The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-26
Mary Ellen S
Way

Il think 1t would be nice to have
some chickens of our own" said Mr..
Mary Ellen at the breakfast table.
THE eggs we get would make a 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 to keep
ing chickens; but she only said mild
ly: Chickens are sort of nuisance,
aren't they?"
mot if they are taken care Of
properly"
well, do just Is you please. Fresh
eggs would be nice"
That night a 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 q
Ineditative eye Mary Ellen watched
them as they settled down Industrious
Iy 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 we're folded contentedly
over sense of duty thoroughly per-
formed.
What in thunder is the matter with
the flowers?" exploded Mr. Mary FL
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 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
chickenyard. He was not an expert
carpenter, and his hands looked the
worse for the experience when he
came in.
did you get any eggs today?" he
asked warily.
mo, / guess chickens have to get
used to place before they lay"
The days passed and still the eggs
refused to appear.
Maybe it 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 alphabetically. "And it 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 ! got was a corker, Just the
kind you like"
(; Mr. Mary Ellen sighed. A few days
tlater he said, "Those chickens are
Iscratchins themselves awful"
z Maybe they ought to be creased
"Greased!"
Eyes. have heard that when chick.
sns get to scratching themselves you
ave to catch them and grease them
bout the head and the wings and such
laces. It's mess to do It,"
mot for mine" said Mr.. Mary Ellen.
I'm no hen lubricator."
But dear, they won't be healthy II
3u don't grease them
"'Then they can pine away and die.
at EN-"
1T is shame for you to have to
,rk so hard. wish you did not have
EN-. You are just wearing yourself
t over those chickens. And they
Mt pay, either. They are not worth