Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-29
HOW HE MELTED HER.

She had hen that was bound to set
and which she was bound Should no,
set. Where there is such a diversion
of sentiment between family and its
hens, there can be no peace nor har-
mony. The feelings of both are arrayed
against the other, and conflict, and
jars and unhappiness generally are the
sure results. There may come time
when both parties will clearly compre-
hend each other, and when the hem s
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
lust above Davidson, have hen that
wishes to set. She was surprised on
the nest Friday for the seventh time.
The women of the house thus found
her, and snatching her up, took a
string, tied it about the fowls leg and
hitched her up to the fence. She had
just completed this act when she was
accosted by an elderly gentleman, a
stranger, who in passing stopped to OBJ
serve the performance. He was a. man
of a grave but benevolent expression OF
face, and 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 am trying to break her up from
setting," replied the woman.
"And don't you succeed ?"
"I haven't so far, although I've tried
everything about. We've poured water
Oh her, and kept her under barrel
and beat her, and tied a red rag round
her leg, and tied her up in the hot sur
all day, and done about everything.
But 1 think I'll conquer her now. I've
got her tied up by the leg so she cam
touch the ground, and I guess she'll
get sick of setting when she's let down
again" -
The stranger looked at the hen which
wss evidently suffering from the posi-
ton in which she was in, and with 6
sigh, asked: Js..-
Won't you take her down now
She suffers"
"I cant help it," said the woman
with tightening teeth; " she must learn
better"
"Have you any children?" he in.
quired.
Yes fve."
"Why did you have them ?"
"Why did I have them!" she re-
peated, staring at him. Why, be-
cause wanted them"
Exactly. It was in obedience to 9
maternal instinct. Now, suppose,
when you felt this want for children.
you had been showed under barrel
would that have been rightY'
"No," said she, softly.
Cor had cold water put on youl
head?"
She said nothing.
"Suppose, again, you had red fan
mol tied around you, how would that
have done?"
Still she was silent.
"We'll make another supposition, y
he continued. Suppose that wheI
this hungering for little one to come tt
you, one that you might take and lead
and teach just as your ncighbors about
you lead and teach their little ones, you
had been beaten, tied up by the feet,
and left. in the hot sun all day, would
that have been right!' .-
She dropped her head and said moth
ing. s......
"Or would you prefer being tied up
by one foot to fence ?"
"No, no"
Will you take the hen DOWN."
In less than four seconds that hen
was down from her uncomfortable posi-
ton and moving about with most
grateful step.
IN never tie up another hen as
long as I live, cried the excited woman
Good for you," said the old gentle.
man. Hens must not always eel
when they want. but shutting them up
ma coop where they can have plenty Of
room but no nests to set in will breal
them up Just as efectually as violent
Measures, and better yet, you retair
Their confidence and affection.
The repentant woman invited him te
.ake q glass Of milk, and he went in and
tO0k -