Connecticut western news., 1882-07-12
DADDY SCANLON'S HENS.
From the Youths Companion.l

From the Youths Companion.l
 Farmer Philbrick was noted for possessing several bad qualities, among which meanness was most prominent. If neighbor's cattle got into his field, instead of driving them out and settling the matter in quiet way, he would either hurry them away to the pound. or accompany them home and demand instant satisfaction from their owner. On the other hand, when his own cattle or sheep, as they frequently did, in vaded the premises of others, nothing short of regular battle would secure any degree of recompense.
 But there Vi as one soft spot in the old mans charact Ter that people found very difficult to account for. When Neigh Dor Patterso1's inoffensive old mare happened to walk through his poorly kept fence, and got few bites of fresh grass from MT. Philbrick's 8 pasture, if she was lucky enough to escape the pound, her return to her owners land was hastened by clubs, stones or any thing that came to hand. And like reception al ways awaited Squire Youngs sheep, or Widow Thompson's cattle.
 But whenever Daddy Scanlon's hens chose to fly over the hedge separating their owners land from that of MT. Philbrick, they were allowed to wander at their will through the fields and around the buildings, the old man even going so far, on some occasions, as to scatter corn or oats among them, as he said, just to see them scamper for the feed. "And then," he declared, "their fine appearance was very interesting to one whose every attempt to raise hens has been total failure"
 Now, Daddy Scanlon was anything but wealthy man, and the fact of his hens being allowed to get good DOT tion of their living on MT. Philbrick's place was very important and gratify- ing item. Every night the fowls came home to roost, and careful counting always showed their number correct. So, as he was apparently getting ben eft from his neighbours whim, Scanlon did not interfere, and let his chickens go a-visiting whenever they liked. But after while he began to observe strange falling off in egg production. The hens seemed to have almost entirely given up the business of laying. And what was more wonderful, none of them wanted toSset. At first Daddy thought perhaps they might be too fat, or that some sickness had got among them. But such theories not seeming to account for the trouble, he concluded to go over and get MT. Philbrick's opin- ion in the matter.
 When he arrived at that gentleman E place no one but an aged servant was at home. While waiting for the family $ return, he walked down to one of the barns, and hearing hen cackling, in- nocently looked inside the open door. What was his surprise to see one of his best birds fly down from the haymow and loudly proclaim in her language | that there was one more egg in nest she had just laid.
 This discovery opened Daddy Scan. Ions eyes, and caused him to immedi- ately examine the premises. No less than six fowls of his peculiar breed were driven from as many nests, all of which contained eggs. MT. Philbrick's affec tion for hens thus received full ex planation. He had indeed hit upon { cheap way of getting eggs.
 Daddy having no further need of any body's opinion on the behavior of hi hens, quietly gathered up what eggs ht could find and started for home.
 "I declare" said he, "even the gener osity of a miserly man is to b doubted"
 And to illustrate this truth in afte years, he often told the story of hi hens.