The Bossier banner., 1883-06-14
MOTHER HEN AND HER DUCKLINGs


one day:
"l'll lay nest-full Of eggs, and
hatch some more chickens. Dear little
things, they are SO pretty, and they
come running when | call them, and
are such pleasant company"
Then she hunted about in the barn
till she found a nest with one cold.
shiny egg in it.
'' 1t viii do for nest-egg," thought
she.
Then she laid fresh egg, and sang
'Cut-cut-cadareut,n for she was so
pleased to think of the dear little
chickens.
When the farmers wife heard this
" observation-disclosures, she said: ''Chicka-
biddy's eggs are always nice and sweet.
! must bring that in.
Then she brought it in; and so it was
the next day, and the next
Chickabiddy did not notice it at first,
but one day, just as she was stepping
into the nest, the thought came to her
that there was not much in it.
g | can't count very well, - said she,
but it seems to me there are not many
eggs here. Nothing like a nest-full.''
Now there were really only the nest
egg and another egg.
try it once more" thought she,
and then I'll begin to sit, whatever
happens" /"
The next day, in despair Of 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 a 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 eggr'
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 farmers
wife said to him:
'.If she 'cs9 sit, you might give her
those ducks eggs.
So the next time Chickabiddy looked
into the nest she saw thirteen eggs.
''How's this!" said she. Can | have
laid all those eggs?''
As nobody answered her, and she
could not explain it herself, she went |
to work to keep them warm and hatch |
them
In about four weeks the shells began
to crack, land 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 farrn-yard
"They don't look .j@st like my other
brood, said she. ''Their bills are
large, and they all seem to have queer
boes-but no matter-when they run |
about little it viii all come right, no
loubt.n
So she kept them well-fed with bugs
and worms and things that small ducks |
owe, and they cuddled. under her feath I
BIS at night, and came when she called /
hem, and she was fond of them, and il /
vas just the same as though they were |
chickens.
No one seemed to notice the differ
nee, except the wise old hen with the
broken leg. She knew everything, but
The. only talked to herself about it a
title.
Poor thing:n said she. 81 was
,aught SO once, myself, and can pity I
Ter. She II have hard time raising those
lucks.
One day, when they were out in a
leld, away from shelter, shower came
Up. s rfsf I
run, run, said Chickabiddv. i
syou'H be wet as sure as anything.
)ome under my wings. Quick ~
They all ran under her wings. and !
he shook out her feathers and spread /
Ter wings as wide as she could, and she
lad to stand on tiptoe beside, or else
he could not cover them, they were
rowing SO large.
And, with all she could do, their heads I
would stick out on one side or the
'ther.
While the rain was pouring, three
Teat big ducks, strangers, from another
arm-yard, came waddling by, on their
gay to the pond. -
3. A-A~AOASA eSo tAlO4%su OlCY
Iked to be out in shower
Then they came near Chickabiddy
nd her brood. They stopped and gazed
t the little heads.
Why, those are young ducks they
aid to each other. What are thew
DING therepn
What are you about?" said the
cad duck. Come out, come out. The
ain won't hurt YOU
This was rude, but he thought as they
ere ducks, he had right to speak to
lem.
Come to the pond. said he, "and
II show you how to swim. =
Chickabiddy was so frightened thA.
le couldn't move, or say anything,
nd before she knew it away ran all her
tile ones, with the strangers, and
imped right into the water. !
tOh, dear!" cried she, they'll be b
rowned-every one Of them. What |
aall ] dor And she ran along the {