Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-02

BY GORILLA BANNISTER.

b4 COnlLlAA bANNlSlEh.
A little girl named Ruth, who had never
been to school and who spent much time In
practicing music, was given a tiny black
chicken to bring up. After feeding, the
chicken was often placed on a chair
near the piano. If it showed a desire-to
get away Ruth's hands would leave the
keys to hold it in place while she gently
stroke it into restfulness, and in this way
she taught it to sit and listen to the music.
The chicken inherited its crow-like shape
from a black Spanish mother, and resem-
bled its beautiful game father in being
quick to respond to love and care. The little
girl named the chicken Mink, and in a short
time it learned to answer when called, to
know the voice of Its mistress ard to ac-
company her on excursions about the vii
lage.
Strangers turned to cast amused glances
at the pretty ten-year-old girl, dressed in
gray broadcloth, walking down the street
with a half-grown chicken at her heels.
When she went to the hotel for her meals
Mink followed to the door, and picked about
the lawn while her mistress was eating. On
their way home Mink would jump after a
grasshopper or cricket, and then alight on
When the practice hour arrived Mink
would enter and perch herself upon the
back of a chair, looking at the keyboard
and encouraging the child by clucking soft
on the top of the piano. with her head and
neck over the edge, watching the nimble
fingers glide up and down among the keys
A near neighbor became i'll, and the child
was directed to give up her music for a few
days. When the regular practice hour came
Mink would approach the instrument, perch
in her accustomed place. and sing louder
and louder until her mistress carried her
away for q walk. Just as soon as they re-
turned she would go back to the plano, and
show great uneasiness because her mistress
did not begin. Each day Mink remembered
the practice hours and went to her place.
clucking 'kut, kut," to remind others Of
duties that she thought sadly neglected.
Mink positively refused to associate with
chickens; she passed her own mother with
out q sign of recognition, but she flew JOY
ously into the laps Of her human friends;
If they allowed it she would perch upon
their heads.
One day Mink went to the top of sand
bank and laid small, brown egg. Her
mistress built soft nest. took her pet to
the chicken house and put her into 1t, at the
same time explaining that she was to go to
housekeeping with the egg for company.
of the nest, followed to the veranda steps,
and then, for the first time in her life. she
left the little maiden and Joined the other
chickens. Strange as 1t may seem. for
long time she did not go near the plano or
pay the slightest attention to music.
When Mink's nest was full Of eggs,
and she was forced to stay on it to keep
tnem warm, the little musician OFTEN
went to admire the eggs and praise
Mink for the care she was giving her
home.
One day the child smoothed Mink's
black feathers, but forgot to look at the
eggs and when she started to leave the
chicken house Mink made the strangest
noise, ducked her head under her breast,
and with a skillful twist of the neck
brought one of her treasures into view.
When Minks little black brood were
led into the yard for a scratch it was
discovered that the mother hen knew a
language which she had not learned
from her human friends One sound
meant q nice fat worm, another a grass
hopper, while an altogether different
note announced the approach of a hawk.
For each emergency Mink spoke so clear
ly that the trained ear of the little mu-
stefan soon grew to distinguish the diff
ferent shades Of tone When Mink found
a chicken snake in the grass instantly
her ruffled feathers stood out like sails
in a tempest. The chickens scampered
Off in all directions when they heard their
mother sound the danger signal-a noise
which reminded one Of a stick drawn
across the palings of a fence.
In midsummer the sun-baked ground
often became too hard for scratching.
Then Mink would lead her brood to the
piano, clucking and teasing until Ruth
understood and left the instrument to
provide food for her neglected pets.