New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
4 LITTLE peasants QUEER BIRTE.
HOW he CANE INTO The WORLD IN A MoTHERLY
BOSOM

BOSOM
Here's something in the way # incubation.
The story comes from the Genesee Valley up the
State. The Genesee Valley is beautiful stretch
Of country following the winding course Of the
Genesee River through Livingston and Monroe
counties If for no other reason, IL is famous in
this day and generation for it's fox-hunting and
cross-country riding Other forms OF game also
abound in this region. receiving the protection and
enCourag cement OF the gentlemen farmers" who
are fortunate to good covers. Partridge. wood
cock. quail and pheasant furnish untold delights
the huntsman II is said that one of the public
spirited inhabitants of the valley imported large
number Of pheasants and them loose in his
meadows. with the idea that some day they would
furnish sport for the dog and gun. This
some years ago The birds have multiplied. thanks
20 proper protection.
There was farmer who lived In Nuada. T. the
Genesee Valley just above Mount Morris. who had
several pheasants on his farm. One day, he
tramping through the wet grass early In the morn
ing. he into nest with three little pheasants
just out of the shell. Tie more he looked at them
the moro fascinated he beanie until he resolved
that the day be would come out and get one
Of them raise Just 10 show the folks what
he could do.
Early next morning the farmer and his wife
started for the nest with little basket in which
to bring the pheasant chick back in But the nest
was empty. The mother bird and the young ones
had Aown Two unmatched eggs remained. They
examined them
"One Of these eggs Is rotten and the other has
got young one in it," said the wife. TT feels
warm. don't believe the others could have been
gone over ten or fifteen minutes. Mebbe can take
it home and put it IN tAe oven and keep it warm
and We'll have a pheasant after all
John pooh poohed the idea. but his wife IN
sisted. and back 70 the house she ran, holding the
egg in her hands TO keep it warm. When he re-
turned late that night he found that his wife had
wrapped the egg in cotton and put 1t where 1t
would be kept warm. the stove.
Look a here, Samantha" said John. You
can't do it, No use trying. We can't keep the
fire agoin all night for that egg. Besides. you've
got to have a uniform heat. If we only had one
of those incubator machines 1t Nigh. be done or II
any Of the old hens Asserting Then, l have
my doubts about that being a good thing. No
knowing what the old hen might do with 1t; she
Samantha had been keeping quiet all this time
but had been doing a heap OF thinking. Win
smile she said. John, I'll take II 70 bed with me
'' John laughed 'Samantha." said he, you're the
best woman in all these parts. believe you kin
Samantha placed the little egg all done up in
cotton, next her warm. motherIy bosom against
chicks had nestled, now grown into sturdy youths
Early in the morning she was awakened Py feeI-
a faint peeping She put her hand up and felt
little soft thing moving around in the cotton. Her
The little pheasant looked about in surprise.
deriug what sort OF an rdIln ne Hdu D'tu Nto.
The farmer could not have felt prouder If all his
pet COWS had given birth TO twins. The neghbors
all came over 10 take a peep at the newcomer
Everybody brought fat worm. until the niue
fellow came near dying with overfeeding. Next
dav The news spread in the village. and all the
huntsmen came out. eyes bulging with curiosity.
The little pheasant got as much care as thorough
bred colt and more Instead Of plnng for his lost
mother and brothers and sisters. he grew accus-
toned 10 the parents of his adoption. lie was put
INTO a cage and the last report from the farmer
was that he was doing fine. Now. when
stranger speaks Of pheasants. he Is always taken
nm 70 farmer Chapin's 10 see the little one" Of
which John and Samantha are almost as proud as
within a radius Of twenty-five miles.