Morning journal and courier., 1882-09-04
Aunt Betav.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Aunt Betsy is hen of the Brown Leghorn
 breed with mixture of the Dorking, and is the direct descendant of one of dozen hens whose record in just one year was two thou sand two hundred and ninety.two eggs, and an increase of ninety-four chickens, with @ profit over all expenses of forty two dollars and sixty, one cents, with corn at from one dollar to one dollar and ten cents per bushel and eggs credited at twenty-four cents per l dozen She was matched August 9th, 1ss1 There nothing remarkable about her chickenhood more than 8 sprightly, well behaved. friendly and promising chicken might exhibit. Twas in the following Janu ary an addition to our house was in process Aunt Betsy, pretty bullet then five the workmen and with a cackle of recogni tion make for vacant cupboard and in due time deposit an egg leaving with great re- joicing, much as to say if you don't be- lieve it go and look for yourself. Soon showing disposition to sit nest was made in an unused cellar, where she was fed and cared for until in February she came off with twelve chicks, whose career was ended in as many broils Aunt Betsy. though amiable and friendly, was always bent on business Her industry needed no protection the gammon of 8 tariff commission. An egg a CS. She seemed to comprehend the maxim, "a fair days work for a fair days wages" so when she was sitting or engaged in family cares, eggs were regularly supplied as her legal tender.
 The second effort at setting was consum- mated by hatch of sixteen sprightly chick ems from just sixteen eggs, demonstrating just what could be done with care and tact and a proper knowledge of henoloey and chicken ''fxens." Aunt Betsy at the end of their fifth weekly birthday, by few not un- friendly but very decided pecks, notified her sixteen we'll hedged counterparts that they must separate, she having pressing call to other duties. Then joining the crowd around the old rooster she asserted her rights by knocking out' young aspiring pu let in three decisive rounds. She quietly fell into line and commenced her daily duties depos- iting an egg by 10 a. m. each day, until the third day of August, when, without lodging and with no uncertain purpose, Aunt Betsy made known her intention third time to sit A dozen large Pekin duck eggs were pro- cured and placed in comfortable nest. Aunt Betsy with a few friendly clucks acknowl- edged her approval, inviting confidence, and commenced business in steady and matron- ly manner. Her amiable disposition, free
 from fret or temper, shows in her well feath- cred, bright and fat condition. Always reg ular but never fussy, she croons her thanks for food and water as kind attentions.
 When Aunt Betsy had incubated the duck eggs seven days five hens eggs were added to
 the nest. Aunt Betsy let out feathery reef
 and extended her genial warmth like her wei
 come croon, signifying that she would do her
 best The result is that on the thirty first | day of August at noon, twenty eight days from commencing the ''sit," " Aunt Betsy has beautiful brood of ten Pskin duck and four Plymouth Rock chickens, making in one sea
 son of seven months thirty y-two chickens and ten ducks, in all forty-two as the family of
 Aunt Betsy. If it can be beaten by any one year old I would like to know it and so would Aunt Betsy. If I understand her cackle un- der my window while am writing I am ready another season to back her to beat her own record.
 This was merely jogging over the course
 What our Betsy's career in the future may
 be no one can tell, but as a reward of extra
 ordinary merit and an induoement to coming here jt is decided that Auut Betsy is to be