The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-01-28

early as usual. instead of fOllo~.
the hungry impulse of his own
petite, Old Goldy touched nv
mouthful but began a low oosr,
"chuck, chuck, chuck" and ~
courtly grace waited till LAWN
his beautiful spouse, came I'D toT
feast. Lavinia was fat and fai,
look upon and gorgeous in her =
low array which caught the RAYS
sunlight as if part of itself. O.
lantly Goldy watched her cage,
pick up the meal and grains of On,
and then as if sure Lavinia was
a fair way to be we'll fed, he On,
menced with famished air to tsy
his own meal. When Lavinia. vii
craw filed began moving ava
without any hesitation Goldy ID
the food and strutted proudly al
CALAMITY with her to the grass
yond the garden. I don't think
vinia even asked him if he had 4
ished his breakfast, or 80 much
gave a passing though to anythiS
save her own inclination to move
to the green field outside.
I had carefully made Lavinia
nest in the yard behind a rosebud
not that I supposed for a Faome
she cared for the beauty of the
u~ation, but the place was selevA
exactly suitable for a nest for a
good hen that intended to dischRr :
all duties expected.
One morning l saw Old Goldy
standing all alone by the rOsebush
in somewhat sleepy, relaxed looking
attitude. l went out Immediately
to see where Lavinia had strayed,
for my beautiful Buff Cochins are
highly priced. Stepping carefully
and lightly, I peered in one side of
the mass of blooming roses, at the
nest I had made, and there sat La
vinia. I understand in a moment
that Old Goldy was generously de-
voting himself to sharing her tenn
porary withdrawal from the outside
world, giving her no doubt a feeling
of companionship and protection,
and a knowledge that he was anx-
iously waiting the glad Cackle which
would announce to all listening ears
that a fresh new egg had been pro-
duced. OFF and on for an hour or
more I peeIed out at my gallant
Goldy, and there with no impatient
ordinations or restless movements
he still quietly stood, and when at
last Lavinia with loud and furious
caokling heralded her work abroad,
Colby gave himself with generous
enthusiasm to the achievement of
his wife and seemed willing TO split
his own throat joyously assisting in
proclaiming her Gee in the egg
laying business.
That evening as the sun sank low
in the west, I walked not far from
the box in the yard where these
precious chickens sleep and curiously
watched the pair settle themselves
for the night. Lavinia, without
eve saying, (Which side do you
want, Goldy?" stepped into the box
and with much futtering and shak-
ing OF feathers and spreading OF
herself owe all the space she wished,
Struggled down comfortably to rest.
Goldy stood outside and watched
Lavinia with ~unselfsh air till she
had entirely and satisfactorily ad-
justed herself, then meekly he
stepped over the edge of the box
and, monster chicken as he was, he
squatted down without providing or
pushing, in the small po1 ton left
him and entirely shielded Lavinia
with his own body from anything
that might approach from without.
7 went into the house muttering to
myself, "I'l say it again-I don't
care if my boys do laugh at me
we could all learn something of IN.
selfshness and courtesy from my
beautiful ohivalrous chicken, Old
Colby" KATE ALMA ORGAN.
Tamnla Taxss