The Elbert County tribune., 1905-11-02

Nnoh siillus-rooin, Wnefe the
men and women were allowed to gath
er when they were NOT eating or sleep
ing. About all the unfortunates in the
alhshouse had to do was to eat and
sleep; few worked about the institu-
ticn or in the garden. The convention
opened rather unexpectedly, when
Sarah Tooker remarked:
What dye s'pose We'll have for
Thanksgivn'
All the others turned and looked at
her, for Sarah was the latest arrival
and consequently new 10 the fegula-
tions governing the Morrisville poor
house
DO they feed MS on turkey or chick
en?" she continued. I'm n little mite
sNCer of turkey myself, but l s'pose
.-tan eat chicken on pinch"
4Ho! hor' laughed Rodney Eckert
"Ho! ho." and his two remaining teeth
ratified together like corn in parch-
ing-pan. Turkey! Chlckeni Land
love We. Sarah Tooker! If it amt roast
beef it'll be lamb stew. and il it amt
lamb stew it'll be roast beef, an We
can take your choice / know. I've
been here nigh onto fourteen year now.
Most likely it'll be lamb stew. / call
TO mind how we had roast beef last
year.
Eight other old men and ten other
old women nodded their heads in 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
Ies Of n
regularly at the poorhouse. Only Sarah
hoped for a change. The others
thought little about it.
Lamb stew" said Sarah. plaintively.
NWhy, the idea, Thanksgiving. too,
Well, all I've got to say is, that ii amt
what I'm used to, not by good deal
/ don't see why we can't have a chick
Ell potpie," she finished. with a little
sigh.
Don't let Zeke Jedeh 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 We
brought up the Thanksgivin' subject
it kinder runs in my head. Turkey.
Ali Umr'
MY, oh. my, Thanksgivin'. an lamb
stew!' repeated Sarah. 1T doesn't
seem reasonable. Before l had to
come here l was used to big turkey
for dinner-a big, fat. brown turkey"
If ye'd just leave off mentioning
such things I'd be obliged 10 ye" said
Tod Elkum, with little quaver in his
voice. He awoke from the doze he
had been in. at makes body feel
hungry" he went on. Especially
when the feastin' times so near. If
it's all the same, we might mention
somethin' about bein shpwrecked on
a desert island, with nothin' to eat but
boot-legs an seaweed. That'll give
us appetites for lamb stew" he con-
cluded.
A silence concluded, while each one
of the twenty inmates of the poor
house was busy with his or her own
sad thoughts.
Sarah Tooker wagged her head de-
jectedly. 1t was a new experience for
her, for she had been in good circum-
stances until failing fortunes and the
death of all her relatives had obliged
her to seek refuge in that place dread
ed by all the aged.
1T does seem pity we can't cele-
brate for once" mused Tod Elkum. as
he walked out into the yard. Il would
relish a nice, brown slice of turkey,
with plenty of gravy an lots of dress
in. And / wouldn't mind some cram
berry sauce. too. But l s'pose th'
selectmen amt got money to waste
on such irills."
Out ON the pleasant country road
great red automobile rushed by. rails
ing a cloud of dust. The State turn
pike passed through Morrisville.
'I'll bet those folks amt worryin'
about where their turkey is comm
from" went on Tod. well. we can't
all be rich, and maybe it's a good
thing"
He strolled 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. A little way ahead
Tod saw figure. 1t was that of
man, and he was shaking his staff at
something in the distance. When Tod
came nearer lie recognized Hank
Wright. the town marshal.
whats the trouble:' asked Tod.
"Somebody tryin' to run over ye?"
ats them pesky automobiles said
Hank.
What did it do? Most nip ye?" in
quired Tod.
"No. But it was goin' twice as fast
ns thn La w allows " rpniied Hank "and