Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-21
THE EVENING STAR.
BREAKING UP A SETTING HxN !.

BREAKING Up A SETTING HEN. "a
Timothy, that air yaller hens settin, agin,''
saidl Mrs. Hays TO her son, one morning at
breakfast
well let Der set,'' remarked Timothy, help
ing himself TO large piece Of cheese, 81
reckon 1 can stand it as long as she cam
II DO wish you wonid try TO be little more
equinomical 20 cheese, Timothy; I've cut the
very last OF my every day lot, and It's only the
nrst OF My. And now. as soon as you've done
eating want you 20 go out and break up that
hen. She q setting on an old axe and two
.I hope she'll hatch EN-" returned limo.
hy.
Eli she was set now, she'd hatch the fourth
week IN May. It's bad sign something alters
happens arter il. Stop giggline Helen Maria,
BY the time you get to be Is OLD as yer ma,
yen zee further than you do now. There was
jenkins tolks, their grey top Knot Matched the
last of May, and Mrs. Jenkins, she had the
conjunction Of The lungs, ana would have died
in the hide while ITS warm That was all that
saved her" ID
Win such startling proof Of the truth and
breakfast in haste and departed for the oarn,
from which he soon returned bearing the
squalling biddy by the legs.
get on again, and she's cross bedlam-she
skinned my hands and would be the death of
me if she could get loose" --...--.-
1--we heer'n IL said that IL was q good plan 10
throw EN- MP N the air. said Mrs. HAYS.
Aunt Peggy broke one Of setting only three
tunes trying. SPosen You NY ir'
up O. he goee, head or taili'. cried Tim, as he
tossed the volcano, skyward. ...
"Land-a-massy," exclaimed Mrs. H., shes
coming down into the pan of bread that l set
out ON The great rock 10 rise, Tim, its strange
that you can't do nothing without OVERRIDING
II"
down with the traitors, mp with the stars
sung on Tim. eievating oiddy again with
something less than 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 polished tilt
Of Esquire Bennett. who happened to be pass
ing, and The dignified old gentleman 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.
yes, but it's going up again." said Tim.
tpItefully, SEEMING the clucking biddy and toss
ing her atrandom into the air. Biddy thought
IL time TO manifest her individuality and with
loud scream she darted against the parlor
window, broke through. knocked down the
canary cage and landed plump in the silken
lap of Mrs. Grey, who was boarding the
farm house.
Mrs. Grey screamed with horror, and start.
ing up, dislodged biddy, who flew at her re-
Election in the Iooking-glass with an angry
hiss. The glass was shattered and down came
the hen astoniShed beyond measure against a
vase Of flowers, which upset. and in falling
Knocked over the stand dish and deluged with
slippers, which Helen Maria was embroider-
ing for her lover, Mr.. James Henshaw
Helen entered the room Just as the mis- chief
had been done, and viewing the ruin she az
once laid 1T 10 her brother Timothy She heard
his step behind her and the unfortunate hen
abe flung full into his face.
There was smothefed oath, and the hen
came back with the force OF q twelve pound
shot.
Helen was mad Her eyes were nearly mt
out with the featnery dust and dough. and she
Tlmnthv w mi
She broke his watch guard into dozen pieces
crushed his dickey and began to pull his
whiskers outby the roots when she suddenly
remembered that Timothy had NO WHISPERS 10
pull out by the roots.
But when she came TO look closer she per-
eie'ed that the man she had nearly annihilated
was not Timothy, but James Henshaw.
Poor Helen burst INTO tears and fed into her
chamber, the usual refuge for herones; and
James, after washing his face at the kitchen
SINK, went home sternly resolved never TO
Hayes had
The hen, meanwhile, who is the heroine, re-
heavens fell
Mrs Hays soon discovered her, and she hav-
lng 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.
was At swords point with Mrs Hayes, was
Iust coming 10 the brook for pail OF water
and spied the yellow head Of the bird peeping
out from MIS- Hayes apron.
There she exclaimed, ssNow I've found
ont what puzzled me TO death nigh about a
week I've found out where that yellow
knowed you was wicked, desateful woman
bur didn't think you'd steal.''
"Steali me steali who are you talking TO,
Mrs Weaver!" said Mrs. Hayes, on her dig
nI'y.
I'm talking 10 You, madame, that's who
I'm talking TO. You've stole my hen what
got over to Uncle Gillies, and paid for in
sassengers- She's a real Dorking. Give her
10 me right here or I'll use force
shes my hen, and you touch her if you
daTsr'
IN show you what 1 darer' yelled Mrs
weaver growing purple, and seizing the ILL.,
stared fowl by the tail, she gave a wrench and
the tail came out in her hand.
The sudden cessation of resistance unset
Mrs. Viewers bsllance and she fell backward
into the brook, splattering the mud and as
'on.shed polhwogs in every direction.
SBe was spry woman. and was soon on her
feet again ready TO renew the assault.
Give me nv henr' she cried, thrusung her
INST into Mrs. Hayes face. you old bag and
hyPoerite you"' and she made a second dive
AZ the bird.
The ben thought it proper to show her
colors: and uttering anIunearthly yell, she flew
Weaver, which she raked down with her nails
EDtil II Iesembled the pages ola ledger, crossed
and recrossed with red ink.
Mrs Hays caught stick Of brushwood from
u
regular duel would probably have been TO ughr
If the bank Of the creek had not suddenly gave
wsy and precipitated both the indignant wo-
mel into the water.
They scrambled out on opposite sides and
the hen sat perched on an apple tree and cack.
led IN triumph.
The ladies shook themselves and by consent
went home. They have not spoken since
The hen disappeared. and was not seen IN tll
three weeks Afterwards. when she made her
appearance with eleven nice yellow chickens
She found some other fowls nest, and had set
IN spite of fate. -
But although not 'sbroken up'' herself she
broke mp two matches-for Cynthia Bennett
was not al home the next time Timothy called,
and Mr.. Henshaw never forgave Helen for
having such temper.
LADY ON MASCULINE CosTUME-A lry
correspondent Of the Hudson Register points t,,
nghI pantaloons and skirtless coats as fashions
nnoecomng, ridiculous and hardly less obiec-
uonaoie Than tiltIng hoops themselves After
asserting 10 the universal Condemnation of the
latter, she says:
'-Buf, in the meantime. I think the gentle
men have forgotten, in their zeal to promote
-