Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1910-12-24

farm over in Michigan? Aw, you're
just modest, McQueen-you know you
have! Fresh eggs at every meal"
In the face Of all this Mcqueen was
in nervously desperate straits when he
landed with two friends In the country
in June, and his wife, in response to
his frantic inquiries. placidly said the
chickens had come-at least, six hens
had. No there weren't any eggs yet.
Then she was startled to see her hus-
band turn pale and apparently have
some sort of At.
But" he got out, finally, Chester
and Vantine haven't done a thing all
the way across the lake but talk about
the fresh eggs they are going to have
and the fried chicken dinner | am to
set up Sunday! Why. those hens have
got to lay"
Now, Henry" said his wife. awake
at last to the emergency, they'll
never know the differences! got real
nice eggs from the grocer who sends
wagon around, and I've no doubt he
can sell chickens, tool"
We'll, for goodness sake, don't let
the fellows know they're not from our
place!" yasped Mcqueen. in agonised
relief.
He exploined the apparent paucity
of hens to his friends by saying that
he had sent back q lot that weren't
satisfactory, and then he gave color
to his fiction about his chicken yard
by giving the man of all work lavish
orders as to placing chicken wire.
Mcqueen. still nervous from his mar.
row escape resolved when he got back
to town TO buy and ship all the avail
able live poultry, so he might breathe
in peace. Vantine and Chester went
back shouting praises of their chick
en- dinner and their breakfast omelets.
Then the rusb began. So many friends
wanted to drop over to Michigan with
Mcqueen that It looked as though he
would have to issue checks.
Fresh eggs and real homegrown
chickens sounds good to U.S." they
would say, plaintively.
Mcqueen neglected his business
hunting up material for his fatal chick
en- yard. He tried artfully to talk
the virtues Of lake bass and butchers
meat and breakfast bacon, while his
hens were so busy getting acquainted
with their new home that they did not
attend to their duties, but everybody
put up protesting hands.
What" they would exclaim. mo
fish, no bacon for us. We came over
here especially for fresh eggs and
friend chicken! No steak, thank you"
SO the McQueens squandered I'M
told gold on the grocery boy and scour-
ed the countryside for eggs. All OF
McQuoen's week-ends resolved them
selves into nightmares Of showing de-
termined guests about his chicken
yard. He never got time to go any.
where else. All OF Mrs McQueen's
midweeks were devoted to hunting up
a fresh supply of eggs and chickens
to feed to the weekend crowd. She
couldn't have any OF their own chick
ems killed, because they were supposed
to lay eggs.
BY fall Mcqueen had bought ten diff
ferent kinds of food warranted to
make hens lay and mona OF which did;
had invested In six different brands
of chickens, each warranted better
than the last, none OF which were; had |
spent fortune on day labor and rolls
Of chicken wiiP and carpenters for the
henhouse and paid so much money for
eggs and froilers that his blood cur.
died TO his toes when HIS wife showed
him the bill.
II kept count she said I'VE had |
Just 30 eggs OF our own all summer |
long from $50 hene, Now, what are |
you going to do With them this win.
ter. when We go back to Chicagp?"
DO with them!" exclaimed Mo |
Queen. IRA going 70 poison the lot,
or else sell them TO some greenhoru,
who is fool enough to think he wants
A chicken yard And, Angelina Nc |
Queen. n you serve chicken In any
form TO me during the next elk months
or bring a soft-holled egg within Run.
shot OF me, ri not y answerable 70,
The consequeneesl ia a desperats
manlr
You needn't vol &" raid bis wife |
I'm kind o. tired chicksns. ~
IelfT