The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-05-19
MOTHER HEN AND HER DUCKLINGS.

Once there was little speckled hen.
called Chickabiddy. The people where
she lived had eaten all her chickens, so
she was lonely, and she said to herself
one day:
"Ill lay nest-full of eggs, and
hatch some more chickens. Dear little
things, they are so pretty, and they
come running when l call them, and
are such pleasant company"
Then she hunted about in the barn
till she found u nest with one cold,
shiny egg in it.
"lt will do for nest-egg," thought
she.
Then she laid fresh egg, and sang
"Cut-cut-cadarcut, for she was so
pleased to think of the dear little
chickens.
When the farmers wife heard this
"Cut-cut-cadarcut she said: "Chicka-
biddy's eggs are always nice and sweet.
must bring that in.
Then she brought ii in; and so 1t was
the next day, and the next.
Chickabiddy did not notice it Mt first,
but one day, just as she was stepping
into the nest, the thought came TO her
that there was not much in II.
s"I can't count very well,' said she,
but it seems to me there are not many
eggs here. Nothing like nest-full. "
Now there were really only the nest
egg and another egg.
"I'lltry it once more" thought she,
and then I'll begin to sit, whatever
happens. y
The next day. in despair of n nest
full, she began to sit on two eggs and a
china nest-egg.
One morning when she had left the
nest moment TO get drop of water,
the farmers wife came and took away
the two eggs, leaving only the nest
egg.
Never mind" said chickabiddy,
"I'd hatch it if it were nothing but a
robins egg!i'
After a time the farmer came and
took her off the nest and put her out OF
the barn, but as soon as his back was
turned she was in again. Then he came
and drove her away once more.
"She is too good hen to sit on a
nest-egg," said he. But she came back
again every time, till at last the farmer 8
wife said to him:
"If she aciH sit, you might give her
those ducks eggs"
So the next time Chickabiddy looked
into the nest she saw thirteen eggs.
CLOVIS thisr' said she. "Can have
laid all those eggsp'
As nobody answered her, and she
could not explain it herself, she went
to work to keep chem warm and hatch
them.
In about four weeks the shells began
to crack, and the little chicks to step
out OF their cradles--only they were
ducks and not chickens, though Chicka-
biddy did not know it. She led them
away from the barn, the proudest moth
er in the whole farm-yard.
"They don't look just like my other
brood. said she. "Their bills are
large, and they all seem to have queer
toes -but no matter-when they run
about little it will all come right, nc
Doubt
So she kept them well-fed with bugs
and worms and things that small ducks
love, and they cuddled under her feath.
ers at night and came when she called
them, and she was fond Of them, and il
was Just the same as though they were
chickens.
No one seemed to notice the differ
ence, except the wise old hen with thu
broken leg. She knew everything, bu
she only talked to herself about it /,
little.
Poor thing" said she. II wal
caught so once, myself, and can pity
her She have hard time raising thos'
| ducks
One day, when they were out in 1
field, away from shelter, shower came
up.
run, rum said Chickabiddy
| "you'll be wet as sure as anything
Come under my wings. Quick ~
They all ran under her wings, ant
she shook out her feathers and spreat
her wings as wide as she could, and sh'
had to stand on tiptoe beside, or els,
she could not cover them, they wer
growing SO large.
And, with all she could do, their head
would stick out on one side or tn
other.
While the rain was pouring, tire
great big ducks, strangers, from anothe
farm-yard, came waddling by, on thei
way to the pond.
They marched along as though the.
liked to be out in shower.
Then they came near Chickabidd.
and her brood. They stopped and gaze'
at the little heads.
"Why, those are young ducks the,
said to each other. "What are the
| doing there?"
What are you aboutp' said til
head duck. "Come out, come out. Tn
rain won't hurt you
This was rude, but he thought as the
were ducks, he had right to speak :
them.
"Come to the pond" said he, " an
I'll show you how to swim. y
Chickabiddy was so frightened tina
she couldn't move, or say anything
and before she knew it away ran all he
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