The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-06-20
THE CRIPPLED HEN.
How Her Large Family of Chickens We,
Provided for.

How Her Large Family of Chickens Were
Provided for.
Bobby came in one morning crying.
Mamma said "Where have YOU been,
Bobby, and what is the matterp'
''Old Speckle has-boo-hool boo-hoo!
-freezen her foots off,
Frozen, Bobby, not frcezen. And
feet, not Joots. But what do you mean,
and how could old Speckle freeze her
feet OFF,
Il forgot 10 shut her in the hem
house last night, and she roasted up in
the apple-tree, and this morning both
her feet are gone.
Mamma began to look grave, and
taking Bobby by the hand, went down
stairs to the kitchen, where Bridget
told the story over again.
Och! Ave ye place, mum, the
crayther sot up in the tree all the cold
night through, and when she came
down this mornin', sure she left her
feet behind hert'
SO 1t was only too true that Old
Speckle, Bobby's pet hen, who had
reared two broods of beautiful chickens
already, had had her feet frozen off
through careless Bobby forgetting TO
shut her into her nice warm house at
night
At first, papa said she must be killed
right away, and put out of her pain
But on going out to look at her. she
seemed not to be in pain at ALL and TO
be getting on nicely without any feet.
She hobblcd about on her funny slim
black legs, looking SO like an old sol
der just home from the war that they
all laughed. except Bobby, and he cried
for shame
So papa said Old Speckle should be
allowed to live without her feet, and
can tell you there never was hen bet
ter taken of after that
Bobby fed her himself every day, and
shut her up every night in warm box
half-filled with hay, where she cuddled
down in one corner and went to sleep,
for you see, she could not roost any
more after she lost her feet
But when the spring came, Bobby
again ran in TO mamma with another
piece of news, his bright little face al
most as bright as the sunshine out
side.
Mamma, Old Speckle is setting!
She's goin TO hatch out some little
chickens! o., I'm so glad!"
Mamma thought for a moment. and
then said: you must drive her off the
nest, Bobby. The poor old thing is too
lame ever to get about with u brood of
chickens. Best les, low could she
scratch for them?''
Bobby's face fell. He was very fond
felt badly that Old Speckle could not
have her family. Suddenly his face
frightened again.
mamma, why couldn't / scratch for
the chickensp''
The picture of Bobby going about all |
day followed by a large family of little |
yellow chickens was too much fer mann |
ma, and she laughe very heartily. much |
to Robby's disgust.
But Old Speckle was not to be made
to believe that size was not able to be as
good a mother as ever. The more
Bobby drove her off from the eggs. the
more she went back and sat on them
again, until at last papa said:
'Let the poor old thing have her
chickens and see what she Will do with
Them"
Bobby was very glad of this. for
Whitley and Susan and Mrs Brown had
all refused to have families, and he did
long for some little chickens!
So the days flew by, and at last the
little yellow things peckel and pecked
their way out of their shells. and Bobby
counted fourteen of them.
"What family for poor Old Speckle!,
said mamma. "And how will she ever
manage TO take care of themp',
One she did not take care of. for be-
fore he had been two hours out of his
shell he climbed up the side of an old
that stood in the hen-yard
half-filled with water. and tumbling in.
was drowned to paw for his curiosity.
But as there were thirteen left. l real
ly do not think Old Speckle ever missed
him.
And now Bobby watched very care
fully to see how this good mother was
going to take care of her children. And
he saw something so funny that he came
fiying in at last With his red cheeks red
der than ever, and his ewes big with the
excitement of what he had 10 tell cry
ing out:
9.Ouick. mammal! Quick papai Run