Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-26
The Debut of ''Dan1 Webster"
By Isabel Gordon Curtis

to the further window, where six plump turkeys,
wings gobbed impertinently when small boy laid
his nose fiat against the window Three times day
the crowd grew twenty deep It laughed and shouted
and ebowed another good-naturedly, for the
Thanksgiving spirit abroad Men tossed children
up their sawart shoulders then small hands capped
ecstaticay and small legs kicked with wild enthusiasm.
The hero OF the hour freckled, red-haired boy,
who came leapng through wire door with an , old
eagerly, hungrily! They knew that each old familiar
trck-learned away back in chckhood--woud a
good feed When the frecked boy began to whistle, or
when his voice rang out in shrill order, it was the
signal for Danl Webster, for Gettysburg for Amanda
Ann, Mehitable, Nancy Farragut to to the
ter of the stage and do some irresstbly funny turn
with turkeys bland solemnty. None of the birds had
attacks of fright; their acting self pos
audience present but Mrs Tdd to lean smiling over the
fence with word of praise and the coveted handful of
golden corn,
the applause more uproarious and the Thanksgiving
trade Finch & Richards bigger than it had been in
years Each night Homer took the last train home tired
but happy for three crisp greenbacks were added to
the roll in his small, shabby wallet
Two days before Thanksgiving, Homer, in his blue
overals and faded sweater busy at work The gray
OF the dawn just creeping into the east while the
boy hurying through his chores. There still
a mans work be done before he took the tenoclock
train to town; besides. he had promised to help his
mother about the house. His grandfather, an uncle
aunt, and three small cousins coming their
whisted eay while he bedded the creatures with fresh
The whistle traed into ndistinct tril; the
boy felt pang of loneliness as he glanced into the
turkey-pen. There was nobody there but old Mother
Saliva. Homer tossed her handful of corn. " Poor
old lady, l spose you're. lonesome, amt you now?
Never mind; when spring comes you'll be scrachn
around with hull raft of nice little cliclies at your
heels Well teach them fine trick or two, won't we,
old Salva?"
Saliva clucked over the corn appreciativey.
!" Homer Homer, come here, quick
Down the frozen path through the yard came Mrs.
Tidd with the little brown shawl wrapped tightly about
her head She futtered yellow envelope in her hand
Homer, boy, its telegraph come. l can't read it;
I've mislad my g asses
Homer by her side in minute tearing open the
It's from Finch & Richards. mother he CRIED ex-
cedy They say, Take the first train to town with
what do you suppose they want you for?" asked
Mrs: Tidd, with an anxious face
Praps the stores burned down., gasped Homer.
He brushed rough hand across his eyes. Poor
Dan' Webster an Gettysburg! I didn't know anybody
could much store by turkeys.
Maybe faint nothin bad Homer" Mrs. Tidd laid
her hand upon his shoulder Maybe they want you to
give extra early show or somethin. She suggested
it cheerully
Maybe" echoed Homer But, mother. I've got to
hurry catch that 7.3o train"
Let me go with you Homer.
You don't need to-" cried the boy. 1t probably
I'm goin',' said Mrs Tidd, decisively you don't
spose | could stay here dom nothin but waitin an
Mrs Tidd and Homer caught at the city depot.
Mother, whispered the boy he stepped off the
car mother, my turkeys! They're not there! Some
things happened. See the crowd"
They pushed their way through mob that peer
ing in at the windows and through the windows of
locked doors The OF plump turkeys was not hung
this morning under the big sign; the magnificent win
dow display of fruit and vegetables had been rhlessy
demolished
What do you spose can have happened" wills
pered Mrs Tidd, while they waited for clerk to come
hurrying down the store and unlock the door.
Homer shook his head
Mr. Richards himself came to meet them.
Well, young man" he cried, I've had enough OF
your pesky bird show There's hundred dollars worth
of provisions gone, say nothing of the trade we are
turning away. Two days before Thanksgiving, OF all
times in the year,"
Good land" whispered Mrs. Tidd. Her eyes were