The Lincoln County herald., 1870-10-27
ChiyIre1S's COrller.
LITTLE GLOSSTAIL.
A FABL Z.

sprinkled with green and purple, walked
from comfortable three weeks dream,
aud said, "where am ?"
Where WIS he indeed? In Jail. There
was neither door nor window the walls
were solid, without so much as a clink to
let in the sunlight.
"Ill never bear this" said little Gloss.
tail, rousiug himself and winkiug the
sleep out Of his eyes. "While l slept l
dreamed there was dreadful giant, and
he shut me up here. Let me once get
out and III fight him like man"
So GlosstaiI knocked on the wall till
he had made q hole. Then he drew iu
his breath and snifTed the morning air
with the hard part of his face, which was
meant for a nose. Good" cried he, aud
Knocked again.
lie had eleven brothers and sisters,
and they we're all waking up and knock.
ing too. Thoir little white prisons were
eumbling away, mite by mite, but Gloss
tails crumbled fastest.
Presently he stepped out, trembling
with easerness, fortified with resolve,
and also very sticky with bits of eggshell.
"Hurrah for me u peeped he, looking
down dsdainfully upon his struggling
brethren, and trying to balance himself
upoua wisp Of straw, II have conquered
Hurrah for me u"
You viii! at once observe that this
heroic chicken started wronv Vic 'A'>e
~..h's sleep had disagreed with him j
his brain was muddled. He entertained
a nightmare of fancy that some horrld
giant on two legs held q deadly spite
agains. him, had locked him up in shell
and meant now to pursue him to the ends
of the earth. So he shook his tiny head
and began to look about for his enemy.
He could not see over the top Of the
barrel. Right overhead were the beams
of the barn; but young Glosstail being
quite inexperienced, did not know them
from the softest clouds Of the summer
sky.
"But see something" said he, brist-
ling his tender little body as icrcely as
he could, 81 see something, and will soon
find which is the strongest, he or |.
It was the dear old motherly hen he
saw. "Good morning, my darling" said
she, with an alfectionate roll of the eye
"you are my eldest born, and | bid you
welcome to this barn and barn yard, ond
oil tho gloriouo haysced and worrIs con-
tained therein. Thrice welcome, my son.
"You don't say So" exclaimed the as
tonished Glos.tail, nodaing his cotton
ball Of head in drunken way, spread
ing out his yellow fingers and glancing
up doubtfully at his maternal relative !;
"l have begun life with mortal fear Of
being cheated, and don't know whether
you tell the truth or not madam. Pleasc
speak again Yes, there is a certain
something in your sweet voice that goes
straight to ny heart. | dol will
must believe you are my dear mother
and no giant"
shower Of corn meal dough put ar
uniimely end to Gloss;ail'. remarks. Hi
young heart, which had just begun Il
throb With flial affection. Dox went pit
pat with desperate fright. Over tn
edge Of the barrel was leaning beautiful
young girl, with straw hat on her head
Her name was Lucy Warner, and sb
smiled down very pleasantly upon thu
new chicken.
But the unhappy Glosstail. who wa
looking for his giant, walled aloud, an'
tried with desperate courage tS e "a, fqSy,iib, iGt
over an eggshell.
"My dear son." said his mother sooth
ingly, but in the gentle hen Language
which is not ineligible to human beings
"be not alarmed She whom you in you
nervousness mistake for an enemy, il
our best friend. She has very euormou
face, it is truo, and savage teeth, such 81
-" 49,. ons means we'll. See he
smile, poor thing Hear her speak tt
you Yes, my son, she really supposel
she is talking; that is the best sue |
poor creatures as mankind can do will
their great red tongues aud thick lips
If they had nice hard bills like MS the,
could talk and there would be some sens
in it,"
But, mother" moaned little Gosstail
still trembling. "shs looks as il she wante
to eat me up"
"Sh shl' said Mrs. Biddy reproach
fully, II am ashamed Of you, my son."
30 Master Glosstail calmed hiussel
ate his breakfast, and looked about hir
to greet his brothers and sisters as the
erept forth from the she'll
They weIo sensible little creature,
and very we'll coutepted TO take tho worl