The Shasta courier., 1866-07-21
Breaking up a Setting Hen.

Wen, let her set," remarked Timothy
neiplng himself to huge piece of cheese, 81
reckon can stand it as long as she CAM
90 wish you would try to be a littl(
more equinomical to cheese. Timothy I've
cut the very last of my everv dav lot, and it.
only the first of May And now. as soon a.
you've done eating want you to 90 out anc
break up that hen She setting on an ole
axe and two bricks now.
!" hope she'll hatch 'em," returned Tim
II she was set now she'd hatch the fourth
week IN May. It's bad sign; something
alters happens it. Stop giggling, Heller
Maria, by the time you get to 5e as old a:
yer ma, yell see further than you do now
There was Jenkins folks, their grey top kno
hatched the last of May, and Mrs. jenkins
she had the conjunction of the lungs. and
would have died if they hadn't killed a lamt
and wrapped her in the hide while it was
warm. That was all that saved her,"
with such startling proof of the truth
apd the omen before him. Timothy finished
his breakfast in haste and departed for the
barn, from which he soon returned. bearing
the squalling biddy by the legs.
" What shall do with her, mother p
She'll get on again, and she's cross as bed
lam-she skinned my hands, and would be
the death of me, if she could get loose"
:" I've heer'n it said that it was a good
plan to throw 'em up in the air." said Mrs.
Hays. Aunt Peggy broke one of settin'
only three times trying. Suppos'n you try
g Up she goes, head or tail ?'' cried Tim,
as he tossed the volcano skyward.
50 Land .masev ~ avolaipood Mre II
g she's coming down into the pan of bread
that | set out on the great rock to raise p
Tim. it's strange that you can't do nothing
without overriding it.'
=" 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. Hays, and Tim agreed with her,
for the hen had come down on the well pol
shed tile of Squire Bennett, who happened
to be passing, and the dignifed old gentle.
men was the father of Cynthia Bennett, the
young lady with whom Tim was seriously
enamored
The Squire looked daggers, brushed off
the dough with his handkerchief, and strobe
on in silence.
g Yes, but it's going up again" said Tim
spitefully, seizing the clucking biddy and
tossing her at random into the air. Biddy
thought it time to manifest her indvidualitv,
and with a loud scream she dashed against
the parlor window, broke through, knocked
down the canary cage. and landed plum in
the silken lap of Mrs. Grey, who was board
ing at the farm house.
Mrs. Grey screamed with horror, and
starting up, dislodged biddy, who flew at
her reflection in the looking glass with an
angry hiss. The glass was shattered. and
down came the hen, astonished beyond meas
ure, against vase of flowers, which upset,
and in falling knocked over the stand dish
and deluged with ink and water pair of
drap coored slippers, which Helen Maria
was embroidering for her lover, Mr. James
Henshaw.
Helen entered the room just as the mis-
chief had been done, and viewing the ruin
she at once laid it to her brother Timothy
She heard his step behind her, and the un-
fortunate hen she flung full in his face.
There was smothered oath, and the hen
came back with the force of twelve pound
shot
Helen was mad. Her eyes were nearly
put out with the feathery dust and doe. and
she went at Timothy with true feminine
zeal. She broke his watch guard into a
dozen pieces. crushed his dickey, and began
to pull his whiskers out by the roots when
she suddenly remembered that Timothy had
no whiskers to pull out by the roots.
But when she came to look closer she per-
ceived that the man she had nearly annihil.
ated was not Timothy, but Mr.. Henshaw
Poor Halap hurst int nd Aa1 ipfo
her chamber, the usual refuge for heroines
and James, after washing his face at the
kitchen sink, went home, sternly resolved
never to marry . woman with such temper
as Helen Hays had.
The hen, meanwhile, who is our heroine,
returned to the barn to establish herself on
the ruins of her nest, determined to set if the
heavens fell.
Mrs. Hays soon discovered her. and she
having heard that dipping in water would
cure /" broodiness," she set forth for the
brook with the fowl in her apron.
Mrs. Weaver, an old lady of very quarrel
some temperament. who resided near. ant
was at swords point with the Mrs. Hays
was just coming to the brook for a pail o
water, and spied the yellow head of the birC
peeping out from Mrs. Hays apron.
There !" she exclaimed, +" Now w,
found out what's puzzled me to death nigi
about a week. I've found out where tha
yellow pullet has gone to. Mrs. Hays,
alters know'd you was wicked, desatefu
woman, but didn't think you'd steal"
@ Steal ? me steal ? who are you talking
to, Mrs. Weaver?" said Mrs. Hays, on he
dignity.
I'm talking to you madam, that's VIII
I'm talking to You've stole my hen wha
l got over to Uncle Gillies, and paid for il
sassengers. She's real Dorking. Civ
her to me right here, or I'll use force"
" She's my hen, and you touch her if yo,
dare
III. show you what l dare - yellet
Mrs Weaver, growing purple, and seizin,
the il-starred fowl by the tail, she gave
jerk, and the tail came out in her hand.
The sudden cessation of resistance upse
Mrs. Weaver's balance. and she fell bacl
into the brook, scattering the mrd and as
tonished polliwogs in every direction.
She was spry woman, and was soon OF
her feet again, ready to renew the assault.
Give me my ben !" she cried, thrustin
her fist into Mrs. Hays face, 50 YOU old ba
and hypocrite you p and she made a secon,
dive at the bird
The hen thought it proper to show he
colors and uttering an unearthlv veil sh,