X-mas sketches from the Dartmouth Literary Monthly
General
X-mas sketches from the Dartmouth Literary Monthly
Christmas stories; College students' writings, American -- New Hampshire -- Hanover
“Clancy, your wife’s a-lookin’ for yez.”
Clancy turned around still clinging to the polished hand-rail, and
recognized Dorgan.
“What’ll yez drink?”
“Nothing, Clancy,” said the officer; “but yez better go home.”
Clancy turned around with an assumption of gravity and started for
the door, for he was a little afraid of Norah.
She heard him coming, as he stumbled up the stairs, and waited for
him. But as he grasped the knob of the door it opened of its own
accord, and Clancy was precipitated against the kitchen table, which
was set for supper. Concluding that it would be unwise to move under
the existing circumstances, he remained leaning on the table and
waited. He had n’t long to wait, however, for Norah began,—
[Illustration: Decoration]
“Mike, give me your money!”
He started to remonstrate, but quailed before the terrible look in
her eye, and emptied his pocket on the table.
Norah counted it over.
“Three dollars an’ a half is missin’, Clancy, and yez eat cold
corned-bafe to-morrer, av ye plaze.”
With this, Mrs. Clancy left the room and slammed the door.
Clancy, left to himself, sat down.
It wasn’t long before Mrs. Clancy returned, and again referred to the
turkey which they would not eat on the morrow.
This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Clancy’s manhood
asserted itself, and he arose in a dignified manner and started for
the door.
As he reached it he turned around and, with the air of a king
bestowing a favor, said, “Mrs. Clancy, yez’ll hov that turkey.”
Clancy walked down stairs and out into the street, where he stood for
a moment, irresolute.
His ideas on where to procure the turkey he had so rashly promised
were very hazy, and, furthermore, he thought Mrs. Clancy had his
money. As he reached his hand down into his pocket he felt something.
He took it out, gazed at it contemplatively, and bit it. This seemed
to satisfy his doubts. He had a quarter!
Then he considered what should be done with it. A quarter would
hardly buy a turkey, and a quarter would buy considerable in the line
of drink. Still thinking, he strolled down the street.
As he passed his old haunt a large white placard, with the following
notice in green letters, attracted his attention:
[Illustration: SALOON.
RAFFLE
THERE WILL BE A
RAFFLE
FOR A CHRISTMAS TURKEY
AT THIS SALOON TO-NIGHT
25 CTS. A CHANCE.
CASEY]
Clancy did not hesitate, but entered the saloon. With determination
in his eye, and all the straight-forwardness that he could put into
his gait, he marched up to the bar-tender and inquired about the
raffle.
“Ober dere,” said the man, pointing to the other end of the room.
“Dere’s anoder chance left.”
Clancy, with an eagerness born of despair, deposited his quarter and
drew his ticket, No. 13. “Thot may be bad luck,” thought Clancy, “but
I’m bound to win.”
Clancy waited with stoical indifference as the numbers were drawn. At
last he heard some one in the front of the crowd call out, “Thirteen
wins.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account