Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-12-25

was Christmas, and for Christmas
~ he must have a turkey. A turkey.
Jackie's mouth watered at the
thought. A whole. big beautiful turkey
brown and dripping. on mothers big
old-tashoned platter. with the funny lit
tie houses and trees and things in blue
on Il white ground. 1t had been moth
ers grandmothcr's. you know. and was
very old. That was why mother kept it
up on the top cupboard shelf and took
1t down only on Christmas and New
Years and Thanksgiving.
But last Christmas and New Years
1t had not been taken down at all. Some
how. it had not seemed a bit like Christ
mas or anything to Jackie last year.
Never since father didn't Gene home
from the hospital, and mother and Jackie
had come to live in the queer little brown
house that was 50 close to Squire
Grants big stone one
There was something queer about
Squire Grant. He lived all alone in his
big. old house. and his beautiful big
farm was rented out to another man all
the time. The people that came to see
mother never spoke of him. and mother
herself never mentioned him except
when Jackie asked some question about
hun. lie always looked very cross. and
Jackie thought hc must be bothered n
good deal with the stomachache; that
made people cross.
Suddenly. on the still morning air
clear with frost. came the sound of
turkeys gobhlng. 1t was the Snuire's
turkeys across the field. Jackie listened
moment. Then he brought his hands
together with 4 little clap Why not go
to the Squire and ask him to give him
a turkey for Christmas:
He jumped mp and ran into the ham,
lie would have to tell mother. or she
would he ANXIOUS He opened the kitch-
en- door and looked in. Mother was
peelng potatoes for dinner.
I'm going down the road LITTLE
piece, mother" said Jackie: I'm be
back SOON" and before mother could
answer he was ont of the door. II was
only 4 little distance to the Suuirc's
and soon he was climbing M over tlr
tall iron gate that stood at the foot Of
the wide lane. He went up The Steps to
the back porch and Knocked at the door
There was no answer.
Jackie ran down the steps and across
the yard to the barnyari gate. II was
big one. He was just getting down
the other side when he was startled by
deep voice behind him.
What are you doing here, young
man.
Jackie turned to find himself face to
face with the Squire himself.
oh" he said. in a relieved tone. sis
It you, Squire? l was coming down TO
find you"
He held ont his hand In his pretty,
friendly way, and the Squire tool, it
rather gingerly.
And pray. what were you coming
down to find me for?"
Il wanted to see if I could get
turkey said Jackie in his simple di
rect little way. 'To-morrow's Christ
mas, YOU know. | wanted to 'sprise
mother. She's always 'sprising me. and
she's so good-oh, Won don't know how
good mother is. There's only mother
and me, and | thought-you see. it
wouldn't be Ike as if you really gave
me the turkey. for I'm going to pay for
1t soon as I'm big enough You could
hardly 'spect me to pay for il right now
could you? But when I'm big En- go
ing to have a farm of my own. and
mother and me will live there and I'll
have ever so many cattle and horses and
things. Mother says grandfather had
farm like that. Grandfather was moth.
er'S father. you know. And mother had
little pony-she called it Trix-and
she used to ride it all over when she was
"A little, little girl. just think. Hay
iug pony all for Yourself"
lie looked up with sparkling eyes. and
the Squire smiled beneath his scowl.
Did your mother ever tell you any
thin. else about your-grandfather!' he