Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-02
THE POULTRY SBJW.
Hsrpcr's Bazaar,

lSiptT ) DaZdf,
They were two iorlorn chickens that
landed at the loot of the garden, where
the river ran, Iast wedged in a cake of
ice, with hardly any feathers, and with
both feet frozen. Marcia took them in
and wrapped their poor claws in oil and
wool, and fe, them IN n basket, and
gave them the air on fine days by
walking abroad with the basket on her
arm, till, rs she went by, the neighbors
we're wont to speak of her as the poul-
try show.
But Marcia was sublimely indifferent
to neighbors, considering that they only
existed for the purpose of borrowing"
and being much more fond of dumb
animals than of humanity, going about
halfthe time followed by her pets-a
bird IN her HAIR, a parrot on her finger,
cats purring round her feet, and dogs
bounding in her path. She heartily
agreed with somebody who says dog
is a perpetual baby in the house, never
growing up and never telling tales. OF
course her brothers and her superior
elder sisters, and all her cousins and her
confidential friends, thought Marcia's
last fancy was the worst of all. Those
ridiculous chickens" was becoming
family watch-word. But their condi-
ton on that cake of ice, us they floated
farther and farther away from the
barn-yard that was home, had rather
tonched poor Marcia's heart, and she
would have given them her own break
fast and have gone without every day
helselt, rather than not to have fed
them. Although the means at home
were limited, still they We're not so
much that the chickens needed to 90
unfed; but the fact of Marcia's temper
getting fired early in the affair, al
though she said nothing. determined
her to make those chickens pay for
What they had; and when, one day, she
brought IN a dozen great pearly eggs
and laid them in triumph on her
mothers lap, she felt that she had said
agreat deal.
Bot, those eggs bestowed, she allowed
her mother no more. Great ideas had
entered her head. She came one day
from long walk with Spanish hen in
her arms, for which she had contracted
debt to be paid in her Houdn eggs
When, some six weeks afterward a doz
en- curious little gallinaceous specimens
were running about the yard, Marcia
watched them with intense curiosity,
and for weeks, if not for months, to
come, seemed to be holding her breath
Not an egg of her Houdir hens, how
ever, did she allow to be taken for pud-
ling or cake; one basketful of them
Wei! to buying pair Of young brown
Leghorns, another baskottul was found
tc nave purchasing power equal to Sc
cufinga pair Of white bantGms, and then
the Houdin hen, whose inclinations had
been seriously tempered with, insisted
upon raising family of her own. But
Marcia felt very we'll equipped, and she
ADDED only some patience to her stock
IN trade Just then. Al four months old
Aer brown Leghorn pullet laid an egg,
ana on that same day she brought one
oil her twelve chickens in the house in
rapture-it was black chicken with
huge white top-knot.
~ My fortunes made!" said Marcia.
mere are no fowl like these in all this
part OF the country. It's black Po-
and read about them in the library
book"
! declare, Marcia" moaned her
mother, Il believe you're insane about
.neSe miserable birds. You have no
tme or thought for anything else.
ana here is all your music going to
waste"
how many years have ! been taking
lessons, mammal
how many years Ever since YOU
vas porn was going to say"
And | can't play a page without
my notes, nor then so that the com
poser wouldn't run away if he heard
ne % what is the use? Now | have
t'uha just what I'm fit FOR. If only
lao 80 some sort OF carpenters skill"
Wen, should like to know what
ou want tnat for in taking care Of
hens, said Bessie.
should think it would be about of
= much use as embroidery" said
d. Marcia always was so impractical.
o'e sighed her mother.
nat is it you want to do Marcia o.
asNed Phllip-Tom' classmate. who
Spsn' nail his time at the place.
Just to make boxes and ro0sts and
1o'ches for my hens SO as to make