Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-16
The Daily
Short Story
A TURKEY DINNER.
By Ottilia Frances Pfeiffer.

dressed, shy and retiring Mrs. Blair,
as she was called. Her appearance
betokened poverty and the lines or
care in her wan face indicated some
consuming sorrow. They were
warm hearted people, the Masons,
and had never failed to speak pleas
antly to their neighbor and wished
she was a trifle more friendly.
Mrs Blair worked all day and half
the night sewing for cheap sweat
shop. She had child, little boy
six years old, who was an invalid.
There was something the matter
with little Benny's lower limbs and
he lay most of the time on a cot.
Come in, and welcome" invited
Mrs. Mason heartily and ushered
her neighbor into a room as sparse
| ly furnished as her own.
81 am going to ask great favor
of you, Mrs Mason" spoke the tim
id and hesitating guest. "My poor
Boy, the doctor says, can be made
well and walk if money can be pro-
vided for a long course OF treat
ment. / have managed to save up
a few dollars, sufficient TO take
me to my old home in the east. l
have determined to go to my father
and throw myself and child upon
his mercy"
Surely your own father would
not disown his kim" said Mrs. Ma
son.
1T was my fault, he decided,
when l married." explained Mrs.
Blair sadly. at least he said he
would never receive me into his
home My husband died. l have
struggled on alone for two years.
l would not give up the battle even
now, only for my child's sake. l
am going to appeal to my father.
cannot take little Benny with me.
I"have not the money to do so, and
he might not be able to stand the
strain and fatigue of the journey.
Then again, my appeal may be in
vain," and Mrs. Blair sighed drear-
lily.
Let us hope for the best, dear,
consoled her great hearted hostess.
Can we help you in any way?"
Il wish to leave little Benny for
a week at the most with some one
and l would feel that he was in
safe, kindly hands Should you con-
sent to take charge of him." said
Mrs. Blair. 81 will pay you for
your care"
Not that. He is welcome to our
poor fare, and sure nobody could
help loving the dear, afflicted child
Yes, indeed, we will take care of
him and glad to show that little
kindness to a good woman in trou-
BILE
So it was arranged and the cot
was moved into the Mason apart
ment next morning. Mrs. Blair left
a little package with Mrs. Mason.
ut is Benny's birthday next Satur-
day." she said, land | had prom
Used him a present. Here are only
few poor toys, but l hope it will
content him."
! 1t was after his mother was
gone that Benny made the coming
birthday a constant theme. Some
where he had got a picture showing
family group at festive meal.
A great turkey was the principal
feature.
That's what 1 want for my
birthday" the little fellow insisted.
Mamma promised that some day
we'd have a turkey and please can't
you get one, even if it's a tiny fell
low, just for this once?'
81 declare! it's heartbreaking,
that poor little fellow with his one
wish" said honest John Mason to
his wife. But war time turkey
means a fortune ana you must try
and get it out of his mind"
Mason was a painter and paper
! hanger and trade was dull. BY a
strange coincidence the next day
his task was decorating a restaur-
ant. Among the papier mache chops
and fowls exhibited in the show
window were several counterfeit
presentments life size, and some of
/ these the proprietor of the place
threw aside. 1t was with brighten
ing eyes and an inspiring plan in
his mind that Mason asked for one
of the discarded imitation turkeys.
At a distance it was a noble look
ing specimen, Drowned to a turn
and seeming at bursting point with
inside richness.
And upon his birthday little Ben
ny on his cot clapped his hands with
delight as he viewed on the table
a perfect copy of the turkey in the
| picture. On6 SlQe Oh Iue pdpltI
mache fowl was turned away from
him. 1t had been cut open, a small
roasted chicken inserted, apparent
ly the carving done from the turkey,
and little Benny Toasted and then
lay back content over his first tur-
key dinner.
Mrs. Blair returned and with her
father, forgiving and eager to take
! to his heart daughter and grandson.
| He was a man of wealth and when
told of the turkey episode he asked
to be given the enock fowl, Ito re-
member your grand goodness of
| heart" he told Mason.
What's this?" inquired the lat
| ter, the day after the BlairS had de-
parted and he opened a heavy pack
age to bring to light the counter
| felt turkey.
1t jingled as he moved 1t. Its
contents poured forth as he turned
| it around. To the brim it was pack
ed with an opulent stuffing
dollars, a reminder of the soulful
appreciation of Mrs Blair's father
of his unselfish care for the little
crippled boy.