Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-06-29

lost seven good hens last night, and
two of mine are missing. There are
bloody feathers all over my yard, and
the carcasscs of the hens are lying out
in the grass yonder. The creature Just
sucks the blood and then leaves. It's
Il weasel, or a lynx, or something of
that sort. Some Of us are going to take
our guns tonight and watch for him.
You want to look after your hens lit
tie sharper than common"
Mr.. Barker thanked him, and said
that he certainly would; but the very
next day he found bloody feathers scat
tered all around the henhouse, and two
hens were missing.
All the keepers Of fowls in the vii
lage were thoroughly excited by this
time, and it might as well be told right
here that few nights later one of the
hunters shot long, slim weasel. At
ter this the depredations upon the
poor chicks ceased.
On the morning that the two hens
were missing Mr.. Barker and Teddy
were unusually busy. But Teddy went
about with grave face and wet eyes.
He was fond of his hens, and could not
bear to have them frightened and muir
dered so. 1t was bad enough to have
to kill one himself to make q savory
chicken pie.
During the morning he happened to
look out OF the window. There was
Filter i'll the grass and pecking away
at it. When she had filled her bill
with bits of grass she flew toward the
hen-house.
Il wonder what she is up to-"
thought Teddy. But he was too busy
to go just then to see.
Pretty soon he happened to be near
the window again, and he saw little
Filter, with three or four bits of grass
in her bill, go flying toward the hem
house. Mr.. Barker came up just then.
Have You noticed your dove?" he
asked Teddy. shes been working
like good fellow. I've looked out o
dozen times, and every time I've seen
her going il the henhouse with her bill
full Of grass"
"I've been seeing her, too" cried
Teddy, his curiosity now thoroughly
reused. Cant you spare me long
enough to run out and see what's the
matter, father?"
Yes, go along" said Mr.. Barker.
A few moments later Teddy came
rushing in again. His face was pale,
and he looked as though he had been
very deeply impressed by something or
other
Come, father, you must come and
see what Filter is doing" he said.
"But l can't" protested the good
miller. There are halfa dozen wait
ing here"
Il can't help it" cried Teddy. Tell
'em all to come. too. They'll see the
queerest thing they ever saw or heard
of, I'll wager"
So they all left the old mill to run
itself for while, and stepped over to
the little henhouse There was row
OF box nests at one side of the build
ing. BY lifting plank, one could look
right down into these nests. Teddy
raised the board. There lay the dead
bodies of the two missing hens, They
had evidently had just strength enough
left to crawl, after they had been at
tackled, into their nests to die. But
hardly enough of them was to be seen
to show what manner of creatures they
We're, for they were completely hidden
by u delicate coverlet of fresh bits Of
the summer grass. While the men
were looking, little Filter flew fear
lessly down among them, dropped some
blades of grass upon the bodies of her
dead comrades, and was off again in n
breath for more. 1t was o touching
sight.
That's what she's been doing" said
Teddy.
well, I declare" was all that the
good miller could say. His eyes were
susl iciously moist, and all the men
were very sober as they turned to go
back into the mill.
Il never believed before that the
robins did cover the babes in the wood
with leaves, but do now" said Teddy.
Little Filter still lives on in the
hen house beside Mr.. Barker's mill
ever putting forth her best efforts to
clvilize the community in which she
dwells. She is not only Joy and
n blessing to them, but she is living
lesson to all of us who know what she
has done. -HdIper'S Toung People.