The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-20
THE HOUSE WITH MODERN I'M.
PR0VEMENTS.

a.
PROYEMENTS.
Once upon time there was a hen.
Her name was Speckleye, and she lived
in the country. Her home was a beau
tiful barrel, that lay under an apple
tree. 1t vas filled with hay for bed,
and was warm and dry, When the
weather was pleasant, she often used
the apple-ree for chamber, and slept
on a low Dough. There were open
fields about her house, where plenty of
juicy grasshoppers could be found; and
not very far away there was a horse
trough full OF pure, cold water. Every
morning little girl scattered corn be
fore the barrel, and the hen had nice
breakfast; and after it was over she
roamed through the fields all the day
long and dined upon grasshoppers.
Altogether, the hen had lovely time
and was very happy. There were
other hens living near, and also a very
gentlemanly rooster. She often visited
these hens, and found them very pleas
ant company. Once she had flock of
chickens; and, though they were really
a great care and she often found much
trouble IN giving them their morning
dust-bath, she had enjoyed their cum
ming chicken ways very much. Her
family afterward grew up and went
away.
One morning man came to her
house before she was up, and put in
his hand and dragged her out of bed
and put her in basket. She had
never been treated so rudely in her life,
and she was so indignant that she
could not say word. The basket was
very small and the cover hurt her head;
and the man swung it about roughly,
and the poor hen had very miserable
time.
At last the basket was opened and
she gladly hoped out and prepared tc
smooth her ruffled feathers. She felt
quite ashamed of her disordered APP
pearance, for she found she was in the
company of a number of very we'll
dressed hens and a most elegant roos-
ter. She knew her plain brown clothes
would look very dull, and she shook
herself and tried to smile and appear al
ease. The rooster bowed politely and
said:
81 am glad to see you, Miss"
"Mrs. Speckleye, if you please"
"Ah! pardon me, Mrs. Speckleye.
We are glad to welcome you to our
home. 1t is beautiful house; has pri-
vate rooms for each lady, and excellent
bathrooms, and separate dining
room for the children and nurses.
Water is taken all over the house, and,
in fact, it is a house with all the modern
improvements. Allow me to present
my ladies'
Mrs. Speckleye bowed to the ladies,
and one of them offered to show her the
way to her room. Speckleye thanked
the hen, and said she was very weary,
from her long ride, and that she would
be pleased to lie down and rest.
The hen led the way to long board
having steps upon it like ladder, and
leading up to a hole in the side of g
building.
"Our rooms are on the upper floor
and the house has no elevator, so we
must use the stairs"
Speckleye looked at the ladder in dis
may. How could she ever climb W
such dreadful place.
"Dear me! Must we 90 up that!
Isn't there a barrel somewhereP"
The moment she said this she was
mortified, for the other hen appeared
to be greatly shocked at such a sugges
ton.
eff you are timid, l will 90 first.
But really the stairs are a great con.
venience.n
Speckleye could never tell how she
got up those dreadful stairs. She
thought she would certainly fall, anc
hurt her feet badly on the steps. Wher
she reached the top, she really fell
dizzy and her comb turned quite black
This is the parlor and dining-room
We dine at one o'clock"
Speckleye looked about, and founC
they were in a large room, laid with {
fine pattern of sand-carpet.
"And these" said the hen, pointing
to number of small openings in the
wall are our private rooms. The frs
one belongs to my husband. Yours is thu
third from the end, next to mine. You
must remember your door, because thu
other ladies never like to have anyon,
enter their rooms, and my husband
would be furious if you should go nea
his door"
Speckleye heard all this with dismay
How could she ever remember the RICH
placer And were there no bath
roomsp
"Oh, yes! There is a dust-boX in tn
rear of each room. | must go now
Remember! We dine at one"
Then the hen went down stairs, leav
ing Speckleye alone in the middle G
the room 1t seemed an easy matter t
find her chamber; but the truth
Speckleye had never been to schoC