Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24
Stutfing the Turkey.

There were six of the Rofe children.
Georgia, the Oldest was sixteen; the twins.
| Rex and Ruth, were fourteen; Wallace was
| twelve; Lucia, nine. and Gregory. six and
| a half. They lived in big house, and had
all sorts Of lovely things to play with
toys and pots, ponies. bicycles. swings,
| rowboats and everything that heart could
wish.
, They enjoyed each other best Of all. They
had formed themselves into q wonderful
club, which they called the 8. 8. s., and
only they and mother knew that those
magic letters stood for Secret Surprising
Six The object Of the club was to think
up and perpetrate lovely surprises on diff
ferent people whom they knew would ap-
preciate being surprised.
Georgia was supreme surpriser; Rex was
surprising secretary, and Ruth. who had
good head for business, was surprising
treasurer; wallace was surprising marshal:
Lucia, surprising seconder of motions and
Gregory was surprising stirrer-up
Georgia presided at all meetings Rex
wrote down everything that was agreed
upon; Ruth kept cash accounts. Wallace
kept the meeting In order, Lucia said, IT
second the motion" when a motion was
made. and Gregory had to clap and beat
the drum when anything surprising was
Mother and father were honorary MEM
bers. and were occasionally consulted
about the surprises, when the surprise did
not concern them.
was meeting Of the 8. 8. s. Georgia open
ed the meeting with little speech, in
which she said. "On holidays, like Thanks
giving. when we all have so many extra
good things, we ought to get up some won
derful surprise for those who do not have
as much as We do. Do any Of the Sur
pr1sers know Of any such7'
Gregory said 'hooray! and beat the
drum after the little speech. then Ruth
rose, and Wallace asked the stirrer-up to
cease his applause.
n,,kL 4
her father had been sick and out Of work
for a long time, and that this year they
were not going to have anything different
at Thanksgiving Day from what they have
them somehow"
II second the motion" said Lucia.
IF we don't do It in some awfully funny
| way" said Rex, they will be mad, for the
Browns awful proud"
There isn't any money in the treasury"
said Ruth; Il do not suppose we have
much allowance left for it is so near the
end of the month and we won't get any till
December. We will want all we get then
for Christmas. anyhow, so it would not be
any use to ask for an advance"
The Surprisers confessed that they had
altogether just 25 cents, but they were will
ing to contribute that 1T will buy peanuts
anyhow" said Wallace.
II move We contribute our weekly treat
of candy" said Rex.
Il second the notion said Lucia.
Only instead of letting papa buy 1t as
he usually does suggested Georgia, Tets
ask him to give US the money and then we
can buy materials and make fudge and
peanut taffy and caramels. 1t will not cost
so much We can make a lot out Of a dol
lars worth of stuff"
Yes, and let me scrape the pans" said
Gregory eagerly.
I've pair of outgrown shoes that would
Just fit Matte" said Ruth. "and some
fiannes.''
But that isn't turkey" objected Lucia.
This is what they finally decided to do.
They made a turkey. Aunt Mary cut a pat
tern. and they made him out of cotton
ready for the table, with no head. and
slit in his breast. He was very lank and
lean. nothing, in fact, but great big
turkey-shaped bag. but he was hung In
state on the pOrtiere rod between the din
ing room and sitting room for three days
before Thanksgiving, and every one was in
vited to help stuff him. 1t was great fun.
The children brought playthings, peanuts,
popcorn, carefully wrapped, and home-made
candy in dainty boxes; warm, outgrown
under clothing. shoes, mittens. stockings;
all went to help in the stufing Of the tur-
key. Mother was interested, and slipped
in jelly, dried fruits, and pickles. Father
put in an envelope with enough money in
it for a turkey with all the fxings Finally
the turkey grew SO plump and fat that he
groaned when he was poked.
After dark, on the eve Of Thanksgiving
day. the members of the s. s. 8. carefully
loaded the turkey on Wadlace's big express
wagon. They carefully oiled the wheels so
that 1t would not betray them. Then they
dragged the stuffed turkey half a mile to
the Brown cottage. Without a sound they
deposited it on the stone step in front Of
the woodshed door. They chose that be-
cause they saw that all the family were
in the dining room. Then they gave a loud
humping knock and all ran softly away.
Up the road they all gathered behind
hedge. near enough to hear the shouts Of
surprise from the Brown children as they
dragged the monstrous turkey in. Then
they heard steps coming in their direction.
and they knew the Brown boys were hunt
Ing for the ones who had brought the tur-
key. They crowded close up into the hedge.
the wagon tipped up SO that 1t would not
stand out in the road. and all kept very
still. They heard the footsteps go back to-
ward the house, then they peeked over the
hedge. The shades were all up, and they
could see the happy faces the Brown family
had as they unstuffed the turkey.
II think it was the best surprise Of ALL"
said Ruth gieefully.
IT second the notion" said Lucia, and