The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-07-22
AUNT Minerva aint got noa,e

old hen? Miss Minerva Is such
Christian woman, she amt"
"You done fool me bout that
'lfgious business befo'," interrupted
Billy, "an' got put to bed in the day
time"
well, 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
a million kinds. They're just perzact-
ly like rabbits eggs"
me an Wilkes Booth Lincoln amt
never hear teller no rabbits eggs
sence we's born" said Billy; 81 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 SEQ
bout my eggs" and he made believe
to leave the swing.
Les us slip roun' to the hen-house
an see what the OF hens a-doin'."
suggested the sorely tempted Billy.
Aunt Minerva is a-makn' me some
nightshirts an she amt takin' no no
tice Of nothin' else
They tiptoed stealthily around the
house to the backyard. but found the
| hcn-hOuSc door locked.
hf, oClx nH
younger child
Nav, 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. III 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.
"Im skeered. Of the old hen" OBJ
jected Jimmy as she much OF
pecker?"
Nav. she amt a-goin' to hurt you"
was the encouraging reply. cit up
an crawl thoo: III 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,
wrigglcd 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
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 tcrriblest
, 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 'em
yourself. done monkeyed 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 goin to put the eggs in?"
We'll. that's just like you, Billy.
you all time got to leave your cap ON
the ground. I'll put 'em In my blouse
. ,tctI no ho
ON to you. How many you going to
take?"
we might just as we'll git em all
now" said Billy Aunt Cindy say
heys some kinder hens won't lay no
chickens t all If folks put they hands
in they nests an this here hen look
like to me she's one Of them kind, SO
the rester the eggs II jest be waste,
any how. cause you done put yo'
hans In her nes', an dominicker
amt agoin' to stan no projeckin'
with her eggs Hurry up"
Jimmy carefully distributed the
eggs inside his blouse. and Billy once
more crawled through the hole and
stood on the outside waiting, cap in
band to receive them
But the patient hen had at last
raised her voice ir angry protest and
set up furious cackling. which so
frightened the little boy on the inside
that he was panic-stricken. He caught
hold Of low roost pole, swung him
self up and. wholly unmindfu OF his
blouse full OF eggs pushed his lower
A pair OF chubby, sturdy legs, down
which were slowly trickling little yell
low rivulets. and half plump, round
body were all that would go through
"Pull!" yelled the owner of tho