The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-15
YOUTHS DEPARTMENT.
MAuD's TRAINED GENERAL"
The True Story of an Accomplished and
Intelligent Chicken.

The True Story of an Accomplished and
Intelligent Chicken.
Maud Larkin was very i'll the sum-
mer that she was six years old: She
was the pet of the house, and the only
child; and papa, mamma, servants,
and all, were heart-broken when the
doctor told them he feared their
golden-haired darling would go away
from them to come back no more.
But doctors are sometimes mistaken.
After going to the very door of death,
little Maud went no further, but
slowly, slowly came back, seeming to
grow no stronger for weary days, yet
"holding her own," as the nurse said.
In the meantime her favorite "banty,"
pretty little hen that Maud had named
for herself, MAUD Larkin Bantam, "
and that was called MRS. B." by the
entire family, Matched out nestful of
dear little chicks. The brood was
brought in for Maud to see-papa's hat
full of little downy balls, each one
peeping, peeping as loud as such mites
of down could peep. am sure that
they felt very cross at being taken
away from their dear little mamma,
and very much frightened at the great
big world in which they found them
selves.
Peep, peep, peep!
Maud's eyes frightened at the sharp
little sounds. She was able now to be
bolstered up in bed a little while at a
time, and the visit of Mrs. B. schildren
was a great delight to her. The little
creatures were all taken out of the hat
and allowed to run over the white
counterpanc. The nurse made yard
of pillows to keep them from falling off
the bed, and Maud fed them with very
fine cracker crumbs.
After few very happy minutes,
nurse said they must be taken away, or
Maud would tire herself too much.
Cant l have one to stay with me?''
pleaded Maud
The nurse hesitated, talked with
mamma about it, and at last it was
agreed that one of Mrs. B. s babies
should be Maud's playmate.
The little girl chose the brightest
and prettiest of the brood, and, cud-
ding it in her neck, soon went fast
asleep.
After this the chicken had his regu-
lar bill of fare, and slept in his little
foster-mother's bosom. He grew very
fAnI ofl v,.nnI he l~aA ~, ~ Ill
and pecked hungrily at his bit of hard,
boiled egg when meal-time came. Once
Maud played that her pet was sick and
needed medicine. 1t was lucky thai
nurse came in just as she was giving
chick the dark stuff out of the bottle,
for it certainly would have killed the
poor banty if he had drank the tea.
spoonful that Maud had ready for him
When Maud had beef-tea, chicky
shared it with her, and, being so wei
fed, he grew rapidly, and was very
wide-awake, active little creature. B,
and by Maud's young uncle came to the
house to stay for awhile, and he named
the chick General Sheridan, after hi
favorite hero.
Maud was confined to her room for
long time; for a relapse came when sh'
was getting well, and carried her ia
back on the way she had come so slow
ly. So she had plenty of time anC
much need of amusement, and she be
gan educating the General. He soor
learned to fly from the floor to Maud
outstretched finger, and take piece o
bread from her mouth.
The Generals first crow was al
event as interesting as the baby's frs
tooth. He soon learned to crow a
Maud's command, and actually strained
his voice Growing to please his mis-
tress. He learned to pick up collar
and handkerchiefs, and even nickels
and carry them to their owners. One
he picked up Maud's scarlet hair rib
bon and poked it through the 'regis
ter" with his bill, showing that h
sometimes tired of being good" l
was an amusing sight to see him on tn,
top of Maud's head growing away a
the top of his voice. Four month
"Sherry" stayed in the chamber wit
Maud, and never since he was take
from his mother had he seen membe
of the chicken family.
At last Maud was well enough to o
out-of-doors. Her first visit was to tn
poultry-yard, with the General perche
upon her head. Now, what do yo
think happenedP The General prove
that he had been rightly named, for i
an instant he had flown into the mids
of his peaceful family, who were quietl
picking up worms, and the next mil
ute he was fighting with his own brotl
er. But he sooQ got the worst of tn
battle, perhaps from lack of tightin
practice, and would have been killed
Maud had not pulled him out of ii
fight, all bloody and bedraggled. 81
carried him up stairs, and talked
him OF the wickedness of fighting wit
his brothers and sisters, with tears
her eyes. She dressed his wounds an
watched him faithfully till he was wei
A few days afterward he again wei
into the yard, this time by himself, an
came back an hour after as miserab
a specimen of chickenhood as OF
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