The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27
MYRON T. HERRICK PAID
DEARLY FOR THAT BLACK HEN.

w Paris, arrived back home the
other day the sunshine of
immortal glogv may have shune upon
his curly head. but Il could not dazzle
his eyes. His wallet was fiat and he
knew H. He was not dead broke of
course, because when you are dead
broke and don't kaow where YOU are
going to replenish your pocketbook YOU
keep pretty still about IL, but he was
broke enough to admit uaat he had
spent 100000 since he had left his
happy home. and that while he had had
the time Of his life and would like to
talk about it later he must really go To
work. Then he went over to the bank
to see what the neiChbors had left there
while he was gone He was always Just
that way.
When he was boy he lived in well
lington. ohio. which is not far from
Cleveland He went of course to the
pubic school, and like all village boys
he had some chores to do around home.
both before and after sChool-spl.ttlng
and carrying in the wood for the kitchen
stove, filing the water pail. shoveil!ng
the paths in the winter. raking mp the
leaves in the fall, planting out the
onion sets in the spring, hoeing and
wedding the garden in the summer
Every season had its peculiar labor:
but there was one Chore that must he
done twice a day, every day in thu
year, and strange 20 say feeding and
otherwise tending he chickens was the
only chore that he really took delight in.
He liked chickens Possibly IL was the
ovarious profits that attracted him. for
I he began early To see the value OF
lagos advice. Put money in my purse"
Anyhow he was what is now known az
a chicken bug; but you may be sure
he was only temporarily under the spell
OF this infatuation.
About half way between his home
and the school house lived an old lady,
, who was known To every one as Aunt
Mary Ann. She was a nice fat old lady
with c@eeks as red "a a Baldwin apple
and black snappy eyes. She had nice
garden fun Of all kinds OF vegetables
and old fashioned flowers and the finest
fock OF black Spanish hens in town.
They We're as black and shiny as black
satin and their combs and wattle- were
as red as blood They always looked
TO young lIerr.ck Ike So many nice
young widows in black satin dresses
and coral earrings and a bright red
bow on top OF their heads
Now Myron often had to hustle 10 get
his chores done in time for school. but
II he had a minute TO spare he al
ways stopped TO admire the old ladys
chickens
one day, as he was going home, Aunt
Mary Ann was feeding her hens and
Myron stopped, as usual. to admire
them. The old lady saw the covetous
look in his eyes and she said:
"Myron, wouldn't you like to have
some chickens Ike them"
Myron assured her he would
We'll" said the old lady "Il give
YOU one Of them hens and you can
raise lot of them"
Myron was full OF Joy and he was
soon fondlng one of the shiny beauties
Now, Myron," said the old lady, will
you do me a favor?'
Sure. Aunt Mary Ann"
We'll, you see that pile OF stove
wood? want it split for the kitchen
stove"
Young Herrick saw pretty stable
: pile OF wood, but he was game and go
on Saturday instead OF going to play
two old cat with the boys he split wood
! for Aunt Mary Ann. At first it didn't
seem such an awful pile OF wood but
as he worked II grew larger and larger
he knew that he had paid high price
for tho black hen, but he was con-
soled by the thought that the natural In
crease would in a few months multiply
, nj. compensation MANIFOLD.
Monday morning found him on his
way to school somewhat earlier than
usual. for he had missed his share OF
! tho two old cat game on Saturday and
he wanted to get into It before school
began. IIs passed Aunt Mary AIMS
, chicken yard without "A glance, for now
he had one OF the back beauties himself
: out az he trotted around the corner the
: old lady hailed him;
"Oh Myron!" sh> called. 'how is tho
black hem"
Z Myron's eyes lighted with enthusiasm,
his hurryng feet slowed down, hesitated
and stopped. lie described minutely the
r condition OF the gem of his flock, while
the old lady listened intently and smiled