The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-28
FEEDING THE CHICKENS.

Mamma had been invited out to tea,
and MaXy was to spend the afternoon
with Dollie Mayo, but she kept saying
to herself that she mustn't forget to run
home and feed old Speckle's chickens
before sunset. She remembered it even
while they were swinging, and playing
"keep house"
BrOsie Miller sat under the great balm
of gilead tree, in his father front yard,
with his pug nose between the pickets.
Come over here" he shouted.
Cant" said Dolly.
"You come, then, MaXy."
"Mamma said stay here
"Pshaw, s if she d care forvour COM
ing across the street. want 10 show
you something"
Maxy and Dolly looked doubtfully at
each other
"Let's ask your mother" proposed
MaXy, and in moment Dolly came fly
ing out of the honse.
Yes, we can go, but tea will be ready
in half an hour"
1t was in the midst of an exciting
game of hide and seek, in which Bro
sie's big dog was joining, that Maxy hap
PNhNN w SlttllSC tlJ lllC sun anu ItllltIll-
bered mammals charge concerning the
chickens.
"Oh, it's most down! l must run and
feed emf" she cried.
whats down? Feed what?" de-
manded Brosie.
The sun-the chickens-mamma
always does-oh, dear it'll be down be-
fore can get there" and breathless.
Maxy flew across the street, followed
by Dolly, Brose and the big dog.
Into Mrs. Monroe's neat kitchen they
cattered; in haste they searched through
boxes, chests and barrels, but no meal
could they find.
"What shall l do9" asked Maxy.
"They won't starve, will they?"
I'm afraid"
BORROW some" Feed 'em bread"
in turn suggested Dolie and Brosie.
"Here S lots of flour; why won't that
do?' said Maxy.
cit will, replied Brosie, with a very
wise air. They use meal because IFS
cheaper
Maxy grew cheerful at once. "Well,
we can afford flour once, | guess" so
the flour and water were mixed into a
stiff dough, in little tin basin, and
then began a search for the chicken3.
Old Speckle had found way out of
her coop, and was gone, with all her
children.
"Got tired waiting for her supper, l
s'pect," was Maxys opinion.
After a long search they were found
down at the end of the garden, under
the gooseberry bushes. Maxy's call
ing failed to bring them from their re-
treat. so she emptied the dough on the
ground, and ran back to her play feel
ing satisfied Soon it was tea time, and
after that Maxy went to sleep on the
sofa. while Mamma Mayo was telling
"Silver Hair and the Three Bears"
Then somebody was waking her up, and
laughing because she said: "Yes'm, |
heard-the great big bear, and the mid
dle-sized bear, and the tee-ny wee-ny
bear-oh, L fed 'em about shutdown,
mamma"
"What, the bear?" laughed papa, as
he lifted her in his arms.
"No. the chickens"
"Oh, you know where they are, then.
Katie has been hunting for them. They
are out of the coop, and she says she
can hear them calling somewhere"
BY this time MaXy was wide awake,
and ran off to show Katie where to find
her chickens. 1t was quite dark now,
and papa went with them and let Mary
carry the lantern.
Under the gooseberry bushes what
did they find? Ten little chickens all
grown tight together, like the Siamese
twins; ten miserable. tluttering, chirp-
ing, scared little chickens, fast in a
lump of dough! Nobody knew what it
meant.
Katie.
"How could they all be stepped on at
onceP asked papa, trying to separate
one OF the unfortunate from the hutter-
ing mass.
" 1t seems like PASTE" he added, hold
ing the lantern close. ....
. ORR cried Maxy, "Aour and water
make paste. Oh, mercy! I've pasted
them together!"
They can't run! They're breaking
their legs offn' and Katie looked so in
dignant, and the chickens so very miser-
able, that Maxy fled sobbing to mann
ma declaring that 'Brosie Miller said
it would do ~
Kate and papa brought the poor little
prisoners into the kitchen, put them