The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-11-26
Mrs. Slocum's Brahmas.
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{ Continued from last aOeek.)
From Prairie Farmer.
The evening of the day the advertise
ments appeared Gin the papers" Mrs
Slocum placed the last of the Brahma
eggs she had on hand under sitting
hen. "There!' she remarked to Jake,
who was holding the lantern, that
makes sixty Brahma eggs that have
under hens, and if they hatch as well
as the others did l shall feel satisfied.
Now | shall save up the Brahma eggs
to fill the orders that tho advertise
ments ought to bring in, and set the
rest of the hens on common eggs
Going to set them all?'' asked Jake.
Yes, if they want to sit; l want to
raise all the half.breed chickens l can
for market. I am determined to get
even on this poultry business this
year so that by next season can be
gin to make money"
Raising so many chickens besides
the dairy work and all the rest will
make it pretty hard for you, even with
girl to help, for I shall not have much
time to lend hand.' ut will keep
me pretty busy, l know" answered
Mrs. Slocum. "but I like it; l fairly
enjoy the extra work; liz fact. I begin
to think that the chicken business was
the one thing needed to make me per-
fectly contented and happy" Jake look
ed Thoughtful. Are you then, SO much
happier than before?' he asked. Ever
so much" she answered, emphaticaliy.
"Then," said Jake with equal empha
sis, the poultry account is even now,
more than even,-in fact, there is big
balance on the credit side. l feel paid
twice over for every cent invested But
see here, suppose your Brahma eggs
get to old before the orders come in.
what thep?" ''Oh, I shan't keep them
too long, I'll mark them as take them
from the nests, and those that are not
sold by the time they are week old,
I'll set, and sell the fresher oues.''
Four days later, young farmer who
lived In an adjoining township, nine
miles away, called. Il didn't come to
buy eggs" he explained to Mrs. Slocum
shut | saw your advertisement in our
county newspaper, and as was coming
right this way, concluded to call and
see your fowls"
He saw them. and was so favorably
impressed by their size and beauty that
he quite forgot he didn't come to buy
eggs. but wanted a sittsng light then
and there. Mrs. Slocum carefully
packed the thirteen eggs in basket,
just as Squire Town had packed hers
the previous spring, and as she took
the three dollars, she tried to look as if
selling eggs at that price was something
she had been doing all her life. That
evening, when Jake came in from the
post Office, he brought two registered
letters addressed to his wife, and each
letter contained an order for sitting OF
eggs. "Oh dear" exclaimed Mrs
Slocum, "twenty-six eggs wanted, and
have but three on hand. That doesn't
look as if there was any danger of my
keeping them until too old to sell.
What shall do?" "Orders filed now,
and filed in rotation as early as pos,
sible,' laughed Jake. "Send postal
cards, and tell them that you will send
on the eggs some time next week"
The next mail brought two more
orders, and Jake remarked that pos
sibly they had overdone the advertis-
ing business. 1t certainly looked that
way after awhile. for within the next
three weeks Mrs. Slocum received six
more orders by mail, and before those
were filed the sharp featured spinster
called to find out when she could have
sitting. Goodness knows, l don't"
answered Mrs. Slocum; II am four sit.
Things behind now, and my Brahmas
have been laying 80 long and steadily
that am afraid they will want to sit
before I get those orders filed" But
those Brahmas seemed to understand
the state of affairs for they behaved in
the most eggs-emplary manner, only
one offering to sit until after the four
orders were filed and enough eggs over
for the spinster. In the meantime 9th.
er orders came by mail, and another
woman, the one who had declared her
willingness to see Mrs. Slocum "poss-
essed" caught the chicken fever and
called for q SittinO of aoos Ruk tho