The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-06

We won't start with a lame hen. but
with thousand healthy and ambitious
birds"
Mrs. Bowser made no reply. She
could have gone at it and destroyed
his arguments in a minute, but she
decided not to do so. He turned to his
paper and reread the poultry state
ments, made either in sarcasm or by
some one who didn't know a hen
from brindle calf, and his ambition
and greed became so great that he
couldn't sit still. He got up and walked
around the room for several minutes
and then paused to say:
ess you can begin to pack up. We
will be sold out in two weeks
Very well" she replied
ana think III drop out and see
the butcher for a few minutes. He'll
know the best breed of fowls to start
in with and I might as well advertise
for them at once. We can keep a thou
sand OF them down cellar for a month
II we nave to, and during that time we
ought to have half a million eggs"
He took his hat from the rack and
started off for the butchers, and when
the door had closed behind him the cat
came out from under the lounge and
sat I'D and looked at Mrs. Bowser in a
sorrowfsll way and seemed to say:
Don't grteve, poor woman. The
butcher is a hard-headed man, and
Mr.. Bowser will hear something drop
before he comes back
Inc DaICneT was ABOUT Closing up
for the evening, but he cheerfully
agreed that he would answer a few
questions about poultry. He had
known all about poultry since he was
a chicken himself. Mr.. BoWser handed
him the paper and asked him to read
the article. He did so, and when he
had finished he burst into a guaffaw
and said:
THAT was written by a fool for fools
to read. You don't tell me that you be-
lieve such statements ?"
''They strike me as reasonable and
linen the Fool killer ought to
strike you with a club. Did you ever
see a hen ?"
''Sir, don't insult me!''
I'm not insulting you. Did you ever
have a flock of hens around your
house ?"
MO"
''Well, if you had, you wouu realize
what nonsense this is Why, Bowser
you couldn't make your salt at the
failures to one success, and it's harder
work than saving hickory wood with
dull saw"
81 beg to differ with you. I say
there is money in 1t. If a woman sixty
years old can start with one hen, and
lame one at that. and make
MAKE your grandmother"
but do you mean to say that I'm q
fool"
mo, Bowser, but you are an easy
fark-a good thing. You want weights
on your feet to keep them down. Give
it up. Go home and ask Mrs. BoWsel
to make you some catnip tea and tuck
you up in your trundle-bed."
you are liar. sir! You are-you
are-!''
But the Smiling and good-natured
butcher pushed him out doors an6
locked it against him, and Mr.. Bowsel
was forced to walk away. He thought
of appealing to the druggist, but he
know what the man would say, an6
say it gladly. The plumber might
possibly sympathize with his desire tC
make $4,000 in two years out of ter
or twelve hens and a blind rooster, but
he had closed his shop and gone home
There was the tailor, but what did q
tailor know about hens that laid
twenty eggs a day and were ambitious
to do better? The world was against
the man who wanted to go into poul-
try.
The April breezes sighed and moan
ed, the last of the January snowdrifts