The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-17
FED HENS ON CRACKED ICE.


re Gave the Ola woman Some Cseful
Points on Western Poultry Farming.
An old woman. rather shabbily but
evidently comfortably dressed and bum
died up in a heavy plaid wooden shawl,
got on the train between Boston and
New Haven short time ago and looked
about confusedly for a seat. She finally
found a place in a seat occupied by a
well dressed young man who was talk
ing to some companions just beeind
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 amuse-
ment of his companions.
Then the young man winked and
gave a side-long glance, as much as to
say: Just you watch me. 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 s,lave voice.
Eyes, it is right sharp" answered the
woman; almost cold enough to freeze
the eggs have got in here
What are you doing with the eggs?"
asked the young man with friendly in
terest.
''Oh, I've been saving them up this
good while, and / intend to take them
in 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
sidelong glance at his companions, ''if
you were out in Utah, where came
from, you could get your own price for
the eggs 1t is SO warm there. YOU
know, that in the summer nearly all
the hens die off, 'In fact" he con-
tinued, looking straight into his COM
panion's eyes, when hen does set,
which is rare occurrence out there,
the eggs have to be sponged off with
cold water every day to keep them
from getting too warm"
''Wali, do tellr' remarked the woman.
eff ever hecrd anything to beat that.
Amt it queer how things is out west?
Now there's my son John; he's bound to
go ont there and git rich, but he'll
never get my consent if it's so hot as
all that. I've heern tell good deal
about that air country, but | never
heerd afore that it was too hot to set
eggs"
Its 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.
''Worse. exclaimed the woman in
''If it's hot enough to kill
hens, then that's all | want to know. l
don't want anything hotter
Yes" was the answer. 'In Nevada
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, scrutiniz-
ing glance, then gathered up her
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 more. Her
face was curious study. It's expression
was one of mingled injury and thought
'ulness
The conductor called "New Haven't"
The old lady got up, but when she
the seat she had occupied be-
lore she took hold OF the youths arm
md said: ''See here, young man, just |
explain, will you, how in that torrid |
country you tell about they git the ice
20 feed them hens?'-N. Y. Herald.