The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-05-03
THE DISCONTINUED HEN.
ny MRS. ELLEN y. MITCHELL.

wrong, and I've Il good mlnu To give up ana
not lay another egg. That would bring pco-
pie to their senses pretty quick, guess. It's a
shame for an old hen like me to dclyc here in
the dirt when the cat and dog have such com
Portable lives"
The hen stopped scratching and put her
head on one side and tried to look very wise.
Then all at once she commenced clucking
harder than ever and it sounded exactly as if
shewcre laughing, and away she went through
hole in the fence, looking all around to see
if she were watched, and thcn-What do you
think she did? Why, she made nest IN Il
little clump Of shrubbery, and laid in it II
smooth white egg and could hardly keep
from Chucklng outright she was so ovcrlOy-
ed But she showed a great deal of sclfcon-
troll for a hen, and kept very still-that is,
until she had left the nest bchindhcr, and was
back in the barn yard again. There, indeed,
she put on such an air of importance and
clucked so loudly, that all other hens knew
what had happened, and looked at hers admir-
ingly For none of them laid so many eggs
as she, and this made her an object ofycnera.
ton in their eyes Besides she was of for
cign birth and had aristocratic blood in her
veins. The latter fact, perhaps, had some
thing to do with her discomfort But, really
it's Just as foolish for hens to he above their
business as for men or women, or little boys
and girls isn't it:
Guess they'll not make custards out otmy
eggs any more" chuckled she to herself as
soon as the other hens were out of hearing.
Good enough for them, too. They've no bus
mess to snub me as 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 "A 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, II l
keep them away from the barnyard all by
myself You wouldn't think it, but men
are such bloodthirsty creatures that they'll
twist the neck of Il poor little chicken, II they
happen to want one broilcd, 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 lazy set, and couldn't lay an
egg if they tried"
"Ah? how do you do to-day, Madame Hen
crowcd Mr. Chanticleer who just then hap
pened to be strutting along.
Just as usual" she clucked, sullcnly. "Im
tired enough of such humdrum life. It's
nothing but work, work, from morning until
night and then one doesn't always have a
comfortable place to roost. It's very differ
cnt in China, where | came from" and she
tried to toss her head, but didn't succeed.
Mr.. Chandelier looked down upon her re-
provingy: "Tut, tut, madam. A strong
minded hen is my adherence. Think what
a privilege it is to lay eggs and nurse little
chickens; and above all, remember that you
are under my protection" With that he gave
lusty crow as much as to say, "Whcre will
you find rooster more brave and valiant
than 2" The old hen understood it, and
looked contemptuous But he didn't mind
her and strutted off, feeling 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 suddenly
disappeared, and though vigorous search was
made she could not be found. But we who
are in the secret know that If some one had
looked into a certain clump Ofshrubbery, and
remembered the whisps of straw and hay left
there by the children she would certainly
have been discovered For out of these she
had made a nest and filled it full of eggs and
was now patiently trying to hatch them into
chickens. She was Il cOmical sight, sitting
there with her wings tucked in and looking
oh so wise and sef-complacent, just as you
yourselves have seen hens do under similar
circumstances. One could have thought
such an employment more monotonous than
scratching III the dirt, but she seemed to like
it and certainly showed great deal of pcrsc.
vcTanCc.
Well, no one found her out, and so finally !
the cggshclls burst open, and out came the
dear little chickens, and oh if you could but ,
have seen her then! She acted for IA minute
rs II she didn't know what it meant, and then
began to cluck for joy and snugglc them
under her wings again, and wonder ifanother
hen was so happy as she. All her old feelings
OF hatred towards the cat and dog were chang
cd into pity for, alas! they were chickcniess,
ana for her part she despiscd kittens and pup
pies, and had no doubt they did. To tell the
truth, touch Of vanity and triumph mingled
with her mothcrly cXultion, for dear mel
hadn't she seen chickens and chickens broods ,
upon brOods of them, and didn't She know ,
that in all the world there had never been any
so handsome and wonderful rs 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 barnyard
and wishing that her old friends knew of her
good luck. Then, too the dear little things
were 50 helpless and hungry that some how it
didn't seem So nice as she expected out here
in the shrubbcry with not u crumb to give
them, and she began to realize that an indie
pendent life isn't the best thing for hen, cs.
pccmlly if She has chickens TO support She
had left the barn-yard because she didn't like |
scratching in the dirt and thought men were
''-' '"i w vat Iti tEHH anu iil'Ii li'h' h'l
worse than the cat or dog; but was she any
better off now, with all these little mouths to
feed andno one 10 help her? She pondcrcd
the matter over, but | really can't say how she
would have decided, if Jim, the farm hand,
hadn't come along just then and spicd her
and the chickens. That settled everything
for with II low whistle lac gathered up his
ncstings, and She was forced To follow where
he led.
OF course he took them all back to the
barnyard, where ! am ashamed to say she put
on a great many airs, and at once began To
condolc with the other hens who hadn't any
chickens, declaring that without hers, life
would be insupporlable. She was not "A bad
hen at heart though, and was very grateful
and rcpentant when Jim fed her little brood
with handful of dainty crumbs, and tried
- make him understand that she was ready
20 scratch in the dirt or do anything else he
.EsTl.F Il. /