Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-08-26
FOundIingS
By George Weston.

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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-coCp, with its nests
and perches,> mis- mind was made up,
for IL had ever been his hearts de-
sire 20 raise chickens, a hobby hith-
srto impossible, owing TO the restric-
ttons of third-lcor fat. As for Mary.
that same fiat had been contracting
Itself round her like a 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.
"There!" said Mary, when the last
curtain had been draped and the last
loose tack but one had been found.
Nov if we only had a cat this would
be"
mo, sir" said John, meaning NO
ma'ami"-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
a rocster!"
" Plymouth Rocks?'" asked Mary.
What do 1 want Plymouth Rocks
for?'
why. 70 have them lay fresh eggs
for your breakfast" explained John,
very patiently.
ooh, then they're chickens?"
<'Of course they are. What did you
think?"
Il thought they were something
to throw at the rooster
why do you want to throw at the
rooster?" demanded John.
Because 1 don't like Them" said
Mary. Now 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
IL It mesmerized him.
mot much satisfaction for me to
make a 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
Theepishly at Mary over the rim OF
Il.
"And then having the mice eat
It all up!" she concluded, with spirit
Whereat John looked with renewed
interest at the cake, the choicest por-
lions of which had apparently been
devoured by ravenous little teeth, and
then he looked at Mary.
''Was 1t good?" he asked.
How do / know?" asked Mary,
with bitterness.
What's that on your cheek, near
she corner of your mouth?" smiled
Eohn. It's crumb of cake!" he
sried.
Mary blushed.
Aren't you going. to eat your
eggs?' she asked, at the breakfast
'able next morning.
Eggs" asked John. do you call
these 'eggs'?"
Mary said nothing.
eggs at ALL" said John, pushing them
As far away from him as the table
would permit.
"WiL you have a chop?" asked
Mary.
NO" said John, IN hollow tones.
"a little cold mcat?" che hesitated.
John deigned not to answer. but
staIked out into the hall, looking
peaked and pinned.
Now if We only had a flock of
chickens of our own"
He made ghostly gesture and van
ished down the steps.
You must have been hungry this
mOrni' !" said Mary. that night.
III gry?" said John. Hungry?
Why--What's that?"