Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-12-03
Homer and His Turkeys.

On Thanksgiving afternoon the Colon
iai thcater, the best vaudeville house in
the city. held a throng that had dncd
well and was happy enough to appr,-
ciatc amy sort Of fun. The Children
hundreds of them-shrieked with delight
over every act The women laughed,
the men applaudCd with great hearty
EaudcapS. A little buzz of excitement
went round the house when, ut the cnu
of the fourth turn. two hoys, instead OF
setting up the regulation big red number,
displayed Il brand new card. Ii read:
Extra Numher--llom Tidd and Ills
Performing Turkeys shout of dc.
lighted anticipation went up from the au-
dience. Every paper in town had made
spectacular story Of the ruin at Finch X
Richards. Nothing could have been so
splendid surprise. Everybody broke
into applause-cyGrybody except one lit
tie woman who sat in the front row of
the orchestra. tier lace was pale, he~
hands clasped and unclasped each othet
TREMENDOUSLY. Homer, boy" She whis-
pered to herself
The curtain rolled un. The stage was
set for realistic farm-yard scene. The
floor was scattered with straw. an old
pump leaned over in one corner, has
tunbled untidily from Il barn loft, a
coop with hen and chickens stood 10y
the fence. From her stall stared Il
whitc-faced old COW; her eyes blinked at
the glare of the fo0tlights. The orchcS-
tra struck up n merry tune; the COW Ut
tered an astonished moo; then in walked
II sturdy lad with fine broad shoulders.
red hair and frcckles His boots dumped,
his blue overalls were faded, his sweater
had once been red. At his heels stepped
six splendid turkeys straight III line, ev-
cry one with its eyes on the master.
Homer never knew how he did it. To
minutes earlier he had said to the man-
aGer, desperately: I'm cut an run right
of rs soon as | set eyes on folks" Per
hapS he drew courage from the anxious
gaze Of his mothers eyes. Hers was the
only face he saw in the great audience.
Perhaps il was the magnificent aplomh
Of the turkeys that inspired him. They
stepped serenely, as If walking out ON a
gorgeOusly lighted stage was an every
day event in their lives Anyhow
Homer threw up his head and led the
turkey march round and round past the
foOtlightS, til the shout of applause
dwnded into silence. The boy threw
back his head and snapped his fingers.
The turkeys retreated TO form in line at
the back of the stage.
Gettysburg" cried Homer, pointing to
n stately plump hem Gettysburg
stepped to the center of the stage. "IIow
many kernels of corn have / thrown
you, GettyT' he asked.
The turkey turned to count them. with
her head cooked rehcctively on one side
Then She scratched her foot on the floor.
One. two. three, four, five
Right. Now you may cat them,
Getty"
Gettysburg wore her ncw-won lnurcls
with IN excellent grace. She jumped
through row Of hoops, slid gracefully
about the stage on n pair Of miniature
roller skates; She stepped from stool to
chair, from chair 10 table, in perfect time
with lIomet's whistle and a low strain
Of melody from the orchestra. She
danced Il stately jig on the table then,
with satisfied cuck, descended on the
other side to the floor. Amanda Ann.
Mchitablc. Nancy and FarraEut achieved
their triumphs in slow dance made MP
Of dignihrd hops aud may turns. They
stood in a dcCorous line awaiting the re-
turn of their master, for Homer had
dashed suddenly from the stage. lie re-
appeared. holding his head up proudly,
Now he wore his blue uniform and
jaunty cap Of soldier boy; gun
leaned on his shoulder.
The orchestra put all it's vigor, patriot
ism aud wind into "Marching Through
Georgia Straight to IIomcr's side,