Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-20
Biddy'S Brood
Must Have Air"
Old Hen and Chicks Lose Health and
Spirits When Obliged to Live in the
Same Atmosphere Which School,
boys and Girls Endure for Several
Hours Each Day

There was much excitement in the
primary grade of a certain city school.
The teacher had permitted a little boy
to bring his dog to school and had told
them all about his eyes, nose, ears,
feet and tongue. She had called his
tongue "a little red Napkin" with
which he cleaned himself after he ate.
Then she had permitted a little girl
to bring in her kitty; and had talked
about the kitty until all the children
went home withe greater respect for
pussy me-yow-ow.
But now there was to be an old hen
and little chickens brought in. and
some of the children had never seen
a hen or chickens in all their short
lives.
The under part of the teachers desk
was inolosed with wire screen, and in
there poor old Biddy and her ten little
ones were placed. "Cluckl cluck!
cluck!" called out Biddy, uncertain
whether she liked her surroundings or
not; and then the children all laughed
and there was so much confusion that
the teacher began to be in doubt
whether it was just a wise thing to
have Biddy and her babies shut up so
near her. But, by threatening loss OF
recess, she succeeded in getting the
children quiet, while she talked to them
about Biddy and some of her ways.
Then shellet one or two of the chill
dren throw in some food, and another
put in some water, and it was a source
of unfailing interest to hear the little
chicks say Sweet, sweet, sweet" as
they picked up the seeds, and TO see
them liftlp their heads as if in thanks
every tire they took a drink of water.
The tro1ble was the first day that the
little ones wanted to stay around the
chicks all the time. 1t was so much
more entertaining than their ordinary
studies.
The chickens were there a week be-
fore the children became so accus-
toned to them as to turn their atten-
tion elsewhere, and then they Stacked
ND in their attentions and sought other
interests, somewhat.
Now, neither the teacher nor her tiny
pupils knew how to raise chicks, so
they left 1t to the janitor, who did not
know much more about it than they
did, save to clean the pen out every
morning before school.
At the end of a week, however, lit
tie boy came to school, fresh from the
country. He was only 7 years old, but
he knew more about chickens than his
teacher had ever heard of. and the first
thing he said was: "What you got that
old hen and chickens here for?"
ITO teach the children about them,"
was the reply.
How long have they been here?"
about a week. Have you any OBJ
jections?" smiled the teacher.
"Yesm Them chickens are getting
sick. They want to get outdoors"
"Those Chickens Tommy"
"Yes'm; those chickens want fresh
air and not so much cake. They'll soon
die"
But the teacher thought that old hen
and chickens one of the chief attrac-
lions of her school room, and so paid
no attention to the boys warning.
In two or there mornings two of the
little chicks were dead, and the old hen
was beating her wings against the wire
of her cage to get out; but Miss Mil
ler's baby pupils carried out the dead
chicks to the yard below, and with a
trowel dug a hole in the ground and
buried the little chicks. chanting one of
their kindergarten dirges as they
played funeral
"They'n all de-" protested the little
country bow.