The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-05
BERT'S POULTRY YARD.

IhiSi "esIcIH
was widow with two children. boy
and girl This good woman was much
respected in the neighborhood. She did
general sewing for the wives and wove
rag carpets. Her husband had been the
village tailor. and at his trade made but
a scanty living for his family. Upon
his death it became necessary for her to
tute circumstances she could not pay
the rent: besides the lot was not large
enough for good garden.
Friends interested themselves in her
welfare, and a suitable house was soon
provided. OF four farmers whose lands
cornered. each donated an acre at the
joining corners: other farmers and some
Of the villagers added their mite. and a
small but comfortable cottage was
erected thereon: also convenient build
ings. Upon these premises the widow
and her personal effects were moved,
and she had lived there three years when
our story opens.
OF course. she felt deeply indebted to
her kind neighbors: but in SO many
ways had she assisted them in busy
times or during sickness. they all felt
that she was blessing to the neighbor-
hood. and willingly would have con-
sributed more assistance. had she al
lowed it: bnt blessed with vigorous
constitution and good health. she quite
easily provided for her little family, and
besides had earned a good COW, some
pigs and few chickens.
Her little boy. Bert. was now eleven
years old: indeed. old enough to begin
scheming how he might do more for his
mother than simply the chores. After
due dcliberation he counseled with his
mother. and gaining her consent, began
preparing for raising poultry for profit,
instead of as merely domestic supply.
To begin business with. he had over
thirty common fowls, six of the duck
family, q pair of stately geese. two hen
turkeys and big gobbler that was the
boss Of their little poultry world. With
tritling expense the hen-house was
perfectly cleansea, and rearranged for
convenience and sundry other small
matters attended to.
Early in the spring. one Of the neigh
bors was compelled by business. to 60
to the city. some twenty miles distant,
where. as it CHANGED. friend Of his was
extensively engaged in the poultry
business. knowing of Bcrt's inclina-
tions in that direction. he kindly offered
him a chance To 60 along and see the
poultry yard and he also said his friend
would undoubtedly give him many use
full hints in regard to the business and
what was still more important to Bert
would quite likely sell him some eggs
from thorouTh-breds at reduced rates.
Bert eagerly accepted the offer. and
with the proceeds from the sale of |;
calf. he accompanied his friend.
The trip was of much interest to the
lad. and many things in the city were
wonderful to his sight. but when he got
into the fancier's yards. his enthusiasm
knew no bounds. Every thing was o1
interest to him. from the well ordered
house, with its apartments of egg-room
heating-room. Matching rooms. feed
rooms. etc. to the weil-kep,
yards. with their multitndes oi
inhabitants Of many varieties. Hav-
ing been made acquainted with Bcrt's
circumstances by his friend. the kind
fancicr took great pains in showing him
every thing. and explaining uses and
methods: and gave him much valuable
information about rearing and caring
for poultry. lie also described the good
qualities of various kinds. and told his
young visitor which would be the most
desirable and profitable varieties for
him to begin with.
Before leaving the yard, Bert had
bought two sittings each of black
Hamburg. white I.cghorn. and Plymouth
rock chickens: also a sitting each Of the
famous bronze turkey. Toulouse goose
ard Rouen duck; and as a protection
from hawks. added Il half dozen Guinea
fowl eggs. The poultrymen enjoined
Bert to let no one have any of these
kinds for less than fancier's prices, and
gave him u price list of both fowls and
eggs but. in consideration of his youth
fulness and circumstances, let him have
ais eggs at about one-fourth the regular
price.
The following evening the happiest
COY in four counties alighted at the
widow door with his baskets of much
4 orized EGGS. AS several of his hens had
! WINGED sitting disposition. he favored
heir inclinations inside of week: also,
! after small argument with his sister,
who had three or four hens sitting on
common eggs. he robbed them, and gave
hem fresh start with the imported
easss. During the following weeks il
seemed as though his hens. ducks and
turkeys entered into the spirit of his un.
1 iertaking. as many of them Matched
two broods and few even three.
Their house. stable and hen-house
being on the same acre lot with then
shrubbery and fruit trees. the three
remaining lots were cultivated. The
| two lots across the road were put en-
tirely into corn. while the adjoining acre
contained n half-acre potatoes and {
half-acre miscellaneous garden vege
bles With his sitting hens. and hay
ing these patches of garden to care for
our young hero was very busy: indeed
had not the adjoining farmers kindl,
l1Lttstle&a has si'Is IA lihS AZ
would quite likely have been beaten b.
the weeds, although working manfully
His mother and little Anna supple
mented his efforts by working in tn
garden. and largely caring for the poul
try. Through the season this was tn
busiest and perhaps happiest family i
the township: and their yard was
lifely scene, with its cluclsing mother
and swarms of young, for whose we
fare little Anna was ever anxious, an
i'm almost constant attendance durin
the day time.
Bert was well paid for his energeti
industry. The corn crop was large. an
trading part of it to the farmers IL
wheat, oats or buckwheat, he had MOI
than feed enough for the coming yea
Some of it was sold. while the balant
was sent to mill to be ground into me;
for the next seasons young. and also
repay the neighhor OF whom he ha
borrowed for the present years feedin,
During the season family expenses la
been fairly maintained from the sale I
.arden stuff and butter: winter supple
were bought 10y the potato and col
crops, and the proceeds from 4 tnrkt