The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-05-19
THE PARSON AND THE HEH.
PATIENCE soRELY TRIED.

PATIENCE soRELY TRIED.
The american Poultry Yard tells the fol-
lowing amusing story: A setting hen is per
haps the most unreasonable thing IN the
world, or it may be she is sadly misunder-
stood, and Is, If so. made of the best martyr
metal to be lad. But be that as it NAV, she
has very impolite way Of sticking to her
own opinion, and in doing so she tries the
patience of MANY good people to a degree
most unwarranted by scripture or common
sense.
This sort of procedure on her part, often
causes trouble, as was the case at our par
sonage not long ago. A middle-aged yellow
hen who resides with the parsons family,
and who has for some weeks past been deal
ing in eggs, had chosen as her base of opera
tions one corner of the parsons carriage
shed. One day recently the hen arrived at
that stage of her business when' it Is neces-
sary to set, which she'signifed by the usual
signs. This was mentioned at breakfast by
the parsons wife, who advised that the hen
have chance forthwith But the parson
wanted that part of the carriage shed and
advised that she be set in the wood shed.
There was no use to expostulate with him.
He was 'bOss around here, and not the
hen"
After breakfast he laid off his coat took
an old axe, and after four hours choppine
and pounding he succeeded in converting an
old wheel barrow into what he supposed to
be nest far superior to the carriage shed
Then he put in twenty nice white eggs
''There, now" said he, 81 could sit on that
nest myself if [ were hen" He then went
to get the hen. She pecked al him savageIv
He got the horse blanket and threw it over
her to save his hands while carrying her to
her new nest He dropped her in the wood
shed. But she didn't see the nest. She only
stood in the middle of the shed. and turned
her feathers all the wrong way and clucked
and squawked and screamed like a hvena in
a graveyard. He showed her toward the
nest, but she did not understand.
Then he got fsh-pole, and was proceed
ing to direct her with it, when she darted
past his legs and ont, and In three seconds
was at the old nest. He was patient and
soon bad her back. But still she did not see
the nest. He shut the door, and went for
little shelled corn. When he came back
the hen was gone. So he scattered some corn
around and in the nest among the eggs, and
then stopped up hole under one side of the
shed by which it had seemed she had taken
her departure. He then brought the hen
back, closed the door, put her down kindly.
and flung some more corn in the direction of
the nest. For moment the hen seemed rea-
sOnable.
She picked mp the corn about the nest, then
she got up on the side of it and ished out the
last grain from among the eggs then she
stood up erect, shook her feathers nightly
stretched ont her neck till it was as long as a
go0se's, and, to the parsons great delight.
seemed about taking possession of the nest.
But to his great dismay she gave a scream
that would have awakened the dead a mile
away, and then flew out of a small window
ten feet from the ground and did not touch
the side as she passed out. The parson re-
strained his anger.
He stopped every hole in the shed which
a fly could get through. He brought her
back and placed her on the nest, piled a
whole armful OF boards over her, and weight
ed them down with stone as big as he could
lift. Then he locked the door and put the
key in his pocket, and walked off with that
peculiar feeling one has after gaining a con-
quest. In about two hours he had occasion
TO 90 to the carriage shed. As he passed the
wood shed he INDUCED himself in a congrat-
ulatOry chuckle, and was just thinking how
much better it was 70 be man than bet,
as he entered ths carriage shed, when he was
greeted with a defiant challenge from the
hen, who was Oh the nest again and ready to
maintain her rights. He lost his temper,
picked up an old broom which lay at hand
and pounded her off the nest.
She few 70 the horse trough, and he fol-
lowed. In his haste and wrath he made the
horse break loose, and he was soon galloping
over the yard and garden. The dog began
to bark at the horse. and general melee fol-
lowed, which was taken part in by pigs,
calves, chickens, horse and family. In seven
minutes there was not whole flower pot in
the yard or good plant or vine in the garden,
not to mention the other damage done. 1t
ended by the horse breaking down the front
gate and starting on a run for his old home,
five miles away. The wife then proceeded
to make some remarks which the parson was
not very interested to hear, ana so he took
his hat and went to bring back the horse
When he returned he found new flower-pots
in the yard, couple of boys at work in the
garden, carpenter was hanging a new gate
and in the calriage-shed sat the hen on a
large nest of eggs. He paid the bills and re-
mained quiet.
A 7 rr<1s, -,sA Il