Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-03-26

"A hen was primarily intended
to eggs" remarked Uncle Ben"
Beasley, as he took one Of Sheriff
Bailey's cigars and borrowed a
light. but do you know, Charles
I've found some hens who through
ill-conditioned circumstance. have
been denied their sovereign prero-
gative and are forced 20 complete
with coarse men in order to keep
themselves out ola Frontstreet mark
ct. In short, they have become 50
valuable that no amount Of fresh
eggs would compensate their owner
for changing their occupation.
They've simply been threatened
with humiliation by the present
coal famine, and they've met the
situation in q manner that makes
their owner resemble a humble bee
from whom has BEEN taken the last
rose OF summer.
Those hens. Charles live out
near your old home in Henrietta,
not far from Bailey's Crossing.
Ever since coal jumped heavenward
in price my friend. the hen s owner,
has been driven to try every kind
Of game 20 keep the pot boiling:
The warm water for the hen house was
cut out. The large lamp that was
kept burning in their quarters on
zero nights was carried into the
sitting room, and the hens tumbled.
Yes, sir, they canvassed the situa-
ton, and after peeking into the
empty coal bins through the cellar
windows they became, as | heard
my neighbor's boy once express
it, wise Then an observer would
have noticed that every time coal
train rumbled over Bailey s Crossing
the gallinaceous instinct caused those
hens to scurry across the road,
when they would line up and watch
with yearnning eyes her precions
cargo Of black diamonds whisking
by.
Zone afternoon my friend was
surrounded by the whole flock. He
throught at first that the cold had
driven them mad. Yet they persis.
ted in trying to drive him toward
the railroad tracks. At last, to
humor them. he gave in and walked
down TO the cut. There on the
ground was about half q ton of good,
hard coal. He was amazed, but be-
ing an honest man, he carted it all
home, so as TO discourage theft in
his neighbors, and the next day he
watched his hens. loot! TOotl went
the engine, and every blessed hen
scuttled across the road 10 the rail-
road. And, Charles DANCED il every
feathering philosopher didn't climb
upon a high-board fence and wait
for the train to goby. Now, II there
is anything under heaven that a
trainman can't resist IFS the sight
OF Plymouth Rock perched upon
the top of high fence. Bang! bang!
biff! biffl went the chunks OF coal as
the cars hurtled by. And every
hen at the first sight of bombarment
dropped down TO the foot of the fence
where they were safe from the mis-
sileS.
This maneuver was repeated at
every passing of a coal train. Some
days he picks up as much as ton
of coal. On poor days he will aver
age one-quarter of a ton. So far
he has lost just one bird, a young
rooster, who couldn't resist the
temptation TO mount the fence, when
the fire was the hottest, to give a
triumphant crow.
And say, Charles it would do
yo4r heart good to see how mean
ana meachin' those hens look when
nothing but soft coal is thrown at
them. Oh, yes, he has more coal
than he can ",a and does quite a
basket business with his. "-Roch-
ester Post Expaess.