The Hartford republican., 1912-08-02
Mary Elen's
Way

Mary Ellen at the breakfast table
THE eggs we get would make a her
blush. They are always high, too
Didn't you pay so cents dozen las
winter?"
Mary Ellen admitted she did.
That's outrageous. We could raist
our own eggs for much less than that
And have fresh ones in the bargain
And broilers, too. Think Of delicious
tender broilers!'
Mary Ellen was not partial to keep
ing chickens; but she only said mild
ly: Chickens are a sort of nuisance
aren't they?"
mot II they are taken care Of
properly"
well, do Just as you please. Fresh
eggs would be nice"
That night consignment Of Rhode
Island Reds arrived.
The next day the iceman left the
gate open and the Rhode Island Reds
streamed into the yard. as il putting
foot on their native heath. With a
meditative eye Mary Ellen watched
them as they settled down Industrious.
ly to the task of over-hauling Mr.. Mary
Ellen's pet flower border. They had a
grand time. They followed the trail
Of each worm to its beginning IN the
lower regions. They took dust baths.
They INDUCED In vigorous leg exer-
cises. When the day was done and
darkness fell from the wings of night.
their wings were folded contentedly
over a sense of duty thoroughly per-
formed.
what In thunder Is the matter with
the flowers?" exploded Mr.. Mary e.
len as he viewed the wreckage.
"The iceman left the gate open and
the chickens got in," said Mary Ellen
meekly. isn't 1t too bad?"
Mr.. Mary Ellen stalked gloomily in
to the house. The next morning a
sign, "Shut the Gate." adorned that
feature of the domicile.
About 10 o'clock excited squawks
and the furious footing of an auto horn
rose on the air; and as the car whirled
on the king of the flock. the resplend-
ent rooster, lay a mutilated wreck by
the roadside.
I'm awfully sorry, dear, but the
rooster was killed today by an auto"
why don't you keep them up?"
"You said they were to run out
So Mr.. Mary Ellen spent the eve
ming mending the fence around the
He was not an expert
and his hands looked the
worse for the experience when he
came in.
ibid you get any eggs today?" he
asked warily.
"No. l guess chickens have to get
used to a place before they lay"
The days passed and still the eggs
refused to apear.
Maybe 1t doesn't agree with them
10 be kept up" suggested Mary Ell
len.
What in thunder can you do with
hem? You can't let 'em run and,
you can't keep 'em up"
They are a problem" said Mary
Ellen sympathetically. "And 1t takes
so much of your time to read up about
chickens. It's a shame. You never
get to read the magazines or new
books or anything any more. That
last book l got was a corker, Just the
Kind you like"
Mr.. Mary Ellen sighed. A few days
ater he said, Those chickens are
themselves awful"
Maybe they ought to be creased
"Greased!"
"Yes. have heard that when chick
ms get to scratching themselves you
have to catch them and grease them
about the head and the wings and such
places. It's a mess to do it,"
mot for mine." said Mr.. Mary Ellen.
I'm no hen lubricator."
But dear. they won't be healthy II
vou don't grease them
""Then they can pine away and die.
irat EN-"
1T is a shame for you to have to
work so hard. I wish you did not have
hem. You are just wearing yourself
,ut over those chickens. And they
ion't pay. either. They are not worth
t."
The next day somebody called and
'aid Mr.. Mary Ellen. with a twinkle
n her eye. watched them depart.
"Yes, l did work hard" said Mr..
Mary Ellen that night after supper.
But I didn't mind that. II 1t had
,aid 1t would have been all right. But
here Is no sense in going on with q
hing that does not pay"
mot hit" said Mary Ellen blithe-
y. "Only not everybody has the sense
'ou have to zee it."-Chicago Post.