The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08

to take care Of and was sailing mighty
close to the wind. You said
BY thunderl" exclaimed the trustee,
but if Deacon Hope has been telling
anything OF the kind I'll punch his
headP'
And knowing you to be so hard up.
| and knowing how disappointed the girls
would be not to have any Thanksgiving
dinner, killed my last chicken and
| have brought it over to you It's a
rooster. and he is old and tough, but
your wife has whole week to boil him
in
1t has already been recorded that the
trustee exclaimed by thunder! What
further he said will not be recorded
here He was surprised into 1t, and was,
no doubt, sorry for 1t afterward. How
ever, his face was so red when he es-
corted Aunt Mary to the door that ne
could have made a saving Of gas Dy
turning out the hall light.
The woman with the rooster had one
more call to make. She had begun 10
like her errand. This was call at the
home of the man who had presented the
church with pew cushions and a memo
rial window. He had also had the splre
repaired. He also spoke of it now ana
then as my church" He also had
great deal to do about getting an OLD
minister out and new minister IN As
he owned four-fifths Of the street ran
way he was on Easy street It was al
ter 8 o'clock when Aunt Mary reached
the house A card party of twelve
people had assembled, and as her ring
at the bell was not Answered ana she
found the hall door unlocked she walk
ed in Nobody stopped her and she con-
tinued on into the parlor.
why, Aunt Mary, but what are you
doing herel" exclaimed the hostess'
who was the first one to see her.
You must excuse me, but no one an
swered my ring, and 1 did not wish 70
carry this chicken home with me, re-
piled the woman as she held out the
Chicken? Chicken? What do you
nean?''
Every one in the parlor had laid his
cards down to listen Some were even
standing up to see. Poor old aunty
found the situation embarrassing, but
she had come to say something ana lelI
that she must say it.
'You-you know the minister Wanteo
to raise money and send some-some
Thanksgiving chickens to the poor!
she faltered. Deacon Hope saw you
today to see how much you would give
and you said you had enough TO 90 70
buy Goldfish for your own dinner. He
told the minister what you said, ana
that he guessed you were hard up.
was there and heard 1t, and went
right home and killed my last chicken.
Here it is. He is a rooster and pretty
old and tough. but mebbe you can make
him do. I've been poor all my life ana
know how to feel for others.
It was a bombshen. No one spoke.
Some of the people hardly breathed-
They looked from Aunt Mary 10 me
host and hostess, who were turning all
sorts of cclors, and then they looked
at each other.
viii any of the rest of you take it?''
asked Aunt Mary as she extended the
fowl. I believe all of you told Deacon
Hope that you were hard up
The woman was gently conducted
down the hall and left on the front
steps. and a ten-dollar bill was left IN
her hand at the same time When she
had departed the card party resolved
itself into an indignation meeting The
hour was not so late but that Deacon
Hope was sent for. He replied that
poker since he joined the church and
shouldn't take it up now. He was IN
terviewed next morning, however, and so
was the minister. 1t was said that the
total number of callers was about 30
1t was said that the minister and the
deacon had to do a great deal of pla-
eating and excusing and explaining,
but each and every individual that. call
ed left a check or a roll Of bills when
departing.
AIary?' asked the minister that evening
as he called at her cottage and found the
rooster hanging up beside the front door
to get a freeze on
do you mean telling the folks what
did yesterday" she innocently replied
why. I felt so sorry for them. you
they?"
money enough on hand to buy 200 chick |
ems and lots of other things for the poor
Some of the people have already con-
tributed to a church Santa Claus, and |
presume others Will come in called to
say that you will get something better
than that old rooster for Thanksgiving.
and that there will be a present for you
on the Christmas tree, but If 1 were you
I wouldn't go round talking any more
TT hurts their feelings to think know
that they have had to come down to
ssyVeil3erEtRat may be it, At any rate. |
the subject is a delicate one"
Then l won't say another word, and
If I pass any of EN- in the street or
see EN- in church I won't act as # I
AS for the old rooster, I guess I'll give |
him to the cats. Cats want Thanksgiv-
ing same as human beings"
Aunt Mary didn't suffer from cold or
want of food or clothes that winter and !
he church has had celebrations on every /
possible occasion since and made a great
success of them.-(Copyright 1906, by P.
:. Eastment.)