The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-30
Mary Ellen $
Way


The eggs we get would make hen
blush. They are always high, too.
Didn't you pay so cents dozen last
winter"
Mary Ellen admitted she did
That's outrageous We could raise
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 10 keep
ing chickens; but she only said mild
~: "Chickens are sort of nuisance,
aren't they"
Not if they are taken care of
properly
swell, 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 if putting
foot on their native heath. With a
medtative eye Mary Ellen watched
them as they settled down industrious.
ly to the task Of over-hauling Mr.. Mary
Ellens pet flower border They had
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 Ell.
len as he viewed the wreckage.
1.-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 q
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
chickenyard. He was not an expert
carpenter, and his hands looked the
worse for the experience when he
came in.
Ibid you get any eggs today?" he
asked warily.
mo, | 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
to be kept up" suggested Mary FL.
len.
"What in thunder can you do with
them? You cant let EN- run and
! you can't keep 'em up"
They are problem" said Mary
Ellen sympatheticslly. 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. Tha,
last book | got was corker. just the
kind you like"
Mr.. Mary Ellen sighed. A few days
later he said, Those chickens are
scratching themselves awful"
Maybe they ought to be creased
Creased"
Yes. ! have heard that when chick
ems get to scratching themselves yol
have TO catch them and grease then
about the head and the wings and such
places. It's mess to do it,"
Not for mine" said Mr.. Mary Ellen
I'm no hen lubricator."
But dear, they won't be healthy 4
you don't grease them
"'Then they can pine away and die
drat EN-"
1T is shame for YOU to have I,
! work so hard. wish YOU did not hay,
: them. You are lust wearing yourso,
, ont over those chickens. And the,
don't pay. either. They are hot WORT
it."
The next day somebody called an,
said Mr. Mary Ellen, with a twinkl
in her eye, watched them depart
YES, l did work hard" said MI
Mary Ellen that night after supper
But l didn't mind that If it ha
paid it would have been all right. Bu
there is no sense in going on with
thing that does not pay"
Not hit" said Mary Ellen bliths
ly. only not everybody has the sens
you have to see it."-Chicago Post.
Had Earned a Rest.
S1h