The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-04

need them.
So, shaving and dressing himself
with unusual care, he be1ook him
self across the way and was in the
act of ringing Mrs. Wiltsey's door
bell when the plump widow herself
came around the corner of tho
wood shed in her working clothes
and with q clucking and protesting
pullet under her arm.
why, good afternoon, Mr.. Wig
g%lesbyI" began she smilingly and
without tho slightest trace of en-
barrassment. I'm SO glad you hap.
pened to call as you did. Perhaps
you can tell me how to make this
hen stay on the eggs until they arc
Matched. She has been sitting two
weeks, and now she has taken a no.
ton to quit. This makes tho third
time l have caught her off the nest
in the past two hours"
"Why--why don't you fasten her
onf" suggested Wigglesby, with a
sudden burst of inspiration.
"Oh, thank you'll" exclaimed Mrs.
Wiltsey. II thought of doing so,
but wasn't sure whether it was right
OF not. Just hold her a minute, will
you, while l hunt up a rope to tic
her down with"
And the next thing Wigglcsby
knew he was standing there alone,
looking very foolish, but happy,
with that balky hen tightly clasped
in both hands, while his hustling
neighbOr had vanished in search of
the requisite cord to secure the fowl
to the nest.
She presently returned with it
and offered to relieve Wigglesby of
his charge, but Wigglesby said,
mo, it will tako at least two per
sons to properly anchor that pulIet
on the nest, and, seeing that your
sister isn't OH hand to render the
necessary assistance, 1 would just as
soon go along and help as not
From this it would seem that Wig
glesby was improving very rapidly.
1T is very kind Of you, I'm sure
said the plump widow, favuring
Wigglcsby with Il grateful smile,
which upset him SO he came near
dropping the hon he was holding.
He quickly recovered himself, how.
ever. and meekly followed his neigh.
Dor as she led the way to the nest.
There they are exclaimed Mrs.
Wiltsey when they reached the spot,
"13 as fine eggs as were eve. laid,
and-I just happened to think of it
Il wonder if the number has any
thing to do with her acting as she
does2 You don't suppose the hen
has counted the eggs and found out
that there are Is of them and that is
why she refuses to SIT any moro,
DC youf"
"Shouldn't WONDER" said Wig
glesby. ''All females are SO plaguy
Il mean all hens are so supcrsti-
tious, you know"
"Are theyi didn't know it,"
"Yes," hastily responded Wig.
glesby, congratulating himself on
the fact that Mrs. Wiltsey hadn't
noticed the bad break he came near
making "but this hen might as we'll
make up her mind to sit, 10 or no
IS. If you will take her a minute, /
think / car fix the nest SO she will
have to stay ON it,"
Mrs. Wiltsey relieved W"iggiesby
of his burden, and then he looked
wise and went on:
II suppose the surest way would
be to bore two holes in the bottom
of the nest, then stick her legs down
through and tic them fast under the
nest, but-er'-
Are you sure the eggs wouldn't
fall throughf" anXiously inquired
the owner of the hen at this point.
Ell was just wondering about
that myself. don't think tying her
on the nest is going to work very
we'll. Wait, and I'll see if l can find
a box to turn upside down over Der.
If ! car get ono small enough, and
then put a weight on it to hold K
down, she's got to sit whether she
likes to or not"
But I'm afraid l am putting you
to an awful lot Of trouble Mr. Wig
glesbyf"
"Not at adjust as soon come
over and-and help you sit a hen
every day if you want me to; just
as soon as not"
Oh, yes, MI. Wigglesby was pro-
gressingl
He finally found the right sort of
boz, and he and the plump widow
between them got the hen under ii
and the box properly anchored
down, and then Wigglesby said he
guessed it was time he was going.
But" he added thoughtfuliy,
i"IH-er--come ove again tomor,
row to help get this hen out and
feed her and put her back on the
nest Q0ajn STILL hovo RI no fo1yor