Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-04-17

mingled with her motherly exultation,
for, dear me! hadn't she seen chickens
and chickens, broods and broods of them,
and didn't she know that in all the
world there had never been any so hand
some and wonderful as hers? She didn't
forget her old resolve, but for all that
couldn't help thinking what a sensation
their appearance would create In the
barn-yard, and wishing that her old
friends knew of her good luck. Then,
too, the dear little things were so help
less and hungry that somehow 1t didn't
seem as nice as she expected out here In
the shrubbery, with not a crumb to
give them, and she began to realize that
an independent life isn't the best thing
for a hen, especially if she has chickens
to support. She had left the barnyard
because she didn't like scratching IN the
dirt, and thought men were ungrateful
to eat her eggs and then treat her worse
than the cat or dog but was she any
better off now, with all these little
mouths to feed and no n to help her ?
She pondered the matter over, but l
really can't say how she would have de-
cided, if Jim, the farmland, hadn'G
come along just then and spied her and
the chickens. That settled everything,
for with a low whistle he gathered up
her nestlings, and she was forced to fol-
low where he led.
OF course he took them all back to the
barnyard, where 1 am ashamed to say
she put on a great many airs, and at
once began to condole with other hens
who hadn't any chickens, declaring that
-.4Lo-,4 lo,,1 7If1 -,o--11 ha r7cT,,Noor4a
BILE. She was not a bad hen at heart,
though, and was very grateful and re-
pentant when Jim fed her little brood
with a handful of dainty crumbs, and
tried to make him understand that she
was ready to scratch in the dirt or do
anything else he might suggest. But
her clucking was unintelligible to Jim,
who was thinking how he would surprise
his mistress with the news that he had
found the old hen, and fine young fam
lily of chickens besides. It was for this
reason, perhaps, that he soon hurried
away and left his little charges to the
care of their mother. She at once gave
them hurried nstructionshow to behave,
being fearful lest they should appear
awkward upon this their first entrance
into hen society. It was well she did
for her Chandelier soon afterward CAM
up, and greeted her with a crow of con.
graduation.
GA charming family, indeed, madame
You are beginning to understand the
dignity of henhood. No n rejoices a
this more than |. Your conduct a while
ago really shocked me. It was not tina
Of a right-minded hen. But all is for
given and forgotten now" Rooster
always use high-fown words and put OF
a grand manner. They think it adds t.
their dignity. So do some people.
The little chickens were very mucl
awed at the condescending way in whicl
Mr.. Chandelier patted their heads Zig
uratively speaking, of course), and won
dered that their mother acted so indiffe1
emily. But she had been acquainte,
with Dir. Chandelier for many years
and knew how pufed up he vas wit
vanity and self-esteem, and wasn't a
much fattered by his favor as he sup
posed.
/: "By the way" he crowed, after a Ii
tie pause, somewhat surprised at her s
lence, "your old enemies, the cat an
dog, have both met with violent death
during your absence. The dog ran ma
and was shot by his master, and Jill
drowned the cat for eating up a pet CT
nary bird"
| All the old hens feathers shook whe
| she heard this, for she remembered he
i. bitter feeling in the past and the man
times she had wished herself in the
+, place. What easy and happy lives the
had appeared to lead, and yet to whi
, tragical ends had they come at last
5 "Ah, Chickens" she clucked afte
+ ward, while ~contentedly scratching
t the dirt, "be satisfied with your positic
e in the world, and never envy those wi
appear to have better ones. Scratchir
S in the dirt and laying eggs are just
t honorable work as any other, if you al
t only brave enough to make them s
Nothing is worse than drawing compa1
sons, and fancying that you have Il
:, hardest time of any one else in Il
g world."-1he Children'S Hour.