The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-06-20
THE CRIPPLED HEN.
How Her Large Family of Chickens Wer,
Provided for.

Mamma SAID: "Where have YOU been,
Bobby, and what is the matter?'
."Old Speckle has boo-hoo! boo-hoo!
-freezen her foots off,
''Frozen, Bobby, not treezen. And
feet, not toots. But what do you mean,
and how could old Specllle freeze her
feet oft?''
Il forgot to shut her IN the hen
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 hertz
So it 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 hobbled 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 SpeckIe should be
allowed to live without her feet, and
can tell you there never was a hen bet
ter taken of after that.
Bobby fed her himself every day, and
shut her up every night in a warm box
half-iilled 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
chickensl Oh, I'm so gladr'
Mamma thought for moment, and
then said: ''You must drive her off the
nest, Bobby. The poor old thing is too
lame ever to get about with brood of
chickens. Besides, how could she
scratch for them?"
Bobby's face fell. He was very fond
of the soft, downy little balls, and he
felt badly that Old SpeckIe could not
have her family. Suddenly his face
frightened again.
Mamma, why couldn't scratch for
the chickens?"
The picture of Bobby going about all
day followed by a large family of little
yellow chickens was too much for NAM
ma, and she laughed very heartily, much
to Bobby's disgust.
But Old Speckle was not to be made
to believe that she was not able to be as
good 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 tor some little chickens!
So the days flew by, and at last the
little yellow things pecked and peckcd
their way out Of their shells. and Bobby
counted fourteen of them.
'What family for poor Old Specklcr'
said mamma. And how will Size ever
manage TO take care of them?"
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
tomato-can that stood in the hen-yard
half-tilled with water, and tumbling in,
was drowned to pay for his curiosity,
But as there were thirteen left. / 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
flying in at last with his red cheeks red
der than ever, and his eyes bic with the
excitement of what he had to tell, cry
ing out:
"Quick, mamma! Quick papa! Run
to the window and see Old Speck!'
There she was, hopping along on her
two brown sticks of legs. followed by
her thirteen chickens, and by her side
walked the stately Miss Brown, who
every few minutes stopped and
scratched up nice little breakfast for
her friends young family. while the
poor old mother-hen cluckcd at them to
teach them how to pick up the bugs and
worms.
Yes" shouted Bobby" and | sa,o
her ask Mrs Brown to 90 with her and
scratch! She went up just as close TO
her, and whispered with her head
right up to Mrs. Browns | s'pose she
was tellin' her how much she'd pay her
to 90 and scratch for her little chick
ens!'
"a nursery goyerness" laughed
papa.
As / did not know the hen-language
as well as Bobby does, can't tell you
whether this was true or not, but | do
know that until Old Speckle's children
were big enough to take care Of them