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Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 19 (Supplement)

v »J» •$« 4* »♦« ►*« »♦« 4«, 4J4 4J4 4«, 4J4 * t DEAREST LITTLE PEOPLE, * £ ❖ As this is our Christmas and Centennial number I will J ❖ tell you a true Christmas story, that happened in South Can- * terbury nearly 40 years ago. <♦ »»< '^ ie little doctor of a country village opened his wait- * mg room, door, and found, lying upon the door step a large, *:* fat turkey. \ "Now, I wonder who left that?" quoth he; for it was * ❖ no uncommon thing for country patients to leave gifts upon % ❖ the little doctor’s doorstep. With, a beaming smile, he picked up the bird, and ❖ *»• carried it to his good wife. *:* ❖ i eres your Christmas dinner, Mother," cried he, * *♦* jovially. £ ❖ . “Oh, what a beauty," she answered. “We’ll invite some * ❖ friends to dine with us." •** ❖ invitations were sent out. and the doctor's wife •?* »j. busied herself preparing a sumptuous meal, for she was noted *♦* for her cooking. Ihe silver was cleaned, the crystal polished, * and the turkey sluffed with rich seasoning, was roasting * % merrily in the oven, smelling as good as a. Christmas turkey »:♦ J should, smell. * *** Then the little doctor poked his head through the *♦* ❖ kitchen door. "Mother," said he, with a broad grin, "what ❖ £ have you done with the turkey?" * *:* "I’ll soon show you," she answered, proudly opening <♦ ❖ the oven door. "Doesn’t it smell good! It will be done to a £ *:* turn by dinner time, and there are six people coming to help *** us eat it." 1 £ t doctor san k into a chair, rocking with laughter. £ 7 hen, seeing her puzzled face, his smiles vanished. "Pm sorry, *:* *:* Mother," said he gently. "I couldn’t help laughing. It’s too ❖ bad after all your trouble—but there will be no turkey for I? *:♦ dinner. Paddy o‘Flynn called to see me a few minutes ago. *t* X “ "Sure, and did ye foind what was wrong with the ❖ turkey, doctor?’ he asked. ❖ “ "There’s nothing wrong with it,’ I replied. ‘lt’s a fine * 4J4 bird, and we’ll enjoy our Christmas dinner very soon, thanks *;* ❖ to you, Paddy.’ *;* “ ‘Begorra, doctor! lou can’t be after eating that % bird, wailed Paddy. ‘Faith, an’ all my turkeys have been *:* *:* dying on me. 1 brought that one, thinking you moight be *•* *•* after telling me what was the cause!’ " £ ❖ 7/ meant cold meat for Christmas dinner; but it was a * *:* merry dinner nevertheless, for as the visitors agreed, it was a *•* *:* good job Paddy called before the turkey had been eaten, and not after. *:* ♦j» 7 hope, Little People, that your Christmas dinners will *:* ❖ have no such mishaps! Lots of love and a merry Christmas ❖ to you all, ! i