The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-01-10
A Pet Hen.

CHILDREN never seem to tire OF
stories regarding animals. And they
like them all the better if they are sure
the stories are true.
Of all the many different kinds of an
imals which have been tanned, but few
appear to have intelligence enough to
make their ways worthy of mention.
Most of the wonderful stories are told
about monkey and dogs, horses and ell
ephants. Now and then we hear about
cats and pigs, but the former animals
possess great intelligence in comparison
with other creatures.
The seat of intelligence is the brain;
And dogs noted for their tricks have
usually possessed bigger brains than
sother dogs of the same kind. 1t can
not be the size of brain alone, however,
which determines the degree of in
-telligence manifested, for the ant,
whose brain is no larger than min
ute dot, is one Of the brightest animals
in existence. Their feats of building
and travelling, their powers of COM
municating with each other, and va
rious other extraordinary things which
might be told about them, all go, to
show that few animals below men are
more intelligent. And so, after all, it
is quality Of brain, and not quantity,
that is needed. ar9 s5e'a2f't 7ilSi VOC
While many of the domesticated an
imals are bright, the COW and the hen
are generally looked upon as extreme
" dull and stupid; but those who are
careful to watch their ways often find
glimmers Of intelligence, and evidences
that they are not SO very stupid, after
all. ssfs -afs t 9 1f7tit 6
The stupid, quiet hen! who would ev-
er think Of accusing her of conscious
pridep We know they look proud
enough when they come swelling out
from beneath some barn, with large
brood of little chickens swarmine
around them like q cloud. f.f sfFe3's
In the Nursery an account is given oi
q hen that had such an inordinate pride
that strangers could not glance at hel
without exciting in her this desire fol
admiration to such degree that she
would leave off eating and strut for.
ward in the most ridiculous fashion.
Indeed, she would become SO alb
sorbed in displaying herself, that one
day she tumb1ed heels over head
| through an open scuttle in the barr
floor, without noticing where she was
going.
At another time she was seen to pick
up a bright-colored feather which some
rooster had shed, and stick it in be.
tween the feathers on. her back; and
this she did over and over again, as the
feather would drop off. ...s.. 3;
Some Of the children who read these
pages may have had q pet hen, but we
wonder iflthey ever had hen SO bright
As the one we ara. going to tell about
now? tssla; aiz,s4ts fSs
| A little girl who lived in Maine had
d little white hen which was called Pet
1t belonged to the kind of hen called
Bolton Gray, only it was white instead
fhe hen came to be pettsd and tanned
| in the following way: $50
Its mother had sat upon q lot Of eggs
and for some reason, only succeeded ir
matching out one. And this little soil
tary chicken seemed SO lonesome witt
all the other big hens and roosters, ant
they were 80 rough in walking abou
carelessly, and stepping on her, that thi'
little girl thought she would take i
sway from its mother. and be mother
/ to it herself.
So it was brought into the house, and
. little box was prepared for it lined
with soft cotton, and every day the lit.
tie chicken was taken out and fed and
allowed to run about the house. As i
E26w up it became very tame, and &C
customed to the ways Of the household
and gradually learned how to ask fol
something to eat. When the family
were at the table etwould come along
and with its bill, seize hold Of the dress
81 the little girl, and pull it several
times; and this meant that it wantoc
something to eat. It would go to othel
members Of the family as well, and asl
for food in the same way. II it wa
thirsty it would 90 to the sink in th'
kitchen, where there was an oId-fa
i6ned ifon-pump, and peck away 1t til;
cupbosxd-do0r beneath the sink, anS
make = loud rspping with sits bill, snt
this meant that It wanted some watel
! to drink.
rot wss slso taught 70 catch flies