The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-04-11
The Disconnected Hen.

The Disconnected Hen.
"Wish l had such nice time as
some folks" clucked an old hen as she
scratched away i'll the dirt. There
Kitty, now, with nothing to do but sip
her milk and play and as for Growler,
why, I'm sure it's easy enough to bark
and gnaw bones. The world is all
wrong, and I've good mind to give up
and not lay another egg. That would
bring people to their senses pretty
quick, | guess. It's a shame for an old
hen like me to delve here III the dirt
when the cat and dog lead such comfor
table lives"
The hen stopped scratching and put
her head one side and tried to look
very wise. Then all at once she com
menced clucking harder than ever, and
it sounded exactly as if she were laugh
ing, and away she went through hole
in the fence, looking all around to see if
she were watched, and then-what do
you think she did? Why, she made
nest III little clump of shrubbery, and
laid in it smooth white egg, and could
hardly keep from chuckling outright,
she was SO overjOyed. But she showed
great deal of self-control for hen,
and kept very still-that is, until she
had left the nest behind her, and was
back in the barnyard again. There, in
deed, she put on such u mysterious air
of Importance, and clucked SO loudly,
that all the other hens knew what had
happened, and looked at her admiringly.
For none of them laid so many eggs as
she, and this made her an object of
veneration i'll their eyes. Besides, she
was of foreign birth and had aristocratic
blood in her veins. The latter fact, per-
haps, had something to do with her dis
content. But, really, it's just as foolish
for hens to be above their business rs
for men or women, or little boys and
girls, isn't it -?
Guess they'll not make custards out
of my eggs any more, " chucliled she to
herself as soon rs the other hens were
out of hearing. "Good enough for
them, too. They've no business to snub
me rs they do, and right before my face
pet the cat and dog. They think an old
hen hasn't any feelings, perhaps, and
had rather scratch in the dirt than not.
I'm not going to slave my claws off for
such folks any longer, but will just lay
in nice stock of eggs, and then run
away and hatch them into chickens, and
live without work the rest of my life.
For of course the chickens can dig
worms for me, and pick up all / want,
if | keep them away from the barnyard
all to myself. You wouldn't think it,
but men are such bloodthirsty creatures
that they'll just twist the neck of poor
little chicken, if they happen to want
one broiled, and not mind it bit. I've
seen it done more than once. It's high
time hens had their rights as well as
other people. They're of some use, but
cats and dogs are IA lazy set, and couldn't
lay an egg if they tried. +"
"Ah how do you do to-day, Ma
dame Hen % crowed Mr.. Chanticleer,
who just then happened to be strutting
along.
"Just as usual, she CLICKED sullen-
w. /" I'm tired enough of such hum
drum life. It's nothing but work, work,
from morning until night, and then one
doesn't always have comfortable place
to roost. It's very different in China,
where 1 came from :" and she tried to
toss her head, but didn't succeed.
Mr. Chanticleer looked down upon
her reprovingly: Tut, tut, madame
Think what privilege it is to lay eggs
and nurse little chickens and, above
all, remember that You are under mn
protection. With that he gave lusty
crow as much as to say, "Where will
YOU fad rooster more brave and
valiant than ?" The old hen under
stood it, and looked contemptuous. But
he didn't mind her and strutted off, feel
ing that he had done his duty, and that
she would know her place hereafter and
be properly Submissive.
A few days after that the old hen sud-
denly disappeared, and though vigorous
search was made could not be found.
But we who are in the secret know that
if some one had looked into certain
clump of shrubbery, and remembered
the wisps Of straw and hay left there by
the children, she would certainly have
been discovered. For out of these she
had made nest and filled it full of eggs
and she was now patiently trying tc
hatch them into chickens. She was
comical sight, sitting there with hel
wings tucked in, and looking oh sc
wise and self-complacent, just as you
yourselves have seen hens do under
similar circumstances. One could have
thought such an employment more
monotonous than scratching in tn,
dirt. but she seemed to like it, anC
certainly showed great deal of perse
verance.
Well, no one found her out, and 81
finally the egg-shells burst open, and on
came the dear little chickens, and oh, j
Won could have seen her then Sh
acted for n minute as if she didn't know
what it meant, and then began to clucl
for Joy and snuggle them under he
wings again, and wonder If ever anothe
hen was so happy as she. All her oil
feelings of hatred toward the cat an'
dog were changed into pity, for, alas
they were chickenLess, and for her par
she despised kittens and puppies, an
had no doubt they did. To tell tn
truth a touch of vanity and triumph