The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-06
MICKEY'S CHICKENS.
PRELUDE.

The tempest dIO ItltO Mo 'N''
the breeze no one knew. How many DAYS
had passed since first the sun tipped his
crest with gold in the morning and bathed
his branches with rudy fire III the even
imp had never even been suggested. How
many wintry shrouds had weighed down
his branches, or how many times he haor
shed his coat or how often he had sighed
in sympathy with the funeral knell from
St Mary's. or sheltered under his
great swaying arms the play of lit
lie children, was not even O matter
of conjecture Little by little he
had grown In stature, year by
year his girth had increased until one
morning It dawned upon him that he
was the king Of the wood. There were
naughty hemlocks not far away and giant
oaks. but not one Of these, for symmetry
of stature, could compare with the Ag
pine. Around his great trunk in green
spiral there twisted an ivy vine, with
lnstrous leaves caressing the pines rough
bark until its tender feelers reached the
very topmost branches lanced by the sun
beams. The dew fell upon the ivy and
the pine alike and every morning the sun
drank up the cleaning drops. Far below
the pine ran the shining river, and behind
him lay smiling meadow. His foot was
buried deep in his own brown needles, and
within the shelter Of his kindly shade
cIump Of laurel bushes grew. Hidden by
the laurels lay hollow bemlock log that
had once been stately trunk. One awful
winters night tempest had slain the tree
PAhT /.
Last spring, when the lingering snow
In the Lollows Of the wood lad melted
and trickled down the rocks to the Ron
dout creek. q staid and motherly par
fridge built nest in the hollow log and
deposited within its coy environment of
leaves and pine needles thirteen speckled
eggs. One day, far down the dim aisles
bf The wood she heard the sound of com
ing footsteps The partridge squatted
closer down upon the eggs, and no eye
but that Of fox could have seen the diff
ference between her brown back and that
of the rotten log. Her little heart beat
hard with excitement and fear, but the
palpitation failed even TO stir the soft
feathers under her wing. Her eyes gilt
tered like twin beads as she peeped out OF
her hiding place. The big pine sang a
low soothing psalm a;ld chipmunk stuck
bis head out Of q hole In an oak tree near
by. But above the sound Of the psalm
the footsteps were heard by the partridge
coming nearer and nearer There were
shutting sounds in the dried leaves, and
at intervals the breaking of q twig
sounded sharply through the still wood.
Then from around tho trunk Of "A big
hemlock which had tossed its green arms
in the sunlight for forty years came the
figure Of snealSing boy with bow gun
held in the hollow of his right arm. BY
this time the partridge was standing up
In the nest Her neck was outstretcbed
and every fiber in her little feathered body
was tense with excitement. Nearer and
nearer came the boy, his eyes rowing
through the wood in search OF victim
for his arrow. The chipmunk ran down
the oak and jumped upon the log III when
the partridge was palpitating Inc
squirrels curiosity oy-rcame its fears and
it stopped upon the log to catch glimpse
of the intruder into its sylvan retreat.
The twang Of bowstring cut the air
and wooden bolt with single nail in
its head shot by so close that its passage
stirred the fun Of the squirrel. The SPUR
rel whisked out of sight and tho partridge,
with loud whir which startled the boy
so that be dropped his bow gun, few into
laurel brake near by.
PART H.
The old Dominick her wanted 10 sit.
She had tried to satisfy her natural in
st!nct in the wood box. When driven
from this retreat by Mrs. Firms broom
she nestled in Mr.. Enn's old felt hat.
Here. too, she was foiled in her purpose
by q pailful Of cold water, which percep
tibly dainpened her enthusiasm and her
feathers. Still she persevered in her
efforts at propagation and was found late
in the afternoon, after drying herself in
the.sun, trying TO scratch hole in the
best quilt upon the parental Finn bed.
To this Mrs. Finn objected with broom
and malediction.
eye ould blatherskitel" said she, bring
ing the broom down upon the bed, for the
hen wasn't there when the broom came
down. "Musha. but I'll wiring yer neck
wild me fist whin lay me hands on yel
PLY don't We e out an play marvels wild
tn gravel stones stead o foolin' wild me
quiltl'
The old hen wandered around the yard
discon solately. Life had 10 charms for
her in her uneasy condition of mind. Be
sides, there wero TO eligible places in the
ward in which TO carry out her designs.
Her miserable condition provoked the
sympathy of little Mike, and he decided
that she should have the pleasure OF
setting on a nest OF eggs if he could by
hook or crook procure them for her foI
two DAYS, after school hours he searched
the borders of Browns pond for duck eggs,
and was fortunate in finding two These
were slowed away in an old hat in the
cellar, and the hen, with glad cluckle OF
content, settled herself upon them. That
afternoon he went hunting in the woods
PART III
When the partridge flew of her nest
little Mike examined the hollow log and
found thirteen speckled eggs. Warm
and smooth they felt in his palms. Fold
Ing them close against his breast to pre-
serve the heat, he started on run for
home and dashed into the cellar. III:
eyes danced with self graduation as h'
said.
''Shoo, Nanny, be quiet till Civ "
some more eggs ash hatch out wilC
chickens"
The hen squawked gentle protest
against being disturbed end then settleC
down to her work again. During thu