Everything went so smoothly that we soon forgot to be nervous . When the turkey was done , we took it out , set it on the back of the range to keep warm and put the mince pies in . The potatoes , cabbage and turnips were bubbling away cheerfully , and everything was going as merrily as a marriage bell . Then , all at once , things happened . In an evil hour we went to the yard window and looked out . We saw a quiet scene . The McGinnis dog was still sitting on his haunches by the steps , just as he had been sitting all the morning . Down in the McGinnis yard everything wore an unusually peaceful aspect . Only one McGinnis was in sight -- Tony , aged eight , who was perched up on the edge of the well box , swinging his legs and singing at the top of his melodious Irish voice . All at once , just as we were looking at him , Tony went over backward and apparently tumbled head foremost down his father 's well . Kate and I screamed simultaneously . We tore across the kitchen , flung open the door , plunged down over Aunt Susanna 's yard , scrambled over the fence and flew to the well . Just as we reached it , Tony 's red head appeared as he climbed serenely out over the box . I do n't know whether I felt more relieved or furious . He had merely fallen on the blank guard inside the box : and there are times when I am tempted to think he fell on purpose because he saw Kate and me looking out at the window . At least he did n't seem at all frightened , and grinned most impishly at us . Kate and I turned on our heels and marched back in as dignified a manner as was possible under the circumstances . Half way up Aunt Susanna 's yard we forgot dignity and broke into a run . We had left the door open and the McGinnis dog had disappeared . Never shall I forget the sight we saw or the smell we smelled when we burst into that kitchen .
There on the floor was the McGinnis dog and what was left XXXXX Aunt Susanna 's Thanksgiving turkey .
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