The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-30
THE YELLOW HEN.

A strange noise awoke Dorothy, who
opened her eyes to find that day had
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-dawkut! Kut-
kut-kut, ka daw kuti"
/, All; here again was the strange
noise that had awakened her Surely
it was a hen cackling! But her wide
open eyes first saw. thru 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 began to remember that she was
a waif Of the storm, adrift upon
treacherous and unknown sea.
''Kut-kut-kut, ka-daw-w-w-kut!"
whats that?" cried Dorothy,
starting to her feet.
why, I've just laid 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 mel" she exclaimed. in sur
prise; have you been here all night,
too?'
'Of course answered the hen. flut-
| tering her wings and yawning. When
the coop blew away from the ship I
chung fast to this corner, with claws
and beak, for knew If I fell into the
water I'd surely be drowned. Indeed,
1 nearly drowned, as it was, with all
that water washing over me. L never
was so wet before in my life!"
Yes" agreed Dorothy, sit was
pretty wet, for time, 1 know. But
| do you feel comfor BILE now?"
Not very. The sun has helped
| to dry my feathers, as it has your
dress, and 1 feel better since 1 laid
my morning egg. But what's to be-
! come Of US, I should like to know,
/ afloat 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? I
thought hens could only cackle."
why, as for that" answered the
! yellow hen thoughtfully, I've clucked
and cackled ali my life, and never
| spoken word before this morning,
that can remember. But when you
asked a question a minute ago, it
| seemed the most natural thing in the
world to answer you. So 1 spoke.
as you and other human beings do.
| Strange, isn't it?''
Very" replied Dorothy. IF we
were in the Land OF Or, I wouldn't
the animals can talk in that fairy
country. But out here in the ocean
must be good long way from o."
How is my grammar" asked the
yellow hen, anxiously. DO I 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 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 my
cacklc were quite perfect; and now
it's comfort to know 1 am talking
properly"
I'm. BEGINNING to get hungry" re-
marked Dorothy. TITS breakfast
| time, but there's no breakfast"
You may have my egg" said the
yellow hen. Il don't care for it, you
| know"
Don't you want to hatch it?"
asked the little girl, in surprise.
40. indeed; I never care to hatch
| eggs unless I've a nice snug nest. in
some quiet place. with a bakers dozen
| of eggs under me. That's thirteen,
you know. and it's a lucky number for
hens So you may as well eat this
| egg"
! "Oh. couldn't pass'b1y eat it. I'M
less it was cooked" exclaimed Doro-
thy. But I'm much obliged for your
| Kindness just the same"
! Don't mention 1t, my dear" an
! swered the hen. calmly, and began
! preening her feathers.
For n moment Dorothy sto~1 look
| i'm out over the wide sea. She was
| still thinking of the egg, tho; so per-
! sistently she asked:
"Why do you lay eggs. when you
1 don't expect to hatch them? %
| ITS a habit I have replied the
| yellow hen. at has always been my
! pride to lay a fresh egg every morn