The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-03-28

Aunt Minerva amt gut none
'cep'in' what she put under a ol' hen
fer to set this mornin'."
Cant you get 'em from under the
old hen? Miss Minerva is such a
Christian woman. she amt"
You done fool me bout that
1igious business befo'." interrupted
Billy. "an' got put to bed in the day
time"
We'll, 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.
"an' don't believe she'd want me TO
tech EN-"
They're bout the prettiest eggs
ever was" continued the tempter, "all
blue and pink and green. and bout
million kinds. They're just perzact.
ly like rabbits eggs"
me an Wilkes Boothl Lincoln amt
never hear teller no rabbits eggs
sence we's born" said Billy; Il 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 teacher 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 oil 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. l can't" replied the other
boy. but you can git In th'oo this
here little hole what the chickens
goes in at, whiles | watches fer Aunt
Minerva. I'll stand right here an
ho' 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 a
pecker?"
Nav, she amt a-goin' to hurt you,
was the encouraging reply. Git up
an crawl th'oo; I'll help you"
Billy, having overcome his scruples'
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 tugging'
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 1t 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 yo' hand under
her easy like, an don let her know
! what you's up to-"
Jimmy tried to follow these instruc'
tions, 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 done monkeye1 with this
chicken all I'm going to-"
So Billy climbed up and easily got
! his lean little body through the open
ing. He dexterously 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 gon' to put the eggs in?"
well, that's just like you, Billy
you all time got to leave your cap on
the ground. III put 'em in my blouse
till you get outside and then I'll hand
'em to you How many you going to
take?"
I'VE might just as we'll git EN- al!
now" said Billy. Aunt Cindy e&y
they's some kinder hens won't lay nS
chickens t all if folks put they hands
in they nests an this here hen took
like to me she's one of them kind sc
the roster the eggs II Jest be waste
any how, cause you done put yo
hans in her nes'. an a domlnlckel
amt a-goin' to STAN no projeckin
with her eggs. Hurry up"
Jimmy carefully distributed tEe
eggs inside his blouse, and Billy once
more crawled through the hole and
stood on the outside waiting. cap II
band, to receive them.
But the patient hen had at las
raised her voice in angry protest ant
set up a furious cackling. which sc
frightened the little boy on the inside
that he was panic-stricken. He caugh
holA of a low roost pole, swung him
self up and, wholly unmindful OF MI
blouse full of eggs. pushed his lowe
A pair of chubby, sturdy legs. doWr
which were slowly trickling little vel
low riyulets, and half plump, rount
body were all that would go through
PULL" yelled the owner of thu
short fat legs I'm stuck and can
On no furder. Pull me th'oo, Billy"
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