Norwich bulletin., 1913-05-31
sIMoN's WIFE DIscoURsEs UPON
 HENS.


 Dear Social Cornerites: How does your garden grow?' Mine is coming on nicely, I am happy to say.
 I surely was grieved to learn from MT. Doe's letter that rust on hoIlyhockS was such a serious trouble. I really can't give up my hollyhocks without a struggle. So after thinking it over, I made up my mind on the course would pursue, seized the carving knife, went out and performed an operation on the afflicted hollyhock. When I had finished the foliage was conspicuous by it's absence. The leaves cSSninE seem to be free from rust, and in tend to keep up the treatment to the
 (perhaps bitter) end
 House cleaning is over and my guest has not arrived as yet; expect her in a few days. So I have time and inclina- tion to accept our Fairy Godmother's invitation to sit on her veranda- con- fess to having "hanker1ng'' for Q
 ''souv enir." It might be sort of an
 exchange for me to furnish "the bow
 of yellow ribbon" Iris real pretty
 color. and so cheerful, you know.
 Fairy Godmother's have always been.
 so l suppose they must one and all
 have seen Jite few summers; but an
 old song is running through my head.
 the words of which are something like
 this:
 Men are only boys grown tall;
 Hearts don't change much after all"
 1 am sure this statement is true in the case of the women as well as men, and particularly true in our Fairy GOdmother's case.
 I notice there is one subject of inter est common to a good many of the members of The Social Corner-a sub ject particularly interesting at this time of the year; and being interested in said subject and having had some 1 experience in the same, I feel moved to tell you of it.
 The subject is Hens" faniliaEpv i known as Chickens"
 | We, Simon and l, live in the country, i such a beautiful place-a, free country. | We have lived here quite a number of | years, and during that time we have i had hens-a good many of them and | all sorts Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth l Rocks, white Wyandottes and many l other kinds: good fat hens, as good to 1 look at, as hens go as any, I am sure, belonging to any member or members of The Social Cor i never, no more. has one of those hens ] laid an egg, not a single egg, for i Simon or l, and never has one of those ! hens been known to grace our table i in the way of a frica+see or chicken pie. 1 After months and a few years had ! passed away, since Simon and l came l here to live, we found the hens ap- 1 proved of us and were indeed our con- 1 stant companions and were so anxious | to assist in the garden. keeping it well l stirred up, and also the flower beds,
 while picking up their living. We felt 1 they were overtaxed and so gave up | the flower beds not directly 1 in my line of vision from the kitchen window. substituting boxes
 on the veranda. A great m l "a ola fhpI1Oht v~e would i be good plan to carry their food, all | we could spare from our own table to ! them to save them the trouble of
 coming after it you know This ar | engagement seems agreeable to the hens, some of the hens part af the 1 year, but they are so much attached 1 to Simon and I they don't want us to 1 forget them and come to see us now | and then, as often as 1t is convenient
 for them to do so, and there are a-few, l a half a dozen or so. that come reg ! ulariy every day.
 l Simon says l owe my health and 1 good looks largely to these kind-heart- ! ed hens. I have to make so many eK-
 clrrsions out into the open aiT (which | everyone knows is very beneficiaD to l see them: generally at a distance, re- l turning home: and when out of doors, 1 I can't resist the temptation to stop a 1 minute and smell the lilacs, or listen | to the hummfng of the bees among l the apple DlOSSOIu6s WHICH IS d piee<o- | ure. Oh yes! perhaps do owe something ] to the hens besides the cultivation Of 1 the virtue of patience and for'bearancs necessary to obey St. PauPs injunc i ton to live at peace with all men; and ! I think he meant women as we'll But, ! still I must admit I anticipate with l pleasure the time when patience shall i have had her perfect work" and my neighbor's hens shall visit me no 1 more.
 When in the course of human events ! this flock of hens shall take their de- 1 parture we, Simon and l. have quite , made up our minds we can't possibly , accept any others In their place. hav- | ing become so much attached to them l you know, they will have no success ] ors.
 1 Hens are fine. We admire the downy i little chicks. We enjoy good fresh 1 eggs for breakfast, and a chicken cook | ed on Saturday for Sunday dinner Is very nice and convenient: but we are 1 not so selfish as to want more than our share; and while the hens are in ] our neighbor's keeping we love to have them there.
 Hoping I have given suggestion or ] two that may prove of benefit to some ! one will now conclude, with best wish 1 es to all for the best of success In i every undertaking, including the i keeping of chickens and in keeping ] on good terms with ones neighbors. SLMON'S WIFE. ! @A~n