The Russellville Democrat., 1881-06-09
THE LITTLE FOLKS.
A Short Story for the Young Peopfe 70
 Read and Enioy.


 I Read and Enjoy.
 This is a true story about hen.
 There were twenty hens in Mir. Pen ny's yard, and some were white, and some were black, and some were gray. This one was white, and her name was Polly.
 One day Mrs. Penny said to the girl in the kitchen, Nancy, you may put those ducks eggs under Polly White and cover her with basket"
 Polly was very young, and had never sgt on any eggs before. She thought it l would be good fun; but when the basket was put over her she felt as if she should | fly. It was not nice to be shut up in the dark. And then she did get so tired It takes only three weeks to hatch chick ! ems, but it was four weeks before Polly's | ducklings came out of the shell.
 And when they came out, how funny they looked They were very large and | yellow, with round bills and very queer feet, and when they tried to walk they waddled. Polly had never seen any ducklings before, and I suppose she | thought these creatures were chickens. | They did not look hke other chickens, to be sure, but she thought they were all the nicer for that.
 Mamie Penny came out laughing. and set pan of corn meal dough near the back door. Polly was very hungry, but | she would not touch one mouthful until she had called her little ones to break fast. There were twelve of them, and they dipped in their little round bills | like spoons.
 After breakfast they rolled up their eyes, and what do you suppose they were thinking about2 They were thinking how much they wanted to swim. Was it not stranger How did they know any thing about swimming They had never seen any water; they had only seen the 1 blue pump in the yard. But they made up their little minds that they would go and find some water.
 Now there was a pond behind the barn, not very far off. Nobody told them it was there, but they ran that way as fast as they could waddle. l Their mother ran after and tried to stop them, but the moment they saw the water those ducklings jumped right into | it.
 Poor Pollyi How frightened she was How she Tapped her wings and cluckedl She thought they were crazy, and she was sure they would drown. | and began to swim. It was a pretty sight. They held up their heads and looked very gay.
 | Polly did not know what to think of this, and when she found 1t did not hurt them at all she was very proud, and liked it as much as they did. After this they came to the pond every day and she came with them. She thought l there never was such a bright family as hers. They were brighter than their mother; and Polly was ashamed because she could not swlm.
 | Well, the next summer came, and | Polly sat on some hens eggs, just as the other hens did, and of course she hatch ed chickens instead of ducklngs. She look them down to the pond the very first thing. Wasn't 1t queer that she should remember about it2 l But they would not go into the water. She clucked and scolded and almost pushed them in, but it was of no use; they couldn't swim, and they wouldn't try. Polly was very angry. Such bad chickensl Why, they were worse than none, she thought, and she would not be | their mother another minute.
 You will laugh, but Polly turned and went home. The chickens followed, but she drove them back. They peeped, and she pecked them with her bill. They were hungry, but she gave them no dinner or supper.
 When night came she would not take them under her wing, but went to roost with some other hens on pole in the barn. The poor little chickens felt very sorry. but she never, never forgave them for not learning to swiml And so they had to grow up without any mother.
 Don't you think this is droll story? And wasn't Polly very bright tor hen, with head not as big as walnut