The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-06-30
NO MOTHER.


The Poor Chicken Born and Raised in an
Incubator.
They were very pretty yellow chick
ems, and looked as much alike as two
peas, but, as far as l know. they were
not related. Each had started out
from its separate house to take walk,
knowing nothing of each other till
they met in the meadow, where they
were hunting bugs. They were so in
teAt on their business that they stood
on the very edge of the brook that sep
arated them before they saw each
other. "Oh! exclaimed Daisy, very
much startled, "who are you?" "Yel-
lowlegs," answered he, with very
sharp look at Daisy, who looked SO
dainty and we'll bred, every feather in
perfect order, and eyes like stars. "tn.
dian," thought Daisy. ''They always
give their children queer names.
l wonder how he got here! l am Sc
thankful that big brook is between
u.s." and Daisy moved little further
from the edge.
what is your nameP
"Daisy."
II don't like it. You're not flower.
Daisy is the name of a flower"
"How very rude!' thought Daisy
''He must belong to a queer family
Oh, forgot! He is an Indian"
my mother called me that because
I was white and yellow like daisy"
Mother! What in the world il
thatp"
Daisy staggered back. Mother
Why, a mother is mother. One'i
own dear mother"
what is it like?"
"She isn't it. She is my mother,
said Daisy, Indignantly. "Haven'
you got a motherP"
mo. Why. l never heard of such
thing before"
"Never heard of a motherp Why
who takes care of your How do 20,
sleep, with nobody to keep you warm
How do you live, with nobody to low
you?"
"Why, don't know what you NEAR
about nobody to love you," and Vel
lowlegs looked very perplexed.
"Why, love!-love is mothers, ant
they do every thing. They keep yo'
under their wings when it is cold; the,
watch for hawks; they find worms
they keep off all the other chickens, ST
that you can get something to eat. Oh
mothers do every thing!" And Dais,
stood on tiptoe, and stretched her necl
to see if she could see her dear moth
er's gray dress with the white hal
moons. where do you livop" aske'
Daisy.
'Over in the barn across this field
and there are hundreds of us, and hun
dreds more in the incubator, that vii
be just like us, and l can not see bu
that we look as you do. I'm sure
though, that we do not have those mic
things you call mothers"
II do not believe that you can be tn
kind of chicken for me to associat
with. If you never had a mother. Ar
you very naughtyp I'm sure l woul,
be if had no mother"
mo! I'm not naughty. I just hur
ry round and get something to eat. an,
this is our field" Here Daisy locke,
very much distressed. "No one eve
told me to do any different"
"Do you ever fight overa worm wit
your brothers and sistersp"
II don't know what they are" sait
Yellowlegs.
mo, Of course not, if you have n
mother. What is an incubator9'
asked Daisy.
"What Is an incubator Why, that
as stupid as not knowing what
mother is. Why, that's where l cam
from. It's big box, lovely an
warm and quiet, where man come
and feeds you till you grow so big tina
you must be taken out, and then yo
live in the barn; and when you are bi
enough they let you come out in til
yard and take care of yourself"
Daisy, D-a-i-s-y!" A bright, happ
look came into Daisy's face. ''That'
my mother" she said.
do let me see a mother" begge
Yellowlegs.
please come here, mother" calle
Daisy. And soon the mother and a
the brothers and sisters came in sigh
"Oh, Daisy, Daisy!' said Mrs. Don
mick. show you worry me by runnin
away! And then she kissed Dais,
raised her wings, and Daisy ran undo
them, but put her head out and said:
! Mother, that pretty chicken ovt
the other side Of the brook has 4
mOther-only an incubator.
"You poor little thing!' said Mr.
Dominick. "How l wish that 1 coul
get over to you. and take you rigl
under my wing! hope you've bee
very kind to him, Daisy" And til
mother looked down doubtfully at Il
guick.tempered little chicken TIL
often made her sad by her naughi
pranks. Yellowlegs stood on the ban
and longed to get near Mrs. Dominica
How beautiful she was! what lOvel
eyes she had! and her voice was must
"Why did l not have a mother?
thought Yellowlegs. I'm sure l new,
would have left her a minute"
U,-k A.. L. A., IL