The Bossier banner., 1881-06-09
THE HEN AND HER DUCKLINGs,
A True Story.

THE HEN AND HER DUCKLINGS
| A True Story.
am going to tell you little story
and it is just as true as it can be. 1t i:
about hen. ' go ''-'''t -' 'ft
There were twenty hens in Mr.. Pen
ny's yard, and some were white, anC
some were black. and some were gray.
This one was white, and her. name was
Polly.
One day Mrs. Perry said to the gir
in the Kitchen: . Nancy. you may put
those ducks eggs under Polly White
and cover her up with basket. 49, GH
| foily was very young, and had never
| sat on any eggs before. She thought it
would be good fun; but when the bas
ket was put over her she felt as if she
should fly. 1t was not nice to be shut
up'in the dark. And then she did pet
SO tired! 1t takes only three weeks to
match chickens, but it was four weeks
before Polly's ducklings came out of the
shell. s..,.y.'l -..f
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 l suppose
she thought these creatures were chick
ems. They did not look ike 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
pack door. Polly was very hungry.
but she would not touch one moathful
until she had called her little ones to
breakfast, There were twelve OF them.
and they dipped in their round bills
like spoons. I98 81
After breakfast they rolled up their
eyes, and what do you suppose thew
were thinking about? They were
thinking how much they wanted to
swim. Wasn't it strangep How did
they know anything about lswimmfgP
They had never seen any water; they
had only seen the blue pump in the
yard: But they made up their little
minds that they would 60 and find
some water. 2os 5s4Nf-'lif "a Ut.
Now. there was a pond behind the
barn, not very far Off Nobody told
them it was there, but the ran that wya,y
as fast as they could waddle. saa,f i
Ihelr mother ran after and tried to
stop them, but the moment they saw
the water those ducklings jumped right
I'M
Poor Polly! How frightened she
was! How she tapped her wings and
ciucked! She though they were crazy
and she was sure they would drown. I
. But no, they struck out their little
Ieet and began to swim. 1t was a pretty
sight. They held up their heads and
looked very gay. ~ .f.a;,,..s.
folly did not know what to think of
this; but when she found it did not hurt
them at all she was very proud and
lked 1t as we'll as they die. After this |
they came to the pond every day. and
she came with them. she thought
there never was such a bright familv as |
hers. They were brighter than their
and Polly was ashamed be-
cause she could not swim. FSal 54AiU I
wen. the next summer came, and |
folly sat on some hens eggs. lust as
the other hens did, and of course She
hatched chickens instead of ducklinos
She took them down to the pond tbe I
very first thing. Want it queer that |
she should remember about it?
;, But they would not GO into the water
She clueked and scoided and Almost
pushed them in, but it was OF no use.
hey cooldn't swim, and they wouldn't
ny. Folly was very angry Such bad
'hlckens! Why, they were worse than
none, she thought, and she would Enot
'e their mother another minute. Iii i.
You will laugh, but Polly turned and
vent. home. The chickens followed
'ut she drove them back. They peeped'
IND she pecked them with her b;H'
lhey were hungry, but she gave them
10 dinner or supper. ''o 'n
When night came she would not take
mem under her wing, but went to roost
With some other hens on a pole in the
'arn. The poor little chickens felt
cry sorry, but she never. pever foargave
hem Tor not learning to swim! And so
hey had to grow up without anly
Don you think this is droll storvo
Ind wasn't Polly very bright for 8 hen
nth a head not as big as walnutP-
,4r Latte Ones. i ffgsfG