The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-06-09
VOL. XXVI----NO. q.
Spoopendyke Building a Hen. Coop.

my DEAR" said Mr. Spoopendyke, as he
appeared before his wife with broad grin on
his face, "say, my dear, I've bought some
chickens so we can have fresh laid eggs
Look " and he held out a couple of pair of
fowls tied by the legs for Mrs Spoopendykes
contemplation.
"Well upon my word p exclaimed Mrs
Spoopendyke. "Of all things chickens
Ever since we've been married I've wanted
chickens !" and she approached the birds
cautiously and with n look of misgiving that
beled her words. where can we keep
them"
"In coop, Mrs. Spoopendyke, in coop !"
retorted her husband, laying the chickens on
the bed willie he Invested himself of his coat
and vest. I'VE might keep 'em in the chin
ney or in the clock, but we probably won't.
Wen just keep EN- in hen-coop, and I've
got the laths and nails down stairs to build il
with. Come down in the yard" and Mr.
Spoopendyke grabbed his new acquisition by
the legs and started off followed by his
wife
do you know how to build coop? ?"
asked Mrs. Spoopeudyke, she watched her
husband dig post hole in the corner she
had reserved for geranium bed.
IF don't you probably do" snorted Mr..
Spoopendyke, kicking away at the spade un.
here and that one there Then the two
fences make the rest, and | only lath up these
two-dod CAST the post !" he concluded as it
toppled over on his ear. Cant you hold it
up? Whatre you sitting around there like
cork in a jug for? Hold it up, will YEP"
Mrs. Spoopendyke grasped the post firmly
with both hands and held it at an angle OF
thirty degrees.
"Now hold it perfectly still while dig the
other hole" and Mr. Spoopendyke hacked
away at the ground again and set his second
post.
81 see what you mean" giggled Mrs. Spoo.
pendyke. You Stat it up from one post to
the other and then put the chickens in NV,
how nice thatll be ~
Mr. Spoopendyke glared at her a moment
and then began putting up his laths, standing
between the posts and the fence corner and
whistlng as he worked
Now" said he, as he finished, what do
you think Of that?'
Mrs. Spoopendykc examined the job crit
cally.
"Its perfect palace :" she exclaimed
But say, dear, how are you going TO get
outs"
"Yah-h-hw roared Spoopendyke, bound.
ing into the air. "Why didn't you tell me,
Whatd you want to let me build myself in
like dod gasted mummy for? Amt We got
any sense at all anyN ncres? Why didn't We
watch what was DOING" and Mr. Spoopen
dyke grinned horribly through the Stats.
81 supposed you were going to build hole
in it," faltercd Mrs, Spoopendyke.
80 | am !" yelled Mr.. Spoopendyke. jam.
ming his leg through the structure want
any more holes ?" and he kicked the side
half way across the yard. -Four chickens,
four holes " he roared and the aths flew in
all directions. want any more holes % and
he smashed the roof out with the spade =
"Holes constantly on hand Ifyou don't see
the hole you want, ask for it % and he knock
ed out the end with terrific energy. New
goods coming in all the time Secondhand
holes n specialtyr and he banged out the
other end. Parties wanting holes to send
in the country will consult their interests by
applying here before going elsewhere |" and
he ripped down the rest of the coop with
prodigious clatter. want any more holes
in this particular hen-coopy" he roared,
wrenching out the posts and slamming them
across the yard. "Does this hen-coop begin
to convey the impression of having a hole in
it," he demanded, stalking up to his wife.
eyes, dear" replied Mrs. Spoopendyke,
soothingly. I'm so glad you got out, but
where can we keep the chickens now ?"
keep en-" said Mr.. Spoopendyke, with n
horrible grimace and graSping the wretched
chickens, who's going to keep m?" and he
cut the lashings. "S'pose I'm going to ruin
my business just to crafty every measly
whim of n dod gasted woman ?" and he jerk
ed the chickens into the air
"Never mind" cooed Mrs. Spoopendyke, as
the last bird slid over the fence and dsap
pcared. "Chickens are q nuisance any way
We really didn't need any
"Why didn't you say so before bought
?" blurted MIR. Spoopendyke, as he dashed
into the house.
Il didn't know it," sighed Mrs. Spoopen.
dyke, looking around on the wreck, land be-
sides / don't believe we would have had
many eggs, because those chickens We're all
ROSTERS"
And Mrs Spoopendyke followed her hus
band, who stormed around the rest of the
evening because she couldn't find the EagLe of
January ~, 1879, which he had cautioned her
to save because there was something in it he
wanted to read and which he had used the
next day, in conjunction with the back
breadth of her new flannel petticoat, TO clean
his shot gun with. Brooklyn Eagle.