The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-11-09


0EoN pocrhouse. 1t was held in
!. the common sitting-room, where the
men and women were allowed to gath
er when they were not eating or Sleep
ing. About all the unfortunates in the
almshouse had to do was to eat and
sleep; a few worked about the inStitu-
an or in the garden. The convention
opened rather Unexpectedly, when
Sarah Tooker remarked:
"What dye s'pose Wen have for
Thanksgivin'?
All the others turned and looked at
her. for Sarah was the latest arrival.
and consequently new to the regula-
ttionS governing the Morrisville poor
house.
"po they feed us on turkey or chick
en:' she continued. I'm a little mite
fouder of turkey myself, but l s'pose
rcan eat chicken on pinch"
"Ho. ho~ laughed Rodney Eckert.
"Ho, hor' and his two remaining teeth
ratified together like corn in parch-
ing-pan. Turkey! Chicken, Land
tVNS SS, Sotdu 4OOhSl. IL IL am AOoSl
->heaS>i$3t be lamb stew, and if it amt
lamb stew it'll he roast beef, an ye
can take your choice. l know. I've
been here nigh onto fourteen year now.
Most likely it'll be lamb stew. l call
to mind how We had roast beef last
Hsar."
Eight other cid men and ten other
old women nodded their heads i'll grave
assent. They also knew. from more
or less long experience, what the
Thanksgiving dinner would be. 1t was
only slightly different from the usual
meals of soup. bread and tea. served
regularly at the pooIhouSe. Only Sarah
hoped for change. The others
thought little about it.
Lamb stew" said Sarah. piaintively.
"Why, the idea, Thanksgiving. too,
Well, all I've got to say is, that it amt
what I'm used to. not by good deal.
don't sec why we can't have chick
Ell potpie," she finished, with little
sigh
"Don't LET Zeke .Iedell hear ye." eau
toned Bud Tunkert. "As long as he's
been superintendent of this poorhouse,
he can't abide to have any one find
fault with the eatin'. Not that we
need TO, most times; but since ye
brought up the ThankSgivin' subject,
It kinder runs in my head. Turkey.
All, Umr'
S"My.o oh. My. Thankssiyin', an lamb
gfew~ repeated Sarah. 1T doesn't
seem reasonable. Before had to
come here l was used to big turkey
for dinuer-a big. fat. brown turkey"
"If ye'd just leave off mentioning
such things I'd be obliged to ye," said
Tod Elkun, with q little Quaver in his
voice. He awoke from the doze lie
had been in. 1T makes body feel
hungry" he went on. Especially
when the feastil' times so near. IT
it's all the same, We might mention
somethin' about bein' shipwrecked on
: a desert island. with nothin' to eat but
boot-Iegs an seaweed. Tbat'li give
MS appetites for lamb stew" he con-
~ciuded.
A silence concluded, while each one
.tpf the tweEty inmates of the poor
house was busy with his or her own
sad thoughts,
Sarah Tooker Tagged her head de-
-3eetedly. It was new experience for
her, for she had been in good circum-
stances until failing fortunes and the
death Of all her relatives bad obliged
her, to seek refuge in that place dread
ed by all the aged.
.'It does seem Il pity we can't cele-
brate for once" mused Tod Elkunl, as
lie e,walked out into the yard. Il would
relish nice. brown slice OF turkey,
with plenty Of gravy an lots of dress
in. And l wouldn't mind some Grail
berry sauce. TOO. But s'pose tn
selectmen amt got money TO waste
4 on such irilis.
Out OH the pleasant country road 4
great red automobile rushed by, rals'
ing a cloud of dust. The State turn
pike passed through Morrisville.
"l'll bet those folks amt worryin
about where their turkey is comin
from" went on Tod. "Well. We can't
all be rich, and maybe it's good
thing"
He stroiled toward the road, walk
ing slowly. for his limbs were feeble
<from age. He enjoyed the crisp air
of November and the genial sun. which
tempered the rather cool afternoon.
There was the delightful smell of aut-
umn. coming from the brown earth,
and the dried leaves ratified as he trod
on them.
He reached the road and turned
toward the village. The dust from
the automobile was still flying lazily
in the sunlight. \ little way ahead
Tod saw figure. 1t was that of a
man, and he was shaking his staff at
something III the distance. When Tod
came nearer he recognized Hank
Wright. the town marshal.
What's the trouble:' asked Tod.
"Somebody tryin' to run over ye:"
Its 1helc pesky automobiles said
Hank.
What did it do: Most nip ye:' in-
Quired Tod.
mo. But it was goin' twice IS fast
as the law allows" ep!ied Hank. "and
was hollerin. 10 /top it. The select
men have pass law, limitin' the