Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-25
Simnle Simon's Turkey.

Simple Simon's Turkey
Now, here's what l call n turkey. 80
said the poutcrer "A finer bird nor
That YOU wouldn't ind--not in the West
End" He held up the skinny fowl ut
arms length with an effort, as though
performing some feat of weightlfting,
Smon'S eyes glistened.
How much is it, though-eh?" he in,
CURED.
The poulterer took in the youths i'll
suppressed eagerness, his simple face,
and neat, homely dress in single side
long glance.
"Nine-an'-six is what I'll let you have
this bird for" he said. It's THROWN it
away-nine,,an SIX IS. | paid eleven bob
for it myself. But that's what I'll do it
to you for, an less | wouldn't take from
me own son.
Smon's face fell. Somehow he had
| expected it to be less than that though
he knew nothing about the price of tIr-
keys.
Il suppose" he said. hesitatingly, you
haven't Il cheaper one than thatt'
There were five other creatures on tie
counter ranged in decreasing order of
>kinniness. The fifth was good deal
smaller than the one that had been Of
fered him.
Yes. you could ave that for eight-an'-
six said the poulterer, following
Simons eye on to the fifth fowl But |
want to treat YOU fair. II amt rs cheap
q bird though it is a bob less. If | WAS
You, / wouldn't do il, and ! tells Won
that though it's agin me own interests,
Simon yielded.
"P'raps Id better have the big 'un
! then" he said, with a sigh.
Done" said the pouterer An yon
can tell Yer friends as You've made a
! hargain--you, ave You'll he wanhn a
tag for it, o course|'
/ a bag"
One O these here, said the poultercr,
/ producing Il small greasy straw one.
/ "Fippeuce, If this here turkeys pres
/ emit you'l have to ave a bag
/ We'll, it's for my aunt, Simon al
! lowed.
/ "Thatll be nine-an eleven the lot. If
You want better light to get at your
purse with. me boy, just step outside
under the flare while | pack the turkey
/ for 'ec.'
/ Simon. who was tiddling in his peck
cts. took the hint. and stepped out iuro
/ the gasight. The poulterer deity laid
/ the fowl he had sold ut the top Of the
row of five and transferred the fifth and
skinniest to the greasy bag.
Ten bob. That's penny hack to
you. Right o. he said, as he handed
/ the bag over the counter to Simon,
AN mind you tell your friends as you
struck a bargain"
Il WILL said Simon beaming.
! He beamed ali the way to the station.
| convinced that he carried in his bag the
| biggest turkey ever reared. True, his
| pocket was considerably lighter for H.
! but what did that matter? He had
enough To pay for Al return ticket To his
amt'S. and the fine turkey would SHOW
| her that he was not mgratefu for all
/ the Kindness she had shown him these
many years
When hc had got Ia the station and
/ taken his ticket Simon found he bad
sevenpcuce over and ten minutes to wait
before the train started. He had expect
| ed to have only siXpenCc over. so that
when he had deposited his bag IN Il
! smoking carriage he went off to Spcut
/ the penny on magazine for his uncle
having done which, he returned. y mid
dle-aged man. with lecr. was seated il
the carriage, and on the rack overhead
were two bags just like Simon ..
You've been buying turkeys. too. e'lF
said Simon, pleased to find cumradc il
good fortune,
Guess I have" said the man; ''in'
fat 'uns they be
Not as big as mine. ! expect" safe
Simon not without pride.
bet you Il tenner the bird in m
right-hand bag is bigger nor yourn,
said the man, promptly.
Fright You are" said Simon. quit
conscious that the man had been com
pairing the sizes Of the birds in his alb
sencc.
Naturally Simon lost the bet and hi
siXpcnce. He was a little 1isuppointe'
TO find that his turkey was not the big
gest in the world, but soon recovered hi
good humor and began 10 doze.
As soon as the middle-agcd man saw
this be deity changed his second or left
hand bag (which contained chicken
only for Simon's bag containing tn
turkey. with the result that when Simoi
awoke and found that the train hat
stopped at Wapping-which was til
station for his aunt's-he picked up tn
mans bag and got ont with it.
Good night" BE shouted as the trail
puffcd ont Of the station Il don
grudge You your bird
That's all right" returned the mid
die-agcd man with the lcpr. eft wouldn'
be much use if yer did, would itT
Unconscious Of the significance q
these words. Simon gave MP his tickle
and set ont for his aunt's cottage. II
had not gone more than half a milk
however. before he met an urchin carry
ing by one lcg "A live sparrow which ha
been 50 unfortunate as to get into hi
trap.
u say" said Simon pitifully, clio lo
it go"
"LiEely. amt it," replied the urchif
making as if to pass by. But Smo
caught Linn by the shoulder.
"Look here he said. IF worm Civ
me that sparrow, III give you nay tul
key. ] can't say faircr than that
Let. ave a -quint at the turkey,
said the urchu. suspiciousiy
Simon undid his bag and dispiarc
the chicken which the middle-agod ma
had caused him 80 carry off
II calls that a partridge said III
urchin but if yer likes 10 chuck ~ I'll
magazine. I'll swop with YER
/, Simon did 50, aud after letting th
sparrow fly away. walked on wondcrin
, how his turkey had grown 50 snail.
did not matter much, If course. as
no longer possessed it; but he woul
, have liked 10 know
He never did, Of course Nor did 3
ever tell his aunt. poor fool. that bc Dan
brought her a turkey 50 far. ] sHpp0.
ne has gone TO the wall now.-R.
Nerbede. in Black and White