Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-04-11
A STRANGE EASTER EGG

"oh. Benl I saw the prettiest little
yellow, fuzzy chicken In a candy store.
Why. they looked 'xactiy like real ones.
How I do want onet"
WELL" said Ben, more slowly than
he usually talked. I'm afraid one cent
"Oh, dearl" sighed Nellie. IT'S too
bad Mamma has TO be away Just now
at Easter time. / wish Grandma had
not got sick"
why, Nelliel you wouldn't want
Grandma to be sick at any time. would
your"
mo; I don't mean just that" said
Nellie. blushing at her selfish thought,
while poor Grandma lay so sick.
Ben gave the loose dirt a vigorous hit
with his heel, as he said, IT don't 'spose
we can have any colored eggs. either"
Then his face frightened. as he thought
OF What he had heard at school that
morning. But never mind, Nell; they
are going to have an e%gg-rolling at
Judge Whites on Monday, and we can
go and watch the fun II we haven't any
egg ourselves to roll"
"Oh, can we7" said Nellie, brighten
Ing at the prospect of some fun
Easter Monday came clear and bright.
much to the delight of the children of
the town; for they could now have their
egg-rolling without fear Of being chased
into the house by rain drops.
Judge whites yard seemed made pur-
posely for egg-rolling; for there was
the incest long hill. and 1t sloped in the
direction OF the street, so passers-by
could see the fur Of the little folks.
Every child In the village could come
to Judge Whites this day. OF course.
only those who had the beautifv 'ly col
ored eggs could start them at ne top
Of the hill and run merrily down after
them In their zig-zag wanderings. un-
lass anHna nf thA mana 1919
TAX pity on the eggless mes and d.
vide with them.
But those who had no eggs were al
lowed to help eat the disabled ones,
whose broken shells would not allow
them to be rolled longer, SO all were
happy, whether rich or poor.
Ben and Nellie stood near the foot of
the hill watching the fun and enjoying
1t almost as much as IL some Of the
rolling. tumbling eggs belonged to them.
"Oh, look! Ben" cried Nellie, as she
spied an unusually large egg coming
down the hill straight toward her, and
following 1t came a plump little fellow
almost as round as the egg he chased
down the hill.
Somehow this egg had not been col.
ored; evidently it had been sighted
when other eggs had recaived such
pretty coats OF yellow, purple, gold,
silver, blue and speckled hues. But 1t
IOllGu uo"h llC I'LL dS DltIIly dS llS
merriest.
On 1t came faster and faster, and be-
fore Nellie could get u of it's way 1t
had rolled against her shoe and the
shell had broken.
And what do you think happened
Why, a little beak appeared from the
inside of the shell, pecking at the hole
ment out came a tiny, baby duck!
oh, oh, OH" shouted Ben and Mel
lie In one breath. ThCn Nellie stopped
and carefully picked up the fluffy little
creature n held 1t in her hands.
BY this TIM the owner Of this queerly
acting egg had reached the spot where
his egg had stopped it's journey, and
looked in amazement at the creature
in Nellie's hands.
Nellie looked up and saw him and,
knowing the little duck belonged to
him, she slowly held out her hand to
him, though she wished. OH so much,
that she might keep him for her own.
little owner, as Nellie held his property
toward him.
"Oh. don't you, really?" she asked,
thinking she must have been mistaken
in what she heard.
But a decided shake Of the head
proved she was right.
Can I have it, then? Oh! I'd love to
keep It," said Nellie.
YES; If you want It. I wouldn't
know what to do with it."
Nellie did not hear these last words,
for she was on her way home as fast
as she could go without dropping her
tiny treasure. and Ben followed at her
heels.
When they reached home Bridget
helped them to make a nest In a small
berry o and showed Nellie how to
feed and take care of her young pet.
No motherless duckling ever had
such tender care and owe as this one,
and as week after week went by, he
grew stronger and larger.
Soon his first cradle was too small
for him. and a larger hox was made
comfortable for his
He would follow Nellie around like a
little dog, and seemed to think as much
of her as a dog does Of his master.
Nellie can never be thankful enough
for that Easter Monday when she and
Ben went to see the egg-rolling, and
when that big. queer-looking egg, broke
at her feet and gave her her little pet
duck.