The Washington times., 1912-03-12
/, nee upon a time there was a
poor man who, when ne made
his will, had nothing to leave

~ nee upon a time there was a
poor man who, when ne made
~ his will, had nothing to leave
his children but three hens.
This man had two sons, Peter and
PINTO, and daughter named Elsa.
soon after he made this will the old
man died, and the sons took their hens
ana started to the city to sell them
we Will take the money and buy a
new coat; we can take turns in wear
ing ii" they said.
Elsa did not know what to do with
her hen, but the night before the
brothers started for the city she heard
them planning to take her hen. also
and sell II, which would leave her with
out anything.
So Elsa stole out after her brothers
were asleep and took the hen into her
room and shut 1t in the closet. The
next morning her brothers were up
bright and early to start for the city
and get Elsa's hen before she should
be awake. OF course. they did not find
the hen, and they did not have time
TO look, so they started off with their
own and decided that Elsas hen had
been stolen. When Elsa went to the
closet the next morning she was sur
prised to find that her hen had laid a
golden egg. You cannot eat this" said
the hen, but you can take ii to the
city and sell it for more than your
brothers will get for their hens. But
do not tell how you came by it,"
Elsa went to the city as the hen di-
rected and sold her golden egg, then
she bought a handsome dress and new
hat and shoes and some food for her
dinner and returned home before her
brothers
Peter and Pinto had taken their hens
Ito market and sold them. then they
went to shop and bought handsome
coat, but they could not decide which
one should wear it first. so the shop
Keeper decided that as Peter was the
solder he should wear it first, and when
he was half way home he should let
Pinto wear II the rest of the way.
When they reached the place where
Pinto was to have the coat Peter did
not want to take it off. This made
was torn, and before Finto could get
1t on a robber came out of the woods
'and stole the coat and ran away.
When they reached home they were
tired, cross. and hungry, and the din
ner Elsa was preparing made them
wish they might share it.
.'Where did you get all these nice
things to eat?" they asked her, land
your hem" they asked, remembering
that the hen was not there in the morn
ing.
Elsa told them she had not sold the
hen, but she would not tell them where
she got the money to buy the food or
clothes. 81 will give YOU some dinner"
she said, but YOU must not ask ques-
tions."
The next day the hen laid another
golden egg, and Elsa went to the city
to- sell it. While she was gone the
brothers stole the hen and started to
the city. This time we will divide the
money" they said, and there will be
nothing to quarrel over. Elsa will not
tell where she got the money, now we
will take her hen, for she has more than
we have now"
Put on the wav Peter. who was carry
ing the hen under his arm, suddenly
felt something very heavy, and, looking,
he found he was carrying 4 stone.
This made him very angry, and he
throw 1t on the ground and declared
that Pinto had in som" way stolen the
hen and put 'le stone in its place. They
began to dispute over it. and Elsa saw
them on her way back from the city.
-"What are vou UuarreltnE 3bout?'
she asked.
Peter and Pinto aid not want to tell
her they had stolen her hen, SO they