Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-07-22
A SETTING HEN.

She had hen that was bound to set,
and which she was bound should not set.
Where there is such diversion of senti-
ment between family and its hens, there
can be no peace nor harmony. The feel
ings of both arraved against the other,
anh conflicts, and jars, and unhappiness
generally are the sure results. There
may come time when both parties will
clearly comprehend each other, and
when the hens feelings will not only be
understood but respected. We should
like very much to live until the glad dawn
Of that era, but our friends mustn't be
too confident that we will. A family on
Nelson street. just above Division, have
hen that wishes to set. She was sur
prised on the nest Friday afternoon for
the severath time. The woman Of the
house thus found her, and snatching her
up, took string, tied it about the fowls
leg and hitched her up to the fence. She
had just completed this act when she was
acc ,-ted by an elderly gentleman, stran-
ger, who, in passing, stopped to observe
the performance. H. was a man of a
ave but benevolent expression of face,
d one whose dress indicated that he
was in good circumstances, and thus
must command respect.
= What is the trouble with the hen,
madam % he asked
I'm trying to break her up from set
ting" replied the woman.
And you don't succeed %
g No, haven't so far, although I've
done about everything. We've poured
water on her, aud kept her under a bar
rel, and beat her, and tied a red rag
around her leg, and tied her up in the
hot sun all day, and done about every
thing. But think I'll conquer her now.
I've got her tied up by the leg so that
she can't touch the ground, and l guess
she'll get sick Of setting when she's let
down again"
The stranger looked at the hen, which
was evidently suffering from the position
ii was in, and with a sigh asked
Won't you take her down now, she
suffers ?"
al can't help it," said the woman,
with tightening teeth "she must learn
BETTER
Have you any children ?" he inquir-
ed.
"Yes, FIVE"
"Whv did you have them ?"
Why-did-I-have them J" she re-
peated, staring at him. "Why becuse !
wanted them"
Exactly. 1t was in obedience to a
mate'nal instinct. Now, suppose, when
you felt this want for children, you had
been showed under barrel, would thai
have been right?"
"No," said she softly.
"Or had cold water poured on YOU
head ?"
She said nothing.
"Suppose, again, you bad red hanne'
tied around you, how would you have
done ?"
Still she was silent.
Wen make another proposition" he
continued. "Suppose that when thi:
hungering for lit e one to come to you
one that you might take and lead and
teach Just as your neighbors about yor
lead and teach their precious ones, you
had heen beaten, tied up by the feet Gnt
left in the hot sun all day, would tina
have been right ?"
She dropped her head and said nothing
"Or would you prefer being tied VI
by one foot to the fence?"
No. no."
Will you take that hen down ?"
In something less than four second
that hen was down from her uncomforta
BILE position and moving about with
most grateful step.
"I'll never tie up another hen as lonj
as live" cried the excited woman.
"Good for you," said the old gentle
man "Hens must not always set whei
they want but shutting them up in cool
where they can have plenty of room bu
no nest. to set in will break them up jus
as eifectually as violent measures, ant
better yet, you retain thoir confdenc
AMI affection"
The repentant woman invited him t.
take glass Of milk, and he went in an
took il.-Danbury Neos.
m