The new South-news., 1908-11-28

watching Tor papa. Every night ~neu
II was Il - for him to return home
they wA,snr- until they saw him come
In signt around the corner and they
ran as fast as they could TO meet him
Unless papa WAS very Vired indee
he always carried one OF thGn -AAEk
on his shoulder, while the other took
hold Of his hand. and 10th tried to
tell him of all that they had been do
ing that day.
There he comes." cried Dorothy at
last. and the children raced toward the
corner as fast as their chubby llttlt
legs could carry them.
Careful now." said papa. warning
ly, as the two hurrying little figures
reached him. Don't hit against my
dinner pail!
What is in it?" asked Dorothy and
Laurence in one breath. as they stood
on uptoe, trying to peep Inside the
cover.
'c.--." said papa. laughInsly. "A
nickel to The clc who guesses right
Candy" c..ed Laurence.
Oranges" said Dorothy.
Papa shook his head at both these
guesses, and at all the others that
followed, until they had reached the
house.
Now let mamma have . turn" he
said. holding the dinner pail up to
her ear.
why. 1t isn't" mamma began.
with look OF the greatest surprise.
"Yes, 1t la" papa declared Then he
took OF the cover and tipped the pail
gently over in the middle OF the kitch-
Ell table, and out came ten OF the
nufiest, downiest little chickens that
any Of them had ever seen Several
stepped about timidly: but most OF
them huddled together near the pail,
peepIng softly
"Oh, oh, OH" cried the children. de-
lightedly. jumping up and down In
their excitement. Are they really
ours? Where did you get them?"
They are power-house chickens
papa replied. smiling at their enthu-
siasm. matched right in the engine
room!"
What do you mean?" asked mamma
in establishment, gazing at the pretty
little creatures.
Just what l say" replied papa. who
was an engineer in the big power
house down town. they wege haichodr
on = shelf in the snside-pofm'
You are joking!" mamnH declared,
but papa shook his head at once.
1T was just this way" he explained.
hanging up his hat Tom Morgan
brought me . dozen OF eggs from his
new hennery about three weeks ago.
put them up on the shelf. intending
to bring them home that night, but
never thought of them again until this
morning. when there seemed to be
something stirring up there. l looked,
and. sure enough, there was fine lit
ter OF chickens just picking their way
out Of the shells!"
But how did it ever happen?" asked
mamma In a puzzled tone. while Dor
othy and Laurence scattered tiny bread
crumbs near the newcomers.
Because the engine. running night
and day. gave the eggs just a. much
heat as they would have found under
hens WINGS" papa replied, 'and
SO they thought that they we're put up
there to hatch"
"Oh, aren't they darlings!" cried
Dorothy. clapping her hands ~ the
chickens began to ent the crumbs.
They are the incest pets that We ever
had in all our lives!"
"Thc only question in my mind is
how they are to be mothered At night"
papa said, patting Dorothy's bright
cuIls as he spoke. III mamma can de-
eide that question for US. will agree
to make nice home for them"
| Mamma looked thoughtful for . mo-
ment, then told papa that II he would
make the little house she would soon
have . mother ready to put inside
1t.
While papa was making q nice dSop
out Of wooden box. mamma found vn
empty tin can that had once held r.
gallon Of maple syrup. She 6lle6 this
full of boiling water. screwed the COW
er on tight. and then wrapped It mp In
pieces of flannel
ly. fastening the last strip, "let us re
how the chickens like this for Z moth
er!"
Setting the can carefully in the cen
ter OF the coop, she put the little chick
ems close by It, Finding 1t soft and
warm. they cuddled up against tho
flannel cover. and began to chirp =
contentedly as II 1t were mother hAn.
Then she pinned = square OF nanud TO
the upper side OF the can, letting Il
spread either way like mother heA's
wings, and leaving the ends open fOr
the chickens to 70 In and out
We will fill the can with hot Wntsr
every night" said mamma. and Il VIII
keep the chickens nice and r W1glA
They will never know that 1t y ~ !
real mother"
| Whether on moi this wns truo, ~
chickens certainly lived quite happ11y
| with their syrup can mother, until pa-