The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1907-12-05

ny JUN cried Mary, whatever
rave you got there in that bag"
And as she said the words tpa bag
moved, John standing as stal as
stone, his gaze fixed on the floor in
'front.' OF him and giving no sign.
Good grief" cried Mary, gasping
lor breath and turning slightly pale
What on earth ails you, John?"
Nothing said John.
Then what is in that bag?"
"A hen said John.
"A hem"
Yes" said John.
"A dead one?"
No said John.
"A live one?"
Yes said John, and he gazed at
Mary at last in such a pleading, visit
full way that she turned her head TO
hide her look of pride.
Now, they had a rattle at the of
flee said John, growing bolder at
Mary's silence, and l won it,"
He placed his hat on chair.
1t is game fowl" he eagerly add
ed
He drew a iackknife from his pocs-
e., paced the bag on the floor and
opened the knife to cut the string
that encircled the neck of the bag.
They are very rare, he added
again, flushing with pleasure at the
thought of his proprietorship in the
fowl and Mary's kindness to him.
Well" said Mary, speaking with
indulgence, put it down in the cellar
for the present. John. and We will see
And if ever a happy man first hung
his hat up in that hall and then car
riea paper bag down into the cellar
humming a hymn under his breath
and walking softly as a true gentle
man should, it was our John the night
he brought the game fowl home.
Wont you have to build a coop for
it," asked Mary after dinner.
Yes; shall | so now?' asked John,
rising from the table The poor thing
viii have to have coop; shall l 90
now, Mary"
John tripped down the cellar steps
like a bride who is late to her we'd
ding, and when Mary went down a
little later and sat on the steps to
watch him work. Johns cup of happi-
ness was full and the chicken coop
grew beneath his hands like thing of
magic.
There" said John, after the coop
had been finished and set outside, a
nest and perch placed in it and the
game fowl balanced on the perch.
Now, if she is only good layer"
But it seemed as if that was the
very thing in which the game fowl
was most deficient.
Did the chicken lay an egg" was
Johns first question every night.
And every night Mary made sympa-
thotic answer:
no, John; it didn't"
Johns spirits dropped.
Perhaps" he said another night,
"she needs a bigger nest
They enlarged her nest.
Perhaps" he said the third night.
"she needs a few oyster shells well
cracked up"
They provided her with that deli
cacy.
Perhaps, said John the fourth
night, she needs a run"
They tied a string to her leg and let
her run.
The fifth night John had no sugges-
ton to offer, but his manner was so
when Mary told him the
news of the chickens continued mac
ton that she could hardly restrain
herself from going right out and
boxing the game fowls ears. Stimuli
an inspiration struck her.
and the next morning she made a
special visit to the chicken coop and
slyly slipped an egg into the next.
Il don't suppose the chicken laid an
egg" sighed John as he hung up his
hat that night.
Il don't know" said Mary, busting
"I've been so busy to-day I've
hardly had time to turn around Come
10 think about it, though, she was
,acklAng like anything this after
noon
John rushed out and almost stimuli
aneously rushed in again, triumphant
y carrying the egg.
well, WE'LL" cried Mary.
Isn't it a large one!" cried John.
"Of all things!" cried Mary.
And how heavy it Isl" cried John,
weighing it in his palm. 81 never felt
such a heavy
Observation-Disclosures, o, but
{ was an ancient egg!
81 wouldn't want to eat II" said
Mary, turning fiery red.
20, they're not for eating!" cried