Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-06-03
BUILDING A HEN COOP.

lie dppeaIeu UtIOIe Ills WIG Win al Uioau
grin on his face, say, my dear, I've
bought some chickens SO we can have
fresh laid eggs! Look and be held
out couple of pair of fowls tied by the
legs for Mrs. SspOOpendyke's contempla-
tiQn. ..
sWell, upon my word! exclaimed
Mrs TSpoopendyke. OF all things,
chickens, Ever since we've been mar.
ried rve wanted chickens! and she ap-
preached the birds cautiously and with
a look of misgivins that. belied her
words. where can We keep them!
In a coop, Mrs. Spoopendyke,in in 4
coop! relorted her husband, laying the
chickens on the bed while he divested
himself of his coat and vest 'We might
keep 'em up the chimney or in the clock
but We probably won't Wen just keep
EN- in a hen coop, and I've got the
laths and nails down stairs to build it
with. Come down. in the yard, and
Mr.. Spoopendyke grabbed bis new &C,
QUESTION by the legs and started of, fol.
lowed by his wife. '-
Do you know how to build coop?
asked Mrs. Spoopendyke, as shewatch-
ed her husband dig post hole in the
corner she had reserved for geranium
bed.
If l don't you probably do, sno:ted
Mr.. Spoopendykc, kicking away at the
spade until he lcosened his leg. Now
l put this post here and that one there.
Then the two fence sides maketh rest
and only lsth up the two-dod gast
the post! he concluded, as i, toppled
over on his ear. Cant you hold it up!
Whatre you sitting around there like a
cork in jug fort Hold it up, will ye?
Mrs. Spoopendykc grasped the post
firmly with both hands and held it q: 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.
4 see wha; you mean,' giggled Mrs.
Spoopendyke. You slat it up from one
post to the other and then put the chic
ems in My! how nice that'll be!
Mr.. Spoopendyke glared at her a mo
ment and then began putting up his laths,
standing between the posts and fence
corner and whistliug as he worked.
Now said he, as he finished, what
do you think of that?'
Mrs. Spoopendyke examined :he job
criii cally.
Its perfect palace ! she exclaimed,
But say, dear, how are you going to
ger out?'
'Yah-h h. roared Mr.. Spoopendyke,
bounding in the air. why didn't you
tell me? Whatd you want 10 let me
build myselfin like dod gasted mum
my fol! Amt you got any sense at all
anywhere' Why didn't ye watch what
l was doiug?' and Mr.. Spoopeudyke
grinned horribly through the stats.
4 supposed you were going to build
hole in it, faltered Mrs. Spoopendyke.
so am ? yelled Mr.. Spoopendyke,
jammiug lis leg through the structure.
want any more hoesl' and he kicked
the side half way across the yard. -Four
chickens, four holes! he roared, and the
laths flew in all directions. Want any
more holes? aud he smashed the roof
out with the spade. Holes constantly
on band If you don't see the hole you
want, ask for it! and he blew out the
end with terrific energy. New goods
coming in all the time Secondhand
holes specially! 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 coop? he roared,
wrenching out the posts and slamming
them across the yard. Does this hen coop
begin to convey the impression OF having
hole in il?' he demanded, stalking up
10 his wife.
Yes, dear, replied Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke, soothiugly. I'm 50 glad you got
out, but where can we keep the chick
ems now?'
keep EN-! ripped Mr.. Spoopendyke,
with horIid grimmace, and grasplng
the wretched fowls by the legs, who's
going TO keep emf and he cut The lash
ings, 'S'pose I'm going to ruin my
business just TO CRAFTY every neasly
whim Of dod gastcd womanl aud he
ierked the chickens into the air.
Never mind, cooed Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke, as the last bird slid over the fence
aud disappeared. Chickens are nui.
sance anyway. We really didn't need
any.
why didn't you say so before bot
'em!' blurted Mr.. SpoOpendyke, as he
dashed into the house.
i didn't know it, sighed Mrs. Spoop-
endyke, looking around on the wreck,
and beside, Il don't believe we would
have had many eggs, because those
chickens were all roosters.
And Mrs Spoopendyke followed her
husband, who stOrmed around the rest
Of the evening because she couldn't find
the Eagle Of January II, 1879, which
he bad cautioned her TO save because
there was something in it be wanted TO
read, and which be had nsed the next
day, in conjunction with the back
breadth OF her new flannel petticoat, 10
i 1 1t