The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-04
at any time she should happen Il
-oo.7 41,o,>,

with unusual care, he DetOOk 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 a clucking and protesting
pullet under her arm.
"Why, good afternoon, Mr.. Wig
glesby!' began she smilingly and
without the slightest trace of en-
barrassment. "I'm so glad you hap
pened to call as you did. Perhaps
you can tell mo how to make this
hen stay on the eggs until they are
hatched. She has been sitting two
weeks, and now she has taken no.
ton to quit. This makes the third
time I have caught her off the nest
in the past two hours''
"Why-why don't you fasten her
ons" suggested Wigglesby, with
sudden burst Of inspiration.
"Oh, thank you!'' exclaimed Mrs.
Wiltsey. II thought Of doing SO,
but wasn't sure whether it was right
or not. Just hold her minute, will
you, while I hunt up rope to tic
her down with. ("
And the next thing Wigglesby
knew be 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,
"No, it will tako at least two per-
sons to properly anchor that pullet
on the nest, and, seeing that your
sister isn't on hand to render the
necessary assistance, I would just az
soon go along and help as not. .
From this it twould seem that Wig
glesby was improving very rapidly.
"Itis very kind CT you, I'm sure,
said the plump widow, favorins
Wigglesby with grateful smile,
which upset him SO he came near
dropping the hen 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 spct,
"13 as fine eggs as were ever laid,
and--I just happened to think of it
II wonder if the number has any
thing to do with her acting as she
dcesl You don't suppose the hen
has counted the eggs and found out
that there are 13 of them and that is
why she refuses to sit any more,
do you!"
''Shouldn't wonder" said Wig
glesby. "All females are SO plaguy
Il mean all hens are so supersti-
tious, you know.
ssAre theyS 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 well
make up her mind to sit, 13 or no
1s. If you will take her a minute, I
think / can fix the nest SO She will
have to stay on it. -
Mrs. Wiltsey relieved Wigglesby
of his burden, and then he looked
wise and went on:
~ suppose the surest way would
be to bore two holes in the bottom
of the nest then stick her legs down
through and tie them fast under the
nest, but-er"--
"Are you sure the eggs wouldn't
fall throughs' anXiously inquired
the owner of the hen at this point.
"Er-I was just wondering about
tha5 myself. l don't think tying Eer
on the nest is going to work very
we'll. Wait, and Ill See if can find
a box to turn upside down over her.
If can get ono small enough and
then put weight on it to hold it
down, she's got to st whether she
likes to or not. -
"But IN afraid I am putting you
to an awful lot of trouble MIR. Wig
glesbyi''
"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-
crossing!
He finally found the right sort of
box, and he and the plump widow
between them got the hen under it
and the box properly anchored
down, and then Wigglesby said he
guessed it was time he was going;
"But," he added thoughtfully,
"I'll-er--come over again tomor-
row to help get this hen out and
feed her and put her back on the
nest again. She'll have to be taken
out and fed once day, and of
course you can't do it alone.
"But my sister will be home to-