Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-01-05
*The scandinavian Frost God.


STORY.
Once there was a nice young hen that we
will call Mrs. Feathertop. She was hen of
most excellent family being direct descend
ant of the Boltoi Gravs, and as pretty young
fowl as YOU should wish TO see of a summers
day. She was, moreover, as fortunately situa.
ted in life as it was possible for hen to be.
She was bought by Young Master Fred Little
John, with four or five family connections of
hers and lively young cock, who was held TO
be as brisk scratcher and as capable head of
a family as any half-dozen sensible hens could
desire.
can't say that at first Mrs. Feathortop was
a very sensible hen. She was very pretty and
lively, to be sure and great tavorite with
Master Bolton Gray Cock, on account of her
bright eyes, her finely shaded feathers, and GER
tain saucy dashing ways that she had, which
seemed greatly to TAX e his fancy. But old Mrs.
Scra,churd, living in the neighboring yard, as
sured all the neighbo, hood that Gray Cock was
fool for thinking so much of that fighty
young thing,-that she had not the smallest
notion how to get on in lite, and though, of
nothing but her own pretty feathers. "Wait
till she comes 10 have chickens" said Mrs.
Scralchard. "Then you will see. | have
brought up ten broods myself,-as likely and
respectable chickens as ever were blessing TO
- bCo''
hatcher and brooder when | see her and
know that fine piece of trumpery, with her
white feathers tipped with gray, never will come
down to family life. She scratch for chickens
Bless me, she never did anything in all heI
days but run round and eat the worms which
somebody else scratched up for her."
When Master Bolton Gray heard this he
crowed very loudly, like Il cock of spirit. and
declared old Mrs. Scratchard was envious, be-
cause she had lost all her own tail feathers, anC
looked more like worn out old tea.her-dustel
than a respectable hen, and that therefore sht
was filed with sheer envy OF ANYBODY that wal
young and pretty. So young Mrs Feathertol
cackleG gay defiance at her busy rubbish.
neighhor, as she summed herself under th
bushes on fine June afternoons.
Now Master Fred Little John had been al
lowed to have these hens by his mamma on th
condition that he would build their house him
self, and take all the care oft; and, 10 d'
Master Fred justice, he executed the job in
small way quite creditaby. He chose SUM
sloping bank covered with a thick growth Q
| bushes, and erected there a nice little hen
| house, with two glass windows, little door
and a good pole for his family to roost on. II
made moreover, row of nice little boxes wit
| hay in them for nests, and he bought three o
four little smooth white china eggs to put i
them, SO that, when his hens did lay. he Nigh
carry off their eggs without their being missed
| This hen house stood in a little grove tina
| sloped down to a wide river, Just where ther
| was a little cove which reached almost to tn
| hen. house.
This situation inspired one of Master Fred
boy advisers with new scheme in relation t
his poultry enterprise. "Hullo | say, Fred,
said Tom Seymour "you ought TO raise duck
you've got capital place for ducks there. y
"Yes,-but I've bought hens, you see" sal
Freddy $50 it's no use irving"
"No use Of course there is Just as
your hens couldn't hatch ducks eggs. No
you just wait till one of your hens wants TO Sc
and you put ducks eggs under her, and YOU
have family of ducks in twinkling Yo
can buy ducks eggs, plenty, of old Sam VI
der the hill he always has hens hatch h
ducks"
So Freddy thought it would be a good e,
perimeni, and informed his mother the ne,
morning thst he intended to furnish the duel
Tor the next Christmas dinner and when 81
wondered how he was to come by them,
said, mystariously, 90, will show you how
but did not further explain himself The ne,
day he'went with Tom Seymour, and made
trade with old Sam, and gave him midd
aged jack knife for eight OF his ducks egs
Sam, the by, was woolly- headed old n
gro man, who lived by the pond hard by, al
/ who had long east envying eyes on Fred
Jack knife. because it was of extrafine ste'
I having been Christmas present the year b
fore. But Fred knew very well there were al
number more of jack-knives where that can
from, and that, in order to get new one,
must dispose Of the old SO he made the tra
and cane home rejoicing.
i Now about this time Mrs. Feathertop, ha
ing laid her eggs laly with great credili he
4 q self, notwithstanding Mrs. Seratchard's pi
diclions, began to find herself suddeny attac
ed with nervous symptoms. She lost her Z
% spirits, grew dumpish and morose, stuck
= !; her feathers in bristling way, and pecked
her neighbors il they did so much as look
" her. Master Gray Cock was greatly concern'
and went to old Doctor Peppercorn, who loc
p ed solemn, and recommended an infusion
0 angle'worms, and said he would look in on
n patient twice a day I'LL she was better.
o, "Grocious me, Gray Cock !" said old Goo
lis Kertarkut, who had been lolng at the corr
as he passed, "a'n't you fool P-cocks alwl
ne are fools. Don't you know what's the mat
ed with your wife !? She wants to set,-that's
and you just let her set A fddles,ick
ns I,s Doctor Peppercorn Why, any good old !
that has brought up family knows more u