The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-01-12
HE KEPT
CHICKENS

= :
1t was Vantine who laid the trai
of powder and applied the match. H
did II, last April when Mcqueen wa
explaining for the fiftieth time that tn
country place he had just purchases
over in Michigan was without excer
ton the greatest bargain and the pref
test spot on earth.
You are going to keep chickens, o
course?" suggested Vantine, in thu
tone which demands an affirmative
answer.
Why" said Mcqueen, who up to tina
minute hadn't thought anything abou
it at all, why, yes, of course! Wei
have our own fresh eggs. OF course
| am going to have the finest poultry
yard in the state! Chickens! Well
! should say sol"
Before he moved his family over tC
the new home in May Mcqueen had
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 yard
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, jovially
Porting over catalogues, l suppose,
picking out your chickens and stuff!
Why, didn't you know. Chester, that
Mcqueen, here, has 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 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 fit
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 difference! got real
nice eggs from the grocer who sends
a 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!" gasped Mcqueen, in agonized
relief.
He exploined the apparent paucity
Of hens to his friends by saying that
he had sent back lot that weren't
and chen 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
low escape resolved when he got back
% town to buy and ship all the avail.
ible live poultry, so he might breathe
n peace. Vantine and Chester went
back shouting praises of their chick
IN 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
uniting up material for his fatal chick
N yard. He tried artfully to talk
he virtues of lake. bass and butcher's
neat and breakfast bacon, while his
lens were so busy getting acquainted
With their new home that they did not
Ittend to their duties, but everybody
tut up protesting hands.
What" they would exclaim. mo
lsh, no bacon for us. We came over
lere especially for fresh eggs and
riend chicken! No steak, thank you"
So the McQueens squandered un-
old gold on the grocery boy and scour-
d the countryside for eggs. All of
IcQueen's week-ends resolved them
elves into nightmares of showing de-
guests about his chicken
ard. He never got time to go any
1here else All of Mrs. McQueen's
1idweeks were devoted to hunting up
fresh supply of eggs and chickens
0 feed to the weekend crowd. She |
ouldn't have any of their own chick.
ms killed, because they were supposed
D lay eggs.
BY fall Mcqueen had bought ten diff
erent kinds of food warranted to
lake hens lay and none of which did;
ad invested in six different brands
{ chickens, each warranted better
nan the last, none of which were; had
pent fortune on day labor and rolls /
t chicken wire and carpenters for the
enhouse and paid so much money for
ggs and froilers that his blood cur.
led to his toes when his wife showed
i'm the bill.
Il kept count" she said. 1--WE had
list 80 eggs of our own all summer
ing from ESQ hens. Now, what are
GU going to do with them this win.
,r, when We go back to Chicago?n
do with them!" exclaimed Nc.
ueen. I'm going to poison the lot,
r else sell them to some greenhorn,
hO is fool enough to think he wants
chicken yard And, Angelina Nc.
ueen, If you serve chicken in any
'rm to me during the next six months
r bring soft-boiied egg within gun,
lot of me Ill not he answnrnI biz e..