The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-08-14
POundlingS
By George Weston.

W W
AS soon as Mary saw the shade and
fruit trees, the attic and the large
closets, her mind was made up; and
the moment Johns eyes caught sight
Of the chicken-coop, with its nests
and perches, his mind was made up,
for 1t had ever been his hearts de-
sire to raise chickens, hobby hith-
erto impossible, owing to the restric-
tons Of a third floor fiat. As for Mary,
that same fiat had been contracting
itself round her like nightmare, so
that, standing upon the second floor
Of this suburban residence, with its
quarter-acre Of ground and its unsur-
passed view, when she looked at the
broad halls and the large rooms. while,
grove of friendly pines nodded their
heads to her from over the way, she
knew that here, at last, she had found
that place called home.
s'Therei" said Mary, when the last
curtain had been draped and the last
loose tack but one had been found.
Nov il we only had a cat this would
be- b Sts;lsSI
No, sir!" said John. meaning "No
ma'am!"-as he nursed the foot that
had found the last tack but one. 81
could never stand cats! Cats! Ugh!
But I'll tell you what you do want,
Mary Six fine Plymouth Rocks and
rooster!"
plymouth Rocks?'" asked Mary.
What do want Plymouth Rocks
ior?"
9'Why. to have them lay fresh eggs
for your breakfast" explained John,
very patiently.
"Oh, then they're chickens?"
of course they are. What did you
think?"
II thought they were something
to throw, at the rooster"
why do you want to throw at the
rooster?" demanded John.
Because don't like Them. said
Mary. Nov you Just remember.
John, we're not going to have any
chickens here!"
And as John rose to his feet, the
better to urge his plea for fowls, he
found the very last tack of all, and
the subject was dropped until din
ner-time the next night, when Mary
brought the cake in.
John took one look at the cake,
opened his mouth to speak, changed
his mind, closed his mouth and fixed
his gaze upon his glass OF water as
If it mesmerized him.
Not much satisfaction for me to
make q cake" said Mary. John SIM
ply looked at his glass of water.
Standing in that hot kitchen all
afternoon. and this is all the good it
does" she continued
John said nothing, but looked at his
glass OF water very hard.
Baking all day long"
John blinked both his eyes, picked
up his glass of water and looked
sheepishly at Mary over the rim of
1t.
And then having the mice eat
Il all up!" she concluded, with spirit.
Whereat John looked with renewed
interest at the cake, the choicest por-
tons OF which had apparently been
devoured by ravenous little teeth, and
then he looked at Mary.
Was it good?" he asked.
How do / know" asked Mary.
with bitterness.
What's that on your cheek, near
the corner of your MOUTH" smiled
john It's crumb of cake!" he
cried.
Mary blushed.
Aren't you going to eat your
eggs?" she asked. at the breakfast.
table next morning.
Eggs?" asked John. 'sDo you call
these 'esgs'?"
Mary said nothing.
I want fresh eggs or / don't want
eggs at ALI" said John, pushing them
as far away from him as the table
would permit.
win you have a chep?" asked
Mary
No." said John, In hollow tones.
"A little cold meat?s she hesitated.
John deigned not TO answer. but
stalked out into the hall, looking
peaked and pinned. s,
Now If We only had a flock of
chickens of our own"
He made "a ghostly gesture and van
ished down the steps.
you must have been hungry this
morning" said Mary. that night
Hungry" said John. Hungry?
Why-What's THAR"