The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-08-27
SUNFLOWERS AND CHICKENS.
How a Little City Girl Enjoyed sum-
mer on Farm.

How q Little City Girl Enjoyed n sum-
mer on Farm.
Flossy put on her big shade hat,
tucked an old atlas under her arm. ana
went skipping out behind the summer
house where she kept school with half
a dozen sunfiowers for pupils.
Now, darlings. she said. demurely,
seating herself on an old footstool she
had lugged from the garnet. and open
ing her books with business-lile air,
hold up your boo-tul yellow heads
and say your goggerly nice, and maybe
I'll give you nice sprinkling'
Now. Ethel Rose, tell me how big
around is this world or hem-and-spear
on which we live composed Of? asked
Flossy, pretending to read. but repeat
ing fragmentary bits of the lessons
which brother Ben studied aloud even
ings at home.
This was Flossy's first visit to the
country. and she enjoyed the freedom
of large yard, and her daily romps
with Rover in it. but when he went to
the field with the men, she amused
herself with her school.
Es, ats yight.'' said Flossy, COM
placently. as Il sportive breeze danced
around the summer-house. making the
sunfowers nod their heads briskly.
Next said Flossy, turning leaf.
Daisy Browneye. how many wivers
does it take to make a gulferbay?'
AS to what a gulf or bay was. Flossy
hadn't the slightest notion.
Just here the recitation in geography
was interrupted by loud and energetic
''Cluck, clucls, clucks," accompanied by
chorus of gleeful Peep. peep peeps"
Schools 'smissed" said Flossy. slap
ping her book shut and looking expect
antly towards the currant bushes from
whence the sounds came: Presently
there appeared a large, motherly brah-
ma with feathers considerably rumpled,
who, upon seeing the little school
a'am. stopped suddenly on one foot,
and gave warning ''chir-r-r-r, peering
meanwhile at Flossy with first one
bright eye then the other.
The peeping chorus instantly ceased
A luckless emerald-green grasshopper
jumped off the currant bushes and land
ed plump in front of old biddy herself,
who forgot her fear at once pounced
upon him, then held him triumphantly
in the air. calling loudly "cook-coool-
cutterout cook cook" until a brood OF
downy chicks huddled under her bill,
all stretching to get the dainty lunch.
Flossy's wonder grew into amaze
ment. Springing up, overturning the
stool in her haste and causing old biddy
to utter startled ''Ca-dar-cut" she ran
70 %la h. Il,
after her by one string. burst into the
sitting-room where mamma and auntie
were quietly visiting over their work,
and exclaimed:
20 mamma, auntie, come quick!
There's lot Of yellow pompons out in
the yard: they have got legs, and are
running after an old hem"
"Bless the child! Have you never seen
chickens before?" laughed auntie, get
ting piece of bread and following her
excited little niece out of doors.
xviii they be big hens some time,
auntie?" asked Flossy. watching them
tumble over each other in their eager
ness for the crumbs. Occasionally old
biddy impatiently scratched in the grass
for more, kicking her small family in
all directions when they got in under
her feet.
but, auntie, they haven't got tails"
and after a moments pause, land there
isn't any place for one"
"Come again next fall and you will
find the missing tails in their proper
places in full and regular standing"
laughed auntie as she returned to the
house and her sewing.
Sunfiower school closed for a long
vacation. Almost any hour i'm the day
Flossy would be seen with basin of
wet meal and spoon walding about
the yard with the eager and expectant
chicks behind her.
''It's well she gives them plenty of
exercise" said her mother, smiling, ''or
SO much feeding might result in lndiges-
ton or the govt"
Before Flossy had returned to her
city home. the tails had all sprouted in
fine style.-Caroline Mosher, in The
Advance.
One More Position.
One day in my school If little ones