Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-06-17
A SISTER TO BALKAN.
Miss Martha Learns Her Duties FROM
a Speokled Hen.

a Speokled Hen.
I'D like to borrow fresh egg
please" nam,
Miss Martha was washing the cream
pltcher, n pitcher of the quaint piue
ware which had belonged to her grahu,
mother, and she did not look arouhu
until the delicate operation was mn.
ished Then she turned squarely ana
coed her caller. She was trim, ac-
tive little woman who had not lost her
Youthful slenderness, and though sue
nod berun to speak of herself as an
old woman, her friends were inclined
IN regard the title ms joke
THE girl In the doorway was OF an
exaggerated slenderness that maui
Miss Martha seem almost portly, ana
her ewes met Miss Martha's with the
unwavering intensity OF one VINO
claims n right rather than asks IA
vor. After moment she repeated her
request: III you please, I'd like TO DOR
row fresh egg A.,
"Hm" reflected Miss Martha; yes
terday II was half loaf OF bread was
MT it," ~.
"Thot's what / asked for" said the
caller. "you gave me whole loaf.
mAnd the day before" continued
Miss Martha, taking no notice oil this
reply, st was cup of milk
The girl in the doorway NODDED
stuu keeping her unwinking gaze On
Miss Marthas face. Miss Marina
vainly scrutinizlng her callers race
,or any trace of embarrassment, was
annoved 10 find herself flushing to the
roots of her hair.
Il can't say that ! approve Oh DOT
rowing" Miss Martha went on. IL
,,,n out of soda or molasses, | just tel
myself that it serves me right for not
hoing more foresighted, and get
along without what | want tiil We
had n chance to go to town. Ana as
long as I'VE got principles agaihs'
borrowing" she concluded swallow
inc n lump in her throat its no
morn reasonable that l shouldn't pe-
lieve in lending"
"Then aren't you going to iet me
have a fresh egg?" asked the glri III
the doorway. She spoke dlspassloh,
otalv as II she were merely Interested
to KNOW lbN ioi -"'"
ciples would carry her. 49,,
Miss Martha rallied her FORCES, Nv,
guess not You see, this thlns > sot
to stop some time. And II ihish' 40
well be now as ever.
"Good- nv" said the girl, turning
away Then, as II she feared she hau
heen abrupt. she halted on the door
stan IA saw. IT'S nice morning But
Miss Martha dropped into chair
and wiped her damp forehead
my, that girls case, she elasu
I,.tad with n distinct sense OF renei
as she heard the gate click behind het
,.,s,tor shes brazen, that's what
she is! The way she looks AT you
makes YOU feel as small as II she tiau
caught you In some mean trek
s,nnose I'll have to buy that Barley
nIace vet. and tear that house down.
70 get rid Of the neighbors 1t brings
"rhe Bailey place" was in fact me
hitter drop in Miss Martha's cup. lhe
tumhle-down house was hali-"as
down the slope of the hill when "as
crowned by Miss Martha's neat cot
tape Much of the time II was empty
"a then Miss Martha suspected II
of affording haven to tramps, W
rest of the year 1t was occupieo ps
shiftless tenants, whom she ra'eu pc
low the tramps, inasmuch as tnes
,,ara so much more in evidence. nv
hast occupants had been in possession
l1oss than week. and the various
stans In their acquaintance had bee'
outlined by Miss Martha In her con
versation with the girl In the door
way. ~ =,
The hours went by, and even a
rigbtfal Miss Martha had not re-
Gained her accustomed equanimity
Either the day had been pecuiiail'
full of small vexations or her morn
ings encounter with her neishpo
hod been more disturbing than sh'
would acknowledge. Even the count
inc of the eggs was a disappointment
njss Martha's pride in her hens wa
only eoualled by the admiration o
the women in the neighborhood' WIN
were in the habit of declaring Una
they would give the world 70 hho'
, What Miss Martha did to her mems U
make them lay so. At this season o
the wear she could depend upon then
: to do their duty about as she depend
ed on the sunrise, but TO-DAY VI
number fell short by one, And strans
est of all, it was Speckle VINO wa
delinquent Speckle's big brown con
trihution TO the common store wa
unmistakable, but for once IL wa
conspicuous by its absence.
The next day the same thing nap
/, pened The first omission had mad
Miss Martha frown. The second Sc
her to thinking. Speckle did nc
I want to sit, that was certain, ana 81
, was not a hen to take unreasonapl
/ freaks. like a foolish young pulle
, There was a possibility that she ma
a stolen her nest, but Speckle had neve
), done such a thing in all her decorou
life. Il thought she took IT wonder
= fully cool when l wouldn't let he
have that egg" said Miss Martha I
4 herself. her lips tightening. Il CUES
a she'll bear watching" And the pro
noun did not refer to Speckle.
Along in the forenoon of the thir
dav. Miss Martha put on her hat an
started down the hill in the directlo
of the Bailey house. with Vasu
purpose of meeting her girl neighpe
4 and dropping a hint which woui
stop her in her dishonest career. 81
instead, it was Miss Martha who re
. ceived the check. As she advance
. toward her neighbours, her eyes war
dered to the dilapidated side pore
overhung with tangled vines an
there on the upper step sat speckle
n hen. Miss Martha rubbed her eye
!. but those trusted organs had NJ
y played her false. The hen was Specki
o and even as her mistress stood al
70 stared. she rose to her feet with Il
N triumphant cackle which had giat
: dened Miss Martha's heart so often