The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-07-03

Cep III WudI sue put uuuei d VI ASn
fer to set this mornin'."
Cant you get EN- from under the
old hen? Miss Minerva is such a
Christian woman, she amt"
You done fool me bout that
'ligious business befo'," interrupted
Billy, IAN l got put to bed in the day
time"
well, she won't never miss two or
three eggs" coaxed Jimmy. How
many did she put under the old hen?"
"She put Fifteen" was the response.
IAN I don't believe she'd want me to
tech EN-"
They're 'hSst the prettiest eggs
ever was" continued the tempter, all
blue and pink and green, and bout
a million kinds. They're just perzact-
ly like rabbits eggs"
Me an Wilkes Booth Lincoln amt
never hear teller no rabbits eggs
sence we's born" said Billy; II don't
berlieve rabbits lays eggs nohow."
They don't lay 'em 'cept to East.
err" said Jimmy. Miss Cecilia 'splain-
ed 1t all to me and she's my Sunday
School t~eacher-and rabbits Is bound
to lay eggs cause it's in the Bible and
she's bout the prettiest 'splainer they
is. I'm going over there now to see
bout my eggs,"- and he made believe
to leave the swing.
LES US slip roun' to the hen-house
an see what the Of hens a-doin',"
suggested the sorely tempted Billy.
Aunt Minerva is a-makin' me some
night-shirts an she amt takin' no no
tice OF nothin' else"
They tiptoed stealthily around the
house to the backyard, but found the
hen-house door locked.
Cant you get the key?" asked the
younger child.
Nav, I can't" replied the other
boy, but you can git in th'oo this
here little hole what the chickens
goes in at, whites I watches fer Aunt
Minerva. I'll stand right here an
hol' my cap while you fetches me the
eggs. An don't you take. more'n five
or SIX" he warned.
I'm skeered of the old hen," OBJ
jected Jimmy. rs she much Of q
pecker?"
Nav, she amt a-goin' to hurt you."
was the encouraging reply. Cit up
an crawl th;oo; I'll help you"
Billy, having overcome hisAcruples,
now entered into the undertaking
with great zest.
Jimmy climbed the chicken ladder,
kicked his chubby legs through the
aperture, hung suspended on his fat
little middle for an instant, and final
ly, with much painting and tuggtng,
wriggled his plump, round body into
the hen-house. He walked over where
a lonesome looking hen was sitting
patiently on a nest. He put out a
cautious hand and the hen promptly
gave it a vicious peck.
Billy" he called angrily, you got
to come in here and hold this old
chicken; she's bout the terriblest
pecker they Is"
Billy stuck his head In the little
square hole. go at her from behind"
he suggested; put 20 hand uhder
her easy Ike, an don let her know
what you's up to-" .
Jimmy tried to follow these instruc-
tons, but received another peck for
his pains. He promptly mutinied.
IF you want any eggs" he de-
clared, scowling at the face framed IN
the aperture, you can come get en-
yourself. l done monkeyed with
chicken all I'm going to-"
So Billy climbed up and easily got
his lean little body through the open
ing. He d%exterously caught the hen
by the nape Of the neck, as he had
| seen Aunt Cindy do, while Jimmy
reached for the eggs.
IF we amt done lef' my cap out
side on the groun'," said Billy. What
we goin' to put the eggs In"
"Well,S that's just like you, Billy
you all time got to leave your cap on
the ground. I'll put 'em In my blouse
till you get outside and then I'll hand
'em to you. How many you going to
take?" -.
1--WE might just as we'll git 'em all
now" said Billy. Aunt C1ndy say
they's some kinder hens won't lay no
chickens It all If folks put they hands
in they nests an this here hen look
like to me she's one Of them kind. so
the roster the eggs II jest be waste.
n how, cause you done put yo'
hans In her nes', an a dominicker
amt a-goin' to STAN no pro1echn'
with her eggs. Hurry up"
Jimmy carefully distributed the
eggs inside his blouse, and Billy once
more crawled through the hole and
stood on the outside waiting, cap IN
band, to receive them.
But the patient hen had at last
raised her voice In angry protest ana
set I'D a furious cackling, which SO
frightened the little boy on the inside
that he was panic-str1cken. He caught
hold OF a low roost pole, swung him.
self I'D and, wholly unmindful OF MS
blouse full Of eggs, pushed his lower
A pair of chubby, stardy legs, down
which were slowly trckling little yell
low rivulets, and half a plump, round
body were all that would go through.
PULL" yelled the owner OF the
short fat legs. I'm stuck and can't
90 no furder. Pull me th'oo, Billy"
CTo BE CONTINUED.)