The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-07-21


The Little White Hen aud the Yellow
Cat.
Part l.
The little white hen came cackltng out
of the barn, and found the big yellow
cat sitting by the door.
"What are you looking at ?" she asked
as the yellow cat put his paw over his
mouth.
IF l want to, may wash my face,
suppose" returned the yellow cat, put
ting down his paw.
"Certainly," said the little white hen !;
but it is rather strange that every time
| come out Of the barn, after | have laid
an egg, You are washing your face. 1t
looks to ME as if you were laughing. and
just put up your paw to hide it,
Dear me-" exclaimed the yellow cat.
1T looks to me as if you were beginning
to SEGA good deal, but you don't know
very much yet"
The little white hen walked away, with
her head in the air; and the yellow cat
put up his paw again. And this time
any one could have seen him smile. His
smile was so broad that his paw could
not half cover it.
\ few minutes after this the big black
cook came running down to the barn;
and, when she went back, the egg the
little white hen had laid was gone.
Il am quite discouraged sighed the
little white hen. Indeed, 1 am! I have
laid three beautiful eggs: and [ hoped
l should cover them with my warm wings
until they went, Crack! crack! and some
dear little chickens would come out of
them
You are very simple said the old
brown hen. You should not lay your
precious eggs where the old cook can find
then.''
Pray, where shall l lay them?" asked
the little white hen in astonishment.
why, hunt a place where the cook
cant find Them said the old brown hen
as carelesSly us if it were nothing but
pecking at corn to do such IL thing; and
she walked away to find a shady place to
scratch III.
The next day the little white hen laid
another egg in the barn; and, when she
to herself Il will not get off this egg at
all. Perhaps she will not see it. And, il
she says shoe. shoe, will not move one
step
When the black cook saw the little
white hen on the nest. she did not mind
in the least, because the little hen ruffied
her white feathers and opened her mouth
at her. Oh. no! The black cook did not
care! She only laughed, and said: "HC.
ho, little hen! You glib me dat aig!!' And
then the black cook laughed very loud.
and gave the little white hen Il gentle
push. and put her great black hand into
the nest and took out the new egg. And
the little white hen flew cackling out of
the barn. And the yellow cat sat at the
door and put his paw up to his mouth.
II am glad you laughed at me again.
said the little white hen, very meekly.
Did you speak to me?' observed the
yellow cat.
Yes. l did," said the little white hen.
Il have been very stupid. If you had
not laughed at me yesterday, / should
not have thought to ask the old brown
hen about the nest
the yellow cat, politely.
But not so silly as l am said the
little white hen. Il thought I could
frighten the big black cook, and lay my
eggs in the barn.
We'll, are you going to keep on trying
it, the yellow cat inquired.
NO, indeedr exclaimed the little
white hen. Il am going to hunt me 4
nest"
Why not try under the harn?" the
yellow cat suggested very kindly.
Under the barn?' the little white hen
cried in amazement
eyes; YOU wouldn't go OH top of the
barn, would your demanded the yellow
cat, with IL broad SMILE