human
Well, I must say I'm consid'able disappointed, the visitor was saying, as they softly opened the door. He was a bluff, burly man, who sat with his tall whip between his knees.
gpt
I ought to 'a' stopped when I see her out there top of the stone wall the last time I come by--the handsomest turkey cretur I ever did see, and I've been in the poultry business this twenty years. I knew in a minute she belonged to that breed that old Mis' Joskins had; she fetched 'em from York State. She moved away before I knew it, and carried 'em all with her.
human
I bought some eggs of her, and 'most all of 'em hatched, but that white turkey was the only one that lived, said Aunt Kittredge.
gpt
I declare if I'd known she was anything more'n common, and worthy of havin' her picture in a book--
human
You'd ought to have known it, Maria! said Uncle Kittredge testily.
gpt
I wa'n't for havin' her killed, and you'd ought to have heard to me!
human
I was calc'latin' to hev her picter right in the front of my new poultry book, continued the visitor, whom the children now recognized as the distinguished poultry dealer of North Edom for whom Cyrus had once worked.
gpt
And I was going to have printed under it, 'From the farm of Abner Kittredge, Esq., Corinna.' Be kind of a boom for you 'n' Corinna, too--see? And if you didn't want to sell her right out, I was calc'latin' to make you a handsome offer for all the eggs she laid.
human
There! Now you see what you've done, Maria! I declare I wouldn't gredge givin' a twenty dollar bill to fetch that white turkey back!
gpt
Oh, oh! Uncle Kittredge! Minty broke away from Jason, who would have held her back, not feeling sure that it was quite time to speak, and rushed into the room.
human
You needn't give twenty dollars! Priscilla is down in the little shanty in the logging wood! We saved her--Jason and I--and we bought a turkey of Jonas Hicks instead. I paid with my own money, Aunt Kittredge! And then I--I took the gull's wing off the minister's daughter's hat to send to Sabriny, and--and so that's why I sent her the blue feather, and--and Sabriny's going to send the gull's wing back--
gpt
Jason, you go and fetch that turkey home! said Uncle Kittredge.
human
And, Maria, don't you blame them children one mite!
gpt
I never heard of such high-handed doin's!
human
I expect I shall have to send you children each a copy of my book with the picter of that turkey in it, said the poultry dealer.
gpt
And maybe the boy and I can make kind of a contract about eggs and chickens.
human
Aunt Kittredge looked at Minty somewhat severely for several days but only as she looked at her when she turned around in church or fidgeted in the long prayer. And after the poultry book came out with Priscilla's photograph as a frontispiece, and people began to make pilgrimages to the Red Hill farm to see the poultry, she was heard to say several times that
gpt
and that
human
But I don't like roast goose, said Guy, pouting.
gpt
I'd rather have turkey. Turkey is best for Thanksgiving, anyway. Goose is for Christmas.