinner" he said. "Wel.
look at that and imagine it's real"
Mrs. Caswatter was visibly i'm.
pressed. What genius you are!'
she said, admiringly. That turkey
looks as if it had just been taken from
the oven. | can smell it. And the
cranberry sauce!"
AT IL o'clock Mrs Caswatter tapped
at her husbands door. MY DEAR" she
said, 81 hate to disturb you, but Mr.
Tublin, the grocer, is down below. He
said he's called for the balance of hi;
account. | told him you were busy
but he said he'd like to see you, ant
he'd wait"
Caswatter groaned. "Well, III bt
right down, dear" he said.
When he went downstairs he found
Tublin in the dining-room standing be
fore the turkey picture, open-mouthet
with admiration.
"A fine picture, that, sir" he said
with feeling.
About that balance. How much Il
it?" asked the artist.
TITS only $685." replied the grocer
81 was just passing and-I never seer
: prettier piece of work than that. It'll
make a dandy thing for my window.
"You look in next week some timt
and I'll pay you," said Caswatter.
Much obliged" said the grocer, alb
sently. "Now, that picture-I wonde
. where could buy one like it?"
"You can have that for $40 bill,
said Caswatter.
The grocer instantly produced ia
, pocketbook and, taking out bill, lai'
;, 1t on the table and advanced to the pic
ture.
Here, it's wet yet" said Caswatter
$50 1t is." said the grocer. well,
must handle it carefully. That's goinI
g to help trade this afternoon and thi