The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-11-12
What a Hen Did.

ing two rooms. 1t is by no means pic
turesque, either through the clinging of
the traditional vine or the venerable
moss that makes decay cheerful and
sunny. 1t is disagreeable- looking
abode that should like to be rid of
The hut contains two rooms. One of
these is occupied by Emma, our maid Of
all work. Emma is not even an interest
ing colored woman. She is ugly. Her
temper is something fearful, and she
beats her children. Still, she is easy to
manage if one knows how to get on her
right side.
She keeps hens and chickens, and
takes more pains with them, in fact, than
she does with her children. The rooster
is rather a magnificent creature, with
gorgeous tail feathers and colors that
peacock might almost envy.
But Jack, as she calls him, has one un-
pleasant peculiarly; that is his voice.
Decidedly it is not musical-a cross be-
tween saw industriously piled on
damp log and the scrcech of the locomo-
tive when it warns horses and cows and
feathercd Creatures to keep off the track.
1t would puzzle a japanese music
master to tell what key his intonations
are pitched on. In fact his crow is most
intensely disagreeable to all concerned.
We arc Weakened early and late by mis-
unearthly screams. Like the Waterman
on Il man ofwar, he is bound to tell us
every hour of the night.
The imam" of our house cannot sleep.
You might have behold him during the
heated term carrying pillows in hot haste
to all parts of the mansion, that he might
find shelter for his ears, but in vain.
The ROSTERS shrill voice pierced through
close windows and double walls. 1t be-
came intolerable ut last, and not to be
endured. Emma was consulted.
Oats dc truth, miss, he am a mos
Unreasonable Bird" she affirmed, when
the complaint was laid before her. 81
'spects he was horned in China, an hears
him friends and 'lations growing right
trough to dat ar country. Dunno what
l actU do wild he, an he's no fit for de pot,
neider spect dat ar chilc's done got
good many years under dat chiny comb
% his'n"
! laughed, but could not help her out
of her dilemma
Don't kill him." / said. "That seems
pity after you have paid money for
him"
Dunno what III do, then, missis, less
cut out he tongue! Wouldn't dat be de
best, wonder.n
Horror-struck, protested against this
piece of barbarity, for the woman would
have done it without one particle of
compunction. She seemed to have no
feeling for the sufferings of children and
brutcs
That day Ben, her Oldest boy, came
running in the house just before dark.
Hers fixed dc rooster.' he cried
grinning from ear to ear.
What has she done to it," asked sew
eral voices in concert.
Shem's tied the bill so tight him can't
speak"
We went out to see. Sure enough, Mr..
Chandeliers too liberal bill was settled
after fashion. 1t was swathed in red
flannel.
10 see his anger and his antics was too
funny for anything as the children say.
First he would stand on one leg, and
scratch at his head with the other. Then
he would try the other leg, but without
the result he desired. Emma had done
her work too well for him.
The hens all stood dlsconsolatc in a |
dropping crowd, talking softly to them |
selves. Presently one of them marched
boldly forth. 1t was the pretticst one; a
stylish little biddy in brown and gold,
that we had often tried to pet.
Slowly she left the circle and marched
up TO her lord, Mr.. Chanticleer. There
she talked for few moments in her IN |
Ineligible Ito us) hen language. Then
The erest-fallen hero bowed his head and
closed his eyes in meek submission.
Closer and closer came Mrs. Hen, and /
deliberately, and in full sight Of all Of |
US, picked that bandagc to pieces till
there was not a shred of it left Then.
with an animated and triu mphant flap.
she went calmly back to her party, while
he liberated fowl raised his voice and
gave the loudest and most unearthly veil
We had ever heard. No language can
describe the queerncss of the scene.-