The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-08-10
FED HENS ON CRACKED ICE.
He Gave the Old Woman Some Useful
Points on Western Poultry Farming.


Points on Western Poultry Farming.
An old woman, rather shabbily but
evidently comfortably dressed and
bundled up in a heavy plaid wooden
shawl, got on the train between Bos
ton and New Haven a short time age
and looked about confusedly for a
seat. She finally found a place in a
seat occupied by well dressed young
man. who was talking to some com
panions just behind him.
When the young man looked up at
the old lady, who jostled against him
with her big bundles and the basket
which she carried upon her lap, he
gave a suppressed groan, much to
the amusement of his companions.
Then the young man winked and
gave sidelong glance, as much as to
say: Just you watch mel Well
have some fun"
The old lady looked unconcerned
and was totally unconscious of the
mirth she was about to provoke.
Rather cold day." ventured the
young man in a suave voice.
Yes, it is right Sharp" answered
the woman, almost cold enough to
freeze these eggs 1 have got in here. "
What are you doing with the
eggs2" asked the young man, with
friendly interest.
''Oh, I've been saving them up this
good while, and Intend to take them
into town to SELL" and the old lady,
who was inclined to be social, looked
pleased at the interest evinced by the
young man.
Now" began the youth as he cast
a sidelong look at his companions
IF you were out in Utah, where l
came from, you could get your own
price for the eggs. 1t is so warm
there, you know, that in summer
nearly all the hens die off. In fact"
he continued, looking straight into
his companions eyes, "when hen
does set, which is a rare occurrence
out there, the eggs have to be sponged
off with cold water every day to keep
them from getting too warm"
WAL, do tell" remarked the wo
man, IF l ever heerd anything to
beat that Amt it queer how things
is out west2 Now, there's my son
John. He's bound to go out there
and git rich, but he'll never get my
consent if it's so hot as all that. I've
heerd tell a good deal about that air
country, but never heerd afore that
it was too hot to set eggs"
It's worse than that in Nevada, "
continued the youth, pleased with
the effect of his story. Here he
looked around at his friends, who
appreciated all that was going on
"Worsel" exclaimed the woman in
amazement. IF it's hot enough to
kill hens, then that's all l want to
know. Idon'twantan ythinghotte :"
Yes, was the answer. In Ne
vada we have to feed hens cracked
ice to keep them from laying hard
boiled eggs"
This was too much for the old
woman. Even her credulity could
not stand this. She gave the youth
one long, scrutinizing glance, then
gathered up her numerous bundles,
her basket of eggs and her umbrella
and trudged over to another seat.
She rode on in an distracted state
for a quarter of an hour or moro.
Her face was a curious study. It's
expression was one of mingled injury
and thoughtfulness.
The conductor called "New Ha
ven.
The old lady got up, but when she
reached the seat she had occupied Il
few minutes before she took hold Of
the youths arm and said, "See, here,
young man, just explain how in that
air torrid country you tell about they
git the ice to feed them hens?"-New
York Herald.