East Saginaw courier., 1866-06-13
A SETTING HEN.
What 1t Cost to Attempt Breaking UP
uer Brooding.

Timothy, that air yaller hens
settin' agin," said Mrs. Hayes to her
son, one morning at breakfast.
"Well, let her set" remarked
Timothy, helping himself to huge
piece of chez 9, 81 reckon / can stand
it as long as she can"
81 do wish you would try and be
a little, more equinomical of cheese,
Timothy, ave cut the very last OF
my every day lot and its only the first
of May. And now, as soon as you've
done eating want you to 60 out and
break up that hen. She's settin' on
an old axe aud two bricks now"
81 hope she'll hatch 'em," return
ed Timothy.
If she was set nov, she'd hatch
the fouth week in May It's bad
sign; something alters happens after
it. Stop giggling Ellen Maria; by
the time you get to be as old as yer
ma, yell see further than you do now.
There was Jennings folks, their gray
top-knot hatched the last week in
in May, and Miss jenkins, she had
the conjunction on the lungs, and
would have died if they hadn't killed
a lamb and wrapped her in the hide
while it was warm. That was all
that saved her."
With such a startling proof Of the
truth of the omen before him, Tim
othy finished his breakfast in haste,
and departed for the barn, from which
he soon returned benring the squall-
ing biddy by the legs.
What shall do with her, mother?
She'll get on again, and she's cross as
bedlam--she skinned my hands, and
would be the death of me if she could
get loose" = t.'
"Pvo heor'n it said that il was a
good plan to throw 'em up in the
air." said Mrs. Hayes, "Aunt Peggy
broke one of setting only three times
trying. Spose'n you try it."
"Up she goes, head or tail?" cried
Tim as he tossed the volcano sky
wards.
"Land a massy,n exclaimed Mrs.
Ii. "she's coming down into the pan
Of bread that set out on the great
rock to rise ! Tim tits strange that
you CANE do nothing without over
doing it," NO s"
Down with the traitors, up with
the stars" sung out Tim, elevating
biddy again with something less than
a pint Of batter hanging to her feet.
Good gracious me! wuss and
wuss," cried Mrs. Hayes, and Tim
agreed with her; for tho hen had
come down on the polished tile of
Squire Bennett, who happened to be
passing, and the dignified old gentle
man was the father of Cynthia Ben
net, the young lady with whom Tim
was seriously enamoted, y
The Squire looked daggers, brush
cd off the dough with his handkcr-
chief and strobe on in silence.
= Yes, but it's going up again, I"
said Tim spitefully seizing the clnck-
ing biped and tossing her at random
into. the air. Biddy thought it time
TO manifest her individuality, and
with loud scream she darted against
tho parlor window, broke through,
knocked down the canary cage, and
landed plump in the silken lap Of Mrs.
Gray, who was boarding at the farm
house.
Mrs. Gray screamed with horror,
and starting up, dislodged biddy, who
flew at her reflection in the looking
glass with an angry hiss. Tie gldss
was shattered and down came the
hen, astonished above measure, against
a vase of flowers, which upset, and in
falling Knocked over the stand dish
and dsluged with lux aud water a
pair of slippers, which Helen Maria
was embroidering for her lover, Mr..
James Hepshaw.
Helen entered the room just as the
mischief had been done, and viewing
the ruin, she at once laid il to her
brother Timothy. She heard his step
behind her, and the unfortunate hen
she flung full in his face.