The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-10-09
GREAT OLD HEN.
A Few Like Her Would Be Any Mans
 FOrtune-She Earned $I,O7O.

A Few Like Her Would Be Any Mans
 FOrtune-She Earned $1,O7O. Chattanooga Press
 Listen! There died near Evansville, Tenn, yesterday, hen that was known to be 22 years old
 This unprecedentedly long-lived hen belonged to George Bradley.
 Biddy was one of a fine brood of chickens matched Ion the day that Brad ley's eldest son was born, nearly twen- ty-three years ago. By tn edate of the ed Biddy's age.
 But the hen was not called by the common name of Biddy. After a time they named her Betsp.
 From a particularly pretty chick Bet sy grew into a most industrious hen. She dearly loved to lay and her peans Of praise after each egg was deposited symphonies worth going miles to hear
 Betsy was occasionally permitted to indulge her .motherly instincts, upon able brought into the world anywhere from a dozen to fifteen of the finest chicks that ever scratched gravel any derenee in Betsys strenuosity. she became the wonder of the county and the barnyard jewel of the Bradley famtl.
 For nineteen years Betsy kept up her good word.
 It is estimated that during that time she laid 4.750 eggs and matched ,57o
  son would say in his musical comedy advertisements.
 How many grand chicks, great grand grand chicks sprang from Betsy's fowl offspring would be an interesting but an interminable calculation. Sufce it & to say syydda tha5 at the age or habits and seemed seized with a dis tinct aversion of roosters.
 The finest cock of the walk in Farm | T lIArr I,r-v ar1 bod n n . for Betsy. "-:.= =::
 She spurned them all. During the last three years of her life, Betsy did not lay an egg or hatch Bradley gave her hen food advertised Ito make hens lay or no pay but 1t availed nothing. Bradley also endeay- pred, to pree Betsy into service as the incubator of some other Biddys eggs.
 Betsy would not eat the hen food and she scorned to be the mother of some other Biddy's legitimate chicks.
 Whether Betsy's laying machinery gave out or whether she decided at the age of 19 that it was time to take life easy, is a matter of conjecture.
 The fact remains that during the last three years of her life Betsy walked composedly around and about the house and in my lady's chamber as though she considered herself the mistress of the place.
 And she was a game and naughty Betsy 10 the day of her death. pecking dl any DtTSOH SIlG hot
 Betsy was buried the day after her death with honors befitting a Biddy. so respectable and industrious. Over her grave Mir. Bradley will soon erect a marble tomstone appropriately in- scribed as follows:
 Here Lies
 LAYING BETSY.
 Born in 1883. Died in 1905. She did many a fowl deed for those
 she loved
 Peace to her bones-let them lay
 May she lay again some other day.
 If the eggs that Betsy laid during her nineteen years of faithful service were sold in the market at the present price they would realize $90S.50. If her 57O chickens brought an average price of 30 cents eacsA they would represent d market value of s171.
 On this basis, Betsy earned $1.079.50 for her owner before she retired from active duty and commenced to take life easy.