WHY HE CARRIED THE TURKEY BY James Baldwin

In  League City, Texas,  one Saturday  morning,  an old man went  into the market  to  buy  something.
He was  dressed plainly,  his  coat  was  worn, and his hat  was  dingy.
On his  arm  he carried a small  basket.
"I  wish to  get  a fowl  for  to-morrow's  dinner,"  he said. The market  man  showed him  a fat  turkey,  plump  and white and ready  for roasting.
"Ah!  that  is  just  what  I  want,"  said the  old man. 
"My  wife will  be delighted with  it.
" He asked the  price and paid  for  it. 
The market  man wrapped a paper  round  it and put  it  in the basket.
Just  then  a young man stepped  up.
"I  will  take  one of  those turkeys,"  he said. He was  dressed in  fine  style and carried  a small  cane.
"Shall  I  wrap it  up for  you?" 
asked the  market  man.
"Yes, here  is  your  money,"  answered the young gentleman;  "and send  it  to my house  at  once."
"I  cannot  do that,"  said the  market  man.
"My  errand boy  is  sick to- day, and there  is  no one else to  send.
Besides,  it  is  not  our  custom  to deliver  goods.
""Then how  am  I  to get  it  home?" 
asked the  young gentleman.
"I  suppose you  will  have to  carry  it  yourself,"  said the  market  man.
"It  is  not  heavy."
"Carry  it  myself!  Who do you  think I  am? 
Fancy  me  carrying a turkey  along the  street!"  said the  young gentleman;  and he began to  grow  very  angry. 
The old  man who had bought  the  first  turkey  was  standing  quite  near.
He had heard  all  that  was  said.
"Excuse  me, sir,"  he said;  "but  may  I  ask  where you  live?"
"I  live  at  Number  39, Blank  Street,"  answered the young gentleman; 
"and my name  is  Johnson."
"Well,  that  is  lucky,"  said the  old man, smiling. "I  happen to be going  that way,  and I  will  carry  your  turkey, if  you  will  allow  me."
"Oh, certainly!"  said  Mr.  Johnson.
"Here it  is.  You may  follow  me." When they  reached Mr.  Johnson's  house, the  old man  politely  handed him  the turkey  and turned  to go.
"Here, my  friend,  what  shall  I  pay  you?"  said the  young gentleman.
"Oh, nothing, sir,  nothing,"  answered the old  man. "It  was  no trouble  to me, and you  are  welcome
"He bowed and went  on. 
Young Mr.  Johnson looked  after  him  and wondered.
Then he turned  and walked  briskly  back to the  market.
"Who is  that  polite old  gentleman who carried  my  turkey  for  me?"  he asked of  the market  man.
"That  is  John  Marshall, Chief  Justice of  the  United States.
He is  one of  the greatest  men in our  country,"  was  the  answer.
The young gentleman was  surprised  and ashamed.
"Why  did he offer  to carry my  turkey?"  he asked.
"He wished to  teach you  a lesson,"  answered  the market  man.
"What  sort  of  lesson?" 
"He wished  to teach you  that  no man  should feel himself  too fine to  carry  his  own packages."
"Oh, no!" 
said another  man  who had seen and heard  it  all.
"Judge  Marshall carried the  turkey  simply  because he wished to  be kind and obliging. 
​That  is his  way."