St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24
HE KEPT
CHICKENS

did n last April when Mcqueen was
explaining for the fiftieth time that the
country place he had just purchased
over in Michigan was without e4cep-
ton the greatest bargain and the pref
test spot on earth.
"You are going to keep chickens, or
course?" suggested Vantine. In the
tone which demands an Affirmative
| answer
why" said Mcqueen, who up to that
minute hadn't thought anything about
it at all, why, yes, of course! we
have our own fresh eggs. Or course
| am going to have the finest poultry
yard in the state! Chickens! Weii'
l should say SOL"
Before he moved his family over TO
the new home in May Mcqueen nau
invited everybody he knew to drop IN
any time during the summer for week
end. Everybody was most deeply IN
terested in McQueen's chicken yaro'
which he had been to busy to see
about as yet. 1t seemed to him that
| his friends took malicious delight IN
slapping him on the back and spread
| ing the news
"Hello!" they would say, joviaily!
| ...Poring over catalogues, suppose,
picking out your chickens and stun!
Why, didn't you know, Chester. that
Mcqueen, here, has a huge chicken
farm over in Michigan? Aw, you're
just modest, McQueen-you know you
have! Fresh eggs at every NEAL!
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 mems
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 fit.
But" he got out, finally, Chester
and Vantine haven't done thing AIN
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 nave
got to lay"
/ Now, Henry" said his wife. awake
at last to the emergency, they'll
never know the difference! got real
nice eggs from the grocer who SENDS
a wagon around. and I've no doubt ne
can sell chickens, tool"
well, for goodness sake, don't let
the fellows know they're not from our
place." gasped Mcqueen. in agonized
relief.
He exploined the apparent paucity
of hens to his friends by saying that
he had sent back a 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 rush 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 US" 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. "No
fish. no bacon for us. We came over
| here especially for fresh eggs and
, friend chicken! No steak, thank you. :
} So the McQueens squandered un
J told gold on the grocery boy and scour
ed the countryside for eggs. All Of
t McQueen'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 VI
: a fresh supply of eggs and chickens
' to feed to the weekend crowd. She
! couldn't have any of their own chick
j. ems killed, because they were supposed
2 to lay eggs.
, BY fall Mcqueen had bought ten diff
: ferent kinds Of food warranted t
make hens lay and nons Of which did
had invested in six different brands
of chickens, each warranted bettel
than the last, none of which were; hat
, spent fortune on day labor and roll
!, of chicken wire and carpenters for tn,
henhouse and paid SO. much money To-
eggs and froilers that his blood cur
died to his toes when his wife showet
him the bill.
Il kept count" she said. I'VE hat
just 80 eggs of our own all summe
you going to do with them this win
ter, when We 60 back to Chicago?'
do with them!" exclaimed Nc
Queen. I'm going to poison the lot
or else sell them to some greenhorn
who is fool enough to think he want
chicken yard! And, Angelina Nc
Queen. If you serve chicken in an,
form to me during the next six month
or bring soft-boi1ed egg within gun
shot of me, I'll not be answerable 10
the consequences! I'm a desperat
mani"
You needn't worry" said his wife
. I'm kind of tired of chickens. nv
SELF 'A'
Boys Battle With RattIers.
Two VOun0 hovc =