The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-11-19

too were successfully moved to the sit
ting room, until by the middle of
March Mrs. Slocum had seven hens
sitting on nine eggs apiece. ''Settin'
hens the fore part of Marchw exclaim-
ed one Of Mrs. Slocnm's neighbors to
another. "What on earth will that
woman do next?
The question was soon answered.
The first WI Elk in April there appeared
in the county paper an advertisement,
which informed the public that Mrs.
Eliza Ann Slocum would sell eggs for
Matching from fne-br Light Brahmas,
at So per sitting of thirteen. The same
ad also appeared in an agricultural paper,
and in the Poultry World. There also
came by express two dozen eggs baskets
addressed to "Mrs. Eliza Anu Slocum,
Proprietor of Slocum Farm Poultry
Yards" When these facts became
known, Mrs Slocum's ''goings on" and
Jake Slocum's folly" in allowing his
wife to Ego on that way" were subjects
for general discussion at the sewing
circle, the post-ofice, everywhere, not
only the neighborhood, but the whole
town was stirred up. Up to that time
no one had really believed that Mrs.
Slocum would have the face" to ask
such price, for setting of eggs"
but there it was in plain black and
white. "Three dollars settingp' ex.
claimed one woman; II would like some
of those chickens, for they are better
than anything anybody ever had a;ound
here; but I'll see her possessed before
PIl pay any such price for eggs"
wonder if she thinks we are made OF
money?' queried another.
eff she wanted to advertise eggs,
why didn't she put in her husbands
name instead Of her own? 1t would
have looked more wcmany," said the
third, while a fourth declared that she
meant to have some Of them Brahma
eggs" and she wouldn't pay mo three
dollars settin' for them, either"
How do you mean to get them? Steal
them?' asked a sharp featured, middle
aged spinster who had listened quietly to
a | the talk about Mrs. Slocum's Brah-
mas, but who never before opened her
lips on the subject "Anl as near as I
can find out, Mrs. Slocum hasn't asked
any of you to pay her three dollars for
eggs; she has .set her price, and you
can take them or leave them. faint
likely it will make any difference to
her; the advertisements will sell the
eggs to people who amt so behind the
times as Plainville folks. And as for
putin her name to an advertisement of
eggs, l don't see anything unwomanly
in a woman's usln' her own name
especially when she started the bust
ness, and manages it herself, and does
all the work, too. | am going to have
settin' of those eggs, and am going
to pay for them, too. One # her pull,
lets is bigger than any two hens I have
on my place, and that biggest rooster of
hers weighs eleven pounds now. Can't
you see that such are better than the
kind we've been raising"
While the neighbors were spending
all their spare time, and some that they
couldn't afford to spare, talking over
Mrs. Slocum's chicken business, that
lady devoted her spare time to the bus
mess Of attending to her hens and
chickens in way that promised we'll
for the credit side of the poultry &C.
count. The first hens set came off with
their broods while the weather was yet
too cold and uncertain to coop them out
Of doors, and for the lack of better &C.
commodations they were placed in
coops in the woodshed. That woodshed
was Il good.sized one facing the south,
and big door opening in that direction,
50 it was not a bad place for few
broods of early chicks; anyway the lit.
tie Brahmas and their mothers liked it
well enough, and the chicks grew in
way that delighted Mrs. Slocum and
caused her TO indulge in the hope of
the poultry premiums at the county
fair the next fall. At times she even
dreamed of taking premiums at the
next winters poultry shows.
ITO be Continual