Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-14
CATS AND HENS.
A Story in which They Figure Under Unu-
sual Circumstances.

A frost-bltten cat skulking along the
cnrh gave the cue to the lawyer, says
tho chicago Record. THAT cat" ~
said. reminds me OF two extraordinary
fellnes which live IN RavensW )od. Ihose
two animals are the pride OF the village.
A stranger Is not long within tho gates
before the subject OF the cats is intro
duced.
'erheir owner Is something OF a chicken
fancier and has raised in an amateuriSh
way some very fine poultry. year or
so ago, however. he disposed in one way
or another OF ali his chickens save two
favOrita hens.
"One day two little kittens wandered
into the chicken-coOp. ana without any
ceremony climbed TO the roOst where
the hens were. The hens made no objec-
ton to the intrusion, and the kittens
crouched down beside them. That was
the beginning OF one OF the most extra
ordinary attachments that ever came
within my observation.
Each kitten selected a hen for its
familiar, and followed its particular
gravel-scratcher everywhere. When the
hens were feeding the kittens gambolled
around them, purred and curled their
tails, made playful dabs at them with
their paws, and at night roasted beside
them in the chicken-cOOp.
1.-THE kittens are good-siZed cats to-day.
but their devotion 10 their feathered
friends is stronger than over. These hens
cannot move without their four-legged
shadows, and the strangost phase Of this
attachment IS that II seems 10 be case
Of unrequited love- The hens peck at
their purring lovers and sometimes Ry at
them with every indication Of anger and
dislike, but the cats spring out or the
way, and when the Plymouth Rocks
have cooled down come back again. It's
queer case Of unnatural selection
The architect intimated that some day
the cats might overcome that natural
feminine reserve by swallowing the hens,
and then said
THAT reminds me. I use n small room
IN tho back Of my house as working
den. and the windows look out upon the
very modern hen-house OF my neighbor.
She caught the embarrassing fever at
the Worlds Fair and built her hennery
after the most approved models
soon after it was constructed she
stocked 1t with choice Cochin Chinas
Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns. bantams, and
common barn-yard fowls. The latter, She
explained, were to be fattened for the
table.
"She has n charming niece who teaches
Delsarte. voice culture. and e0cuton In
one Of the stylish private schools one
day last month the ordinary brand Of
chickens was taking n regulation airing
In the backyard and ran foul Of
bucket OF dry bran that had been left
near the kitchen door.
"In an hour those chickens with dss-
tended crops, lay gasping for breath on
the grass. / was at work. but an I'M
usual commOtlon brought me % the WIN
dow The cook, aunt. ana niece were
hustliuS around trying to save the
chickens. but the bran was too much
for them.
II have IT,, cried the niece. and She
darted into the house. returning IN 4
few moments with n pair OF scissors AMI
some needles and thread. She babe her
aunt hold one Of the suffering chickens
by the legs, head down. Then the feather
ers above the breast were parted and the
scissors shipped cash. The cook brought
a spoon, the bran was taken out and
then the niece sewed the chicken up again.
Il was placed upon the ground and IN
a few moments It staggered 10 It's feet
and reeled around the yard.
Delighted with her success az a hem
doctor. the niece stripped open every
blessed chicken scooped out the bran and
sewed them up with chain stitch sat
ish u that all was right the women went
into the house. but inside OF an hour those
chickens were on their backs. their feet
I'm the air, dead as a South Water-street
broller"