The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-06-12
The Debut of ''Dan1 Webster
By Isabel Gordon Curtis

r GUESS you can get the ell roof shingled now
most any old time" cried Homer Tidd He
Il wind followed him.
Gracious shet the door, Homer, an then tell
your news His mother shivered and pulled little
brown shawl tighter about her shoulders
The boy planted himself behind the stove and laid his
mttened hands comfortably around the pipe Oh I've
made great deal, mother" Homer's frecked face
gowed with satisfaction.
WHAT" asked Mrs. Tidd
Did you see the man 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
Has he bought your Thanksgivin' turkeys?"
He haint bought em for Thanksgivin'"
Well, what are you so set up about boy?"
He's rented the hull flock. He's to pay me three
dollars day for them then he's gon to buy them all
for Christmas"
Land sakesl Three dollars davl" Mrs. Tidd
dropped one side of pan of apples She was carving
and some OF them went rolling about the kitchen floor
Homer nodded.
"For how long2" she asked, eagerly
" For week: Homers freckles disappeared in the
crimson glow of enthusiasm that overspread his face
Eighteen dollars for nothin' but exhibtn' bunch
turkeys! Seems to me folks must have money
to throw away Mrs Tidd stared perplexedy over the
top of her glasses
T" I'll tell you all about it. mother" Homer took
chair and planted his feet the edge of the oven
Mr.. Richards is goin' to have great Thanksgvin'
food show, an ne wants flock O. live turkeys He's
been dr1vn round the country lookin' for some The
Websters tricks"
That don't make Dan1 any better eatin'," objected
the mother.
Maybe not But don't you see? Well" Homer's
laugh was an embarrassed Pm gon' to put Danl
an Gettysburg through their tricks right in the store
You be n't?" and the mother looked in .rapt ad-
miraton at her clever son.
81 be! answered Homer, triumphantly
don't know, boy, Jest what think O it," said his
mother slowly ia1t exactly IA gentlemanly sort
reckon be MT gentleman, mother" replied
Homer with his jolly laugh.
Tell me all about it."
Well was feedn' the turkeys when Mr. Richards
druv in. He said he heered had some trick turkeys
an he like to see EN- Lucky enough, / hadn't fed
EN- they was awful hungry an tell you they never
what did Mr.. Richards say?"
He thought IT was the most amazin thing he'd ever
seen IN his lite He said he wouldn't have believed tur-
keys had enough gumption in them to learn trick O.
any kind"
Did you tell l, him how you'd fused with them
1 did. He real interested an he offered me
three dollars to give show three times day. He's
got window half as big this kitchen He'll have it
wired in an the turkeys stay there at his expense
Along before Christmas he'll give twenty-five cents
pound for EN-"
"Weu, VOW, Homer it's pretty good pay"
Mr. Richards give me Communication on the rail-
road He's to send after the turkeys an bring EN- back
so won't have any expense
Homer and sauntered about the Kitchen picking
floor e>'O-' o'e' 'Ne
A week before Thanksgiving the corner in front of
Finch Richards great market looked as it was wont
to look on circus day. only the eyes of the crowds
not turned expectanty up Main Street they were rv
eted on window in the big store Passersby tramped
out into the street when they reached the mob
at the corner The front of the was decorated
with fringe OF plump turkeys One window held a
glowing mountain of fruit and vegetables arranged by
some one with a keen eye to color-monstrous pump
klns' splendid purple cabbage rosy apples and
pears green and purple grapes snowy stalks of CELERY
and corn ears yellow sunshine Crimson beets neigh
bored with snowy parsnps, scarlet carrots and silk
amethysts clrcled about magnificent cauAowers while
red and yellow bananas made gay mosaic walks through
the fruit mountain Wherever crack a Granny had
been left was mound of ruby cranberries fine raisin
punches, or brown nuts
1t was remarkable display of American products;
yet after the hrst Ah of admiration, people passed