Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-02
THE POULTRY SHOW.
Harper'S Bazaar,

harper DaZdT.
Thew were two forlorn chickens that
Landed at the foot of the garden, where
the river ran, last 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 fed them in basket, and
gave them the air on fine days by
walking abroad with the basket on her
arm, till. as she went by, the neighbors
were wont to speak of her as the poul-
try show.
But Marcia was subimely 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 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, as they f1oated
farther and farther away from the
barn-yard that was home, had rather
touched poor Marcia's heart, and she
would have given them her own break
fast and have gone without every day
herself. rather than not to have fed
them. Although the means at home
were limited, still they were not so
much that the chickens needed to go
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 dozen great pearly eggs
and laid them in triumph on her
mothers lap, she felt that she had said
great deal.
But, those eggs bestowed, she allowed
her mother no more. Great ideas had
entered her head. She came one day
from a long walk with a Spanish hen in
her arms. for which she had contracted
debt to be paid in her Houdin eggs.
When, some six weeks afterward 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 Houdin hens, how
ever, did she allow to be taken for pud.
ding or cake; one basketful of them
went to buying a pair of young brown
Leghorns, another baskctful WAS found
tc have purchasing power equal to Sc
curing pair of white bantams, and ther
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. At four months ole
her brown Leghorn pullet laid an egg
and on that same day she brought one
of her twelve chickens in the house in
a rapture-it was black chicken with
huge white top-knot.
''My fortunes made!" said Marcia
There are no fowl like these in all this
part of the country It's a black Pc
land-I read about them in the library
book"
81 declare, Marcia" moaned he1
mother, 81 believe you're insane abou
these miserable birds. You have NJ
time or thought for anything else
And here is all your music going tt
waste"
Glow many years have I been takin,
lessons, mammal"
"How many years Ever since yol
was born | was going to say"
And | can't play page without
my notes, nor then so that the com
poser wouldn't run away if he hear
me. So what is the use? Now I hav
found just what Pm fit for. If 1 onl
had some sort Of carpenters skill"
"Well, [ should like to know wha
you want that for in taking care Q
hens" said Bessie.
81 should think it would be about O
as much use as embroidery" sail
Emily.
marcia always was so impractica
ble!" sighed her mother.
"What is it you want to do Marcia /?
asked Philip-Tom's classmate, VIII
spent half his time at the place.
''Just to make boxes and roosts an
hutches for my hens SO as to max
them wholesome and happy, 20,
know"
Wholesome and happy" said he
mother.
Why, yes, mamma" said Bessie
| should really think there was sens
IN that, if there is any sense in havin
the things at ali. If their water is clea
they'll drink more, and if everything
to their hen-mind, of course they'll la
more"
What absurdity, Bess"
No, indeed, mamma" exclaime
Marcia, impetuously. "You don
know how human they are. You sc