Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-26

most any old time" cried Homer Tidd He
bounced in at the kitchen door. blast of icy
wind followed him.
Gracious! shet the door, Homer, an then tell
me your news" His mother shvered and pulled little
brown shawl tighter about her shoulders
The boy planted himself behind the stove and laid his
rnjttened hands comfortably around the pipe. Oh, I've
made a great deal, mother" Homers frecked face
glowed with satisfaction.
WHAT" asked Mrs. Tidd.
Did you the that jest druv out o the yard?
"Well, twas Mr.. Richards-the Mr. Richards o
Finch Richards, the big market folks over in the
city r,,..,., .,,.
+ He hain't bought em for Thanksgivin'."
6 Wen, what are you SO set up about, boy'"
for Christmas"
dropped side of pan of apples she carrying,
and some of them went rolling about the kitchen floor
Homer nodded
For how long?" she asked, eagerly
"For week. Homer's frec<les disappeared in the
crimson glow of enthusiasm that overspread his face
!" Eighteen dollars for nothin but exhbitin bunch
o turkeysl Seems to some folks must have money
throw away Mrs. Tidd stared perplexedly the
I'll tell you all about it, mother" Homer took
chair and planted his feet the edge of the
MI, Richards is goln to have great f Ianksgy n
been drivin' round the country lookn for The
postmaster sent him here. He told him about Danl
!" That don't make Danl any better eatin'," objected
the mother.
Maybe not. but QOnl you see! w I1OlHtI
laugh was embarrassed one I'm goin to put Danl
an Gettysburg through their tricks right in the store
window
miraton at her clever son.
Il be" answered Homer, triumphantly.
az don't know, boy, jest what think o it., said his
another. slowly 'Tan't exactly "a gentlemanly sort
o thing to do be it ??
81 reckon l be Mt gentleman, mother, replied
Homer, with his jolly laugh.
Tell me all about it,
"Well, was feedin' the turkeys when Mr.. Richards
A. He Said he | had
an he'd like to see EN-. Lucky enough, hadn't fed
'em; they awful hungry, an l tell you they never
did their tricks better
y "What did Mr.. Richards say?"
>" He thought it was the most aTazn thing he'd ever
seen in his life He said he wouldn't have believed tur-
keys had enough gumpton IN them to learn trick o
Did you tell him how you'd fused with them ever
al did He wuz real interested, an he offered
three dollars to give show three times day; He's
got window half as big as this kitchen He'll have
wired in an the turkeysl stay there at his expense
Along before Christmas he'll give twenty-five cents
a pound for EN-.
%Well, vow, Homer it's pretty good pay"
"Mr. Richards give communication on the rail
road He's send after the turkeys an bring EN- back,
so won't have any expense
Homer rose and sauntered about the Kitchen picking
I'D the apples that had rolled in all directions the
week before Thanksgiving, the corner in front OF
Finch & Richards great market looked 1t was wont
10 look on circus day only the eyes of the crowds
not turned expectany up Main Street; they rv-
eted window IN the big store. PaSSersDy ramped
out into the snowy street when they reached the mob
at the The front OF the store was decorated
with fringe OF plump turkeys One window held
glowing mountain Of fruit and vegetables arranged by
some one with keen eye to color-monsrous pump
ldns splendid purple cabbages, apples and russell
pears green and purple grapes snowy stalks OF celery
and corn yellow sunshine Crimson beets neigh
bored with snowy parsnip scarlet carrots, and silk
wrapped onions. Egg plants cleaning like deephued
anethysts crcled about magnificent cauiiowers. while
red and yellow bananas made gay mosaic walks through
the fruit mountain Wherever a crack Granny had
been left was mound of ruby cranberries fine raisin
punches, or brown nuts
It was remarkable display of American products
yet after the first Ali" of admiration, people passed