The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-10-03
Mary Enen's
As.4. NX/-., NJ
.As W.AV


II think 1t would b nice to have
some chickens Of our own" said Mr..
Mary Ellen At the breakfast table.
The eggs We get would make . hen
blush. They are always high. too.
Didn't you pay so cents q dozen last
winter?"
Mary Ellen admitted she did.
That's outrageous. We could raise
U WI 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.
~: Chickens are q sort of nuisance,
aren't they?"
mot If they are taken care Of
properly"
"Well, do Just as you please. Fresh
eggs would be NICE"
That night 4 consignment of Rhode
Island Reds arrived.
Tho next day the iceman left the
gate open and the Rhode Island Reds
streamed into the yard. a. II putting
foot on their native heath. With q
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 q
grand time. They followed the trail
Of each worm to Its beginning in tho
lower regions. They took dust baths.
They INDUCED in vigorous leg sxer.
cises. When tho day was done and
darkness fell from the wings Of night.
their wings were folded contentedly
Over = sense of duty thoroughly per.
formed.
what in thunder Is the matter with
the howers?" exploded Mr.. Mary FL.
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?"
to the house. Tho next morning q
sign, "Shut the Gatej' adorned that
feature of the domicile. ..
About 10 o'clock excited sQuawks
and the furious footing of an auto horn
rose onthe 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 tho 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, I guess chickens have to get
used to a place before they lay"
The days passed and still tho eggs
refused to appear.
Maybe 1t doesn't agree with them
to be kept up" suggested Mary Ell.
len.
What in thunder can you do with
them? 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 \ shame. You never
get to read the magazines or new
books OF anything any more That
last book l got was 4 eorker, 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
"Greased!"
Yes. l have heard that when chick.
ems get to scratching themselves you
have to catch them and grease them
about the head and the wings and such
places. It's q mess to do It,"
mot for mine." said Mr.. Mary Ellen,
I'm no hon lubricator."
But dear, they won't be healthy II
you don't grease them
"Then they can pine away and die,
drat EN-"
ut is q shame for you to have to
work so hard. / wish you did hot have
them. You are Just wearing yourself
out over those chickens. And they
don't pay, either. They are not worth
It,"
The next day somebody called and
said Mr.. Mary Ellen. with . twinkle
in her eye. watched them depart.
"Yes. did work hard" said No
Mary Ellen that night after supper
"But I didn't mind that. II it had
paid it would have been all right. But
there Is no sense in going on with q
thing that does not pay"
mot . hit" said Mary Ellen blithe
~. "Only not everybody has he sense
you have to sec it"-Chicago Post
Had Earned q Rest.