The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-04-03
POpsy.

POPsY is the queerest old hen!
Though why hens should always be
called old, I'm sure I don't know.
Popsy isn't old. Popsy is small, and
perfectly white, with a dainty red
comb, and feather ruffles around her
feet. She was lone chick that came
out of the shell late in the autumn,
and the children brought her into the
house for fear the poor little thing
would freeze. They placed the downy
ball in a warm basket, and fed it care
fully, and chick grew very happy, and
nestled in their hands to sing its soft
little notes of satisfaction. The chill
dren named it "Popsy."
BY and by Popsy began to feel
higher aspirations stir those small
wings; she was no longer contented to
spend her nights in the basket, but
showed desire to mount upward, like
all others of her race, though she had
never witnessed any such attempt.
The back of a chair was appropriated
to her use; and il, at night, the chair
happened to be found out of its &C
customed corner, Popsy became very
indignant. and showed her displeasure
until it was replaced. Very soon she
discovered that grandma was always
lying on the lounge in the sitting-room,
and forthwith the lounge was selected
as her favorite resting-place. She pre-
ferred to nestle down very near grand
mas face, but was finally persuaded to
accept a humber position; and there
she would doze away a good deal of
her spare time. When pussy came to
show her affection for grandma, Popsy
always had some strong objections to
offer, and would insist upon the SUI
periority of her own rights, but would
finally allow Puss to curl carefully
down beside herself.
On sunny days Popsy would go to
the door of the kitchen, and peer eau
tiously out to ascertain the state of af-
fairs in the yard. If she saw snow on
the ground she would run back as fast
as her little feet would carry her, and
could not be induced to venture out.
At other times she would walk out and
take an airing, but always wanted to
come in before dark. Once, finding
herself somewhat belated, and seeing
the children's papa on the walk, she
ran rapidly toward him, and right into
his hands, as if frightened almost to
death, and perfectly delighted to see
him precisely at that moment.
Toward spring Popsy had grown to
be quite a mature chicken, and she
went out to live with her mother and
the other chickens. Occasionally she
would come in to pay us short visit,
but at last she stayed away so long
that we almost forgot about her. One
day, however, who should come
marching boldly in, through kitchen,
hall and dining-room, into the room
where we were sitting, but our POpsy!
She went straight to grandma's lounge,
and flew right into her arms. So much
affection was not considered desirable,
but she was allowed to rest awhile on
the foot of the lounge. And, don't
you think, Popsy had come expressly
to bring grandma her first snowy egg!
Since then she has brought q good
many eggs for grandma. If she finds
the lounge unoccupied, she peers
to herself all the while, and then goes
straight to her bedroom door and taps
to be let in. When the door is opened,
she flies on the bed and calls for the
nest-egg-then she is perfectly con-
tented. She does not cackle noisily
like the hens in the barn; she knows
such rude language would be inappro-
pirate in the house, so she utters few
soft little notes, and goes quietly away.
Sometimes, to be sure, Popsy fam
cies she is g folks" and then she is
quite determined to remain in the
room with others of the family. 1t is
difficult at such times to induce her to
60 out. She can dodge as well as a
child playing "catch," and displays
considerable temper about it, too. II
carried out the Kitchen door, she will
hurry around the house to the right
windows, and then tap fiercely at the
panes with her sharp bill.
We have never tried to educate
Popsy; she is self-made" hen, and
has picked up the little knowledge she
possesses. But she enjoyed the adj
vantages of good society very early in
life, and that is quite help-don't
you think so?-C Chicago Adua'sce.