Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-28
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A strange noise awoke Dorothy, who ,
dawned and the sun was shining
| brightly in a clear sky She had been
dreaming that she was back in Kansas
again, and playing in the old barn
yard with the calves and pigs and
| chickens all around her; and at first,
as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes,
she really imagined she was there.
'Kut-kut-kut, ka-daw-kut! Kut-kut-
kut, da-daw-kua ="
All; here gain was the strange noise
that had awakened her. Surely it was
a hen cackling! But her wide-open
eyes first saw, through the Stats of
the coop, the blue waves of the ocean,
now calm and placid, and her thoughts
flew back to the past night so full of
danger and discomfort. Also she be-
gan to remember that she was waif
of the storm, adrift upon a treacherous
! and unknown sea.
"Kut-k ut-kut, a-daw-w-w-kut!
whats that?" cried Dorothy, start
ing to her feet.
why, I've just aid an egg, that's
| ALL" replied a small but sharp and
| distinct voice, and looking around her
the small girl discovered a yellow hen
/ squatting in the opposite corner of the
coop.
! Dear me! :" she exclaimed, in sur
prise; have you been here all night.
! too?"
"Of course" answered the hen, fiut-
tering her wings and yawning. when
the coop blew away from the ship I
! clung fast to this corner, with claws
and beak, for 1 know if 1 fell into the
water I'd surely be drowned. Indeed,
1 nearly drowned, as it was, with all
that water splashing over me. I never
was so wet before in my life ~
YES" agreed Dorothy, sit was pretty
wet, for time, 1 know. But do you
feel comfortable now?'
Not very. The sun has helped to
dry my feathers, as it has your dress,
and 1 feel better since 1 laid my morn
ing egg. But what's to become of
us, 1 should like to know, aloat on this
big pond?"
I'D like to know that, too, said
Dorothy. But, tell me how does it
happen that you are able to talk? +
thought hens could only cluk and
| cackle.'
why, as for that" answered the yell
low hen thoughtfully, i've clucked and
cackled all my life, and never spoken
a word before this morning, that 1 can
remember. But when you asked a ques-
ton, minute ago, it seemed the most
natural thing in the world to answer
you So l spoke and l seem to keep
on speaking, just as you and other hu-
ma n hni do
Very replied Dorothy. IF we
were in the Land of OF, wouldn't
think it so queer. because many of the
animals can talk in that fairy coun-
try But out here in the ocean must
be good long way from o."
How is my grammar" asked the
yellow hen, anXiousy. DO 1 speak
quite properly, in your judgment?
Yes" said Dorothy, you do very
well, for a beginner
I'm glad to know that continued
the yellow hen, in a confidential tone
because, If one is going to talk, it's
best to talk correctly. The red rooster
has often said that my cluck and nv
cackle were quite perfect; and now it's
comfort to know 1 am talking prop
erly.''
I'm beginning 70 get hungry" re-
, but there's no breakfast"
You may have my egg said the vel
| low hen. II don't care for it, Won
| know"
Don't you want to hatch it?" asked
the little girls, in surprise.
NO indeed; l never care to hatch
! eggs unless I've a nice snug nest, in
| some quiet place, with a bakers dozen
| or eggs under me. That's thirteen. Won
know, and it's lucky number for hens.
SO you may as we'll eat this egg"
"Oh, L couldn't possibly eat it, un
less 1t was cooked" exclaimed Dor
othy. But I'm much Obliged for
your kindness, just the same"
Don't mention it, my dear" answer
ed the hen, calmly, and began pruning
her feathers.
For moment Dorothy stood looking
out over the wide sea- She was still
| thinking of the egg, though; so pres-
/ emily she asked:
why do you lay eggs. when YOU
don't expect to hatch them?"
Its a habit have" replied the vel
low hen. 1T has always been my pride
to lay fresh egg every morning, ex-
cept when I'm moulting. l never feel
like having many morning cackle till
the egg is properly laid, and without
the chance to cackle 1 would not be
happy"
It's strange" said the girl. refiec-
lively; But as I'm not hen 1 can't
/ be 'spected to understand that"
| Certainly not. my dear"
Then Dorothy fell silent again. The
yellow hen was some company, and
bit of comfort, too but it was dread
|