Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-03-21
'aGeaGeassseeeeeeeeeeeee

MOT more than dozen persons were
~ in the car. These were sharp
nosed man who divided his time be-
tween glaring discontentedly out of the
window and asking the conductor why
the train didn't 60 faster; an elderly
and benevolent-lookipg old lady who
sat across the aisle from the sharp
nosed man; three or four men who
lounged back in their seats and dozed,
and quartet of young people, two men
and two girls, who were amusing them
selves by singing college songs.
AS the train pulled out of one of the
country villages n poorly dressed boy
who might have been 16 OF II years old
came into the car and took the seat
across the aisle from the four young
people. Under his frayed coat was a
big bunch, suggesting that he was car
rying something concealed there. AS
the young people struck into another
song he looked anNiously at them and
then down at the bunch under his coat.
Presently, at the end OF verse, there
sounded quite emphatically from the
coat this remark:
"Cut-cut-cut-cutscud
"Goodness!" exclaimed the girl who
had been singing the alto part, turning
wide brown eyes upon the youth. Hes
got hen there. Did you hear ?"
"Cutta-cutta cudduck!" made itself
sufficiently audible for every one in the
car TO hear it.
She's good hen," said the boy,
apologetically, "but she don't like mu-
sic. ! was scairt that you'd wake her
up"
"Cudduck cudawcut!" in rather tart
tones from beneath the coat seemed to
indicate that the good hen was tired of
being good and wanted to get out and
fly around the car awhile for change.
"Shuttup!" said the boy, poking the
bunch with no great gentleness, per-
fcrmance which brought forth wrath
full caclsle.
By this time all the people in the car
were craning their necks toward the
seat occupied by the boy. The old lady
put on her glasses to see better, and the
sharp nose of the discontented man
fairly glowed with indignant surprise.
He pointed bony finger at the place
whence the hen language seemed 10
proceed.
Look here!" he said. do you mean
to say you've got hen under your
coat?"
The youth turned a deprecatory
glance upon his questioner. but evinced
no signs of meaning to say anything.
II NJ roal1x that ha
should.
"Cluck-cluck, cul-luck, cul-luck, cut
tacudawcut!" was highly adequate
reply.
The sharp-nosed mans proboscis
spread its glow over his other features.
TITS an Internal shame!" he cried.
"Ain't it?" exclaimed the benevolent
old lady, bestowing an approving glance
UPON him. 81 wouldn't wonder a mite
If the poor thing smothered."
Darn the poor thing!" CALCULATED the
man with such emphasis that the old
lady's glasses fell off in consequence
of the shock to her system. 81 amt
kicking on the beastly chickens ac-
count. What l object to is that young
idiot making a cattle train out of this
ear"
Hens amt cattle" suggested the old
lady with evidently pacific intent; but
strange to say this veracious and sooth-
| ing statement failed to mitigate the
complainant's wrath.
might just as well be-" he said.
"Cudduck, cluck, cluck!" came in pro-
test to this statement.
Say, you'll" cried the man again.
aiming his loaded forefnger at the
youth. What d'you mean by bringing
a hen into this carr"
What hen?" asked the boy, inno-
Gently.
Don't you try to fool with me. That
hen under your coat"
He waggled his forefnger at the
bunch, which promptly responded:
"Cut-cudaw-wsw-wc
"Oh, that hen!" said the boy, placidly.
II brought her along SOS could get q
freshlad aig for my lunch"
The quartet across the aisle burst
into laughter, and the sharp-nosed man
swore softly but comprehensively.
Don't you let him frighten you."
said ;he brown-eyed girl encouraging
ly to the boy.
The benevolent old lady was so sur
prised at the boys statement that her
glasses fell off again. and as she CROPPED
for them she said in rather awestruck
tones:
Goodness me! Does he eat the egg
raw?"
"Yes'm." replied the boy. politely.
Raw aigs is the only kind this hen
knows how to lay, had hen to home
we used to feed on sulphur matches.
and she laid hardboiled aigs. but the
other day she drank some Kerosene oil
an just naturally busted"
II don't believe IT," exclaimed the old
laSy. quite violently. and the cuartet a l.
m''st collapsed with glee.
A look Of sadness oyerspread the