Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-06-04
FOR THE CHILDREN.
From the Riverside Magazine.
PINK'S CHICKEN.


From the Riverside Magazine.
PINK'S CHICKEN
LttTle Pink LawtOn lived in New
York, and her grandmother on Mount
Pisg4h. Pink, and Pink's mother, left
New York at eight O'Clock in the morn
ing, and were standing on Grandma
tawton's front door-steps, being hug
ged and kissed, Just as the sun went
down behind the high hills.
Pink thought her rgrandma was fun
ny-loOking woman, with her Old-tash-
ioded cap--borders, speetacies, and
apron perhaps grandma thought Pink
was a funny-lOoking little girl, with
her plain tunic, pale cheeks, flying
hair, and wondering brown eyes, but
she was too gOOd-mannered to say so
Pink was too tired to do anything but
eat a great deal of bread and butter
and gingerbread, and drink two tum-
blers of milk ,-"Clover's milk ,"grand-
ma said,-and go to bed. She did try
to say "NoW lay me-" but when she
got to eff I should die befOre''-her
eyes were so nearly shut, that mann
ma caught her up, kissed her half
dozen times, and pumped her down
into the middle of grandma's spare
bed, sure that the good angels would
watch over her little lamb and if-if-
she ''should die befOre"-WOuld carry
her very softly and tenderly, and lay
her on the bosom of the Great Shep-
herd.
In about half a minute somebody
kissed Pink's eyeEds, and said, "Wake
up, darling ;" and when the brown
eyes were open, sure enough, there was
the sunlight dimpling through the ma
pie leaves all over grandma's pretty
pink and white bed-quilt, and Pink
was ont of bed in tWinkling, trOtting
about the room.
What pure sparkling water there was
for her bath and how still it was not
d single sound to be heard, save little
soft rustic among the leaves, and now
and then ROSTERS crow, and that was
so very loud, it startled her. When
they went down stairs, how brightly
the sun shone into grandmother's din
ing room, and what pretty morning
glory vines looked into the windows,
as if to say, "GOOd morning, Pink -
and what nice biscuits, and boiled eggs,
and milk-toast, and delicious straw ber-
ries and cream there were on the table,
and what hungry Pink to eat them
Pink took another survey of Grandma
LawtOp, and thought she looked quite
nice by daylight, if she wears funny
cap borders
"Mamma,'' she whispered, as grand
ma was pouring out the coffee, "what
made grandpa read out of his plate
There weren't any letters on it"
"Hush, Pink; he was asking a bless
"Was he?' said Pink demureIy.
After breakfast came prayers, and
then Pink went upstairs for her hat.
Mamma" she said, stopping on the
stairway to reflect. "wby doe MT papa
take big book and talk 10 the cham
ber-dOOr, as grandpa dOes?"
"GTandpa was praying dear" said
Mrs. Lawton.
"Was he said Pink,
Pink, poor thing, had lived all her
life in clearinghouse, and knew little
about prayers or blessings.
There wasa great deal to see when
Pink came down with her hat on. Out
iu the wUodshed the wat-r kept dip
ping, dripping, dripping, like tiny bits
of silver, from u little spout In;O a
wooden trOugbj there were IUvrIy shin
ing milk-pans lying out in the sunshine
in slanting rows on little, shelf and
Whist Pink thought prettier Than ali, a
little mite If n house stood on he green
grass, out from which tiny bis of chick
ems kept running and crying, peep
| peep-ptep," !" and then running n again.
May [ 90 and look al the lutte huuse
grandma?'
Yes indeed; but bless me, child,
that isn't house; lis tooi'-a hen
coop.
rs II?'' said Pink.
She was half afraid OF the mother
hen with her broad, brushing breast,
/ and sat down at "A SAFE distance 10 ) udy
/ the family arraHgeImt MS. She felt sor-
/ ry tur poor Mrs. Hen, ~ 10 couldn't get
] out, let her peck and fiutter and sIlut-
ter as she would; a dish of pudding and
| a cup Of water stood there f.T her
breakfast, but neither OF them looked
very clean, and Pink hoped somebody
would come pretty soon and wash her
| dishes and tidy up a little. The dar-
ling little balls of yellow-w down,
with eyes like shiny black beads, kept
! running about crying 'peep'' so shrilly
and loudly, that Pink was sure they
wanted something.
"Grandma, they all keep crying peep
and want TO give them something
LA, it's the natur' of 'em to say
peep 1 guess it's their way of talking
to one another.;;
rs it?" said Pink, and she sat dowI
on the grass again to watch them; sht
would have liked to begin the study o
peep language that minute, could shC
have found a teacher.
But water-trOughs, milk-pans, and
chicken cOops all faded into insignih
canoe when, a little while afterwards
grandma led Pink into the barn, ant
all it's glories of barn-doors, stable
doors, managers, great beams, hay
moWS, straw-lOfts, pigeOn-boxes, ant
swallows '=nests burst upon her. o
course, Pink couldn't take all these il
at once-no one expected that; the hay
NOW alone was enough for one lore
noon, towering up, and up, and up, al
most to the sky, and smelling like
mammoth perfumery bottle, only
great deal sweeter and fresher, an
more delightful than any perfume Lu
bin ever dreamed of.
That's hay" said grandma, g fO
the cows and horses to eat when tn
grass is gone - and she led her to
manger where two horses were eatin
hay. To see their large, black, sO1em
ewes and big faces and necks so nea
her frightened Pink, and she pulle
her hand away.
Dear mel that isn't a coop, child
it's a stable-a horse-stable.''
''Is it?' said Pink.
&c Come here, Pink, [ want to sho
you something. But don't make
noise; twill scare Blackle, If you do.
S On the very tips of her new gate
: boots, Pink crept softly along, keepiI
tight hold of grandna's hand, till the
came almost to the end of the big ha1
NOW; and there, on the side of it, ;
low down that Pink could look in, WI
4 n round. deep, smooth hole, with eigl
N white eggs lying in it. Pink dared n
t, speak, but she gave low chuckle
. delight, and lOOked into grandma
face, her own all agloW. She reachI
, out her hand and touched one of Il
eggs with the tip of her forehnger, al
IS, found it was quite warm. Black
stood little way of, on the barn-fioo
$. walking back and forth, turning h
ii head, which had a little red ruffie {
c. the top of it. this way and that wa
le picking up a hay-seed here and ther
. pretending, the artful little baggag
that she was only looking for som
thing to eat, when, all at once, 81
darted into the hole and settled hersC
down comfortably, spreading out b
. wings over the eggs, and giving lit
growls, as much as to say, " Come he
and disturb me, if you dare.'
~ When hens are settin', they dor
of like folks to watch 'em, said grandm
s. "BIackie is settin' now; when 81
ce comes off you shall have one of h
81 chickens, if you want"
~ ~ . For my very own, grandma2"
US Yes, Pink and you may, feed