Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-09-05
OADDY.JEVENIN(E3
FAIRY TALE M
FlDoETY FASHIONABLE HEN.
6y hary Graham Bonner inner A

"Cluek, eluck, cackle, caclIle," said
Miss Fidgety Fashionable Hen. 81
chatter or cackle or cluck or talk for
any one who wants to listen"
She walked nervously about. then
ran hurriedly and then stood still and
then sat down in funny, squattlng
fashion all her own
"Of course" she continued, "Nlck
is boy, but what does that count foi
in life? What can a boy DOT Moth
ing much. He goes TO school, gets
into trouble, gets out of it, plays, goes
to sleep, eats and still is always hun
cry.
This last Is the most sensible thing
about him. I am a good eater myself
I am given the choicest Of grain, the
best sorts Of hen food. and l eat It
As reward for my good food | lay
good eggs, delicious eggs. But ali, I've
come to appreciate myselfw
Miss Fidgety Fashionable Hen
looked about to see II anyone hap.
pened 10 be listening and then. as
she saw worm in the ground, she
forgot what She had first started to
look for. So she continued her talk
without finding out If anyone were
listening to her or not.
There was time" she continued.
''when ] used to give Nick and Nancy
and their friends all the eggs they
wanted. and they used to sell my eggs
and those Of some of my sisters and
cousins.
"Now it is different. I do not care
to remember the time when / was a
little CHICKEN and after my poor moth
er met such a sad ending though It
was an honorable ending to be sure.
She did stand up for her rights and
would not get out Of the road to please
anyone.
But don't care to remember how
they fed me and looked after me and
even made pet of me. In my friend
less days they were good to me- but
I won't think Of that now. If | do l
will be entirely too loyal and too I'M
selfish. No, now I viii make them
think a lot of me- And that is just
what l have been doing
eve been showing them that I
wasn't any cheap. good-for-nothlng,
ready-to-please hen. / have shown
them that I'm a fine animal or a
bird or a fowl, or whatever anyone
chooses to call me.
i've been showing them that I'm
important and that my eggs are rare
and fine. l fidget and fuss more than
ever. don't work hard and l don't.
intend to. care for no one but my
self and lay eggs when it pleases
ME to do so.
'Ah, cluck, cluck; will lay one soon
now, and then again I may lay an
other. But my eggs were getting too
many and too cheap. They didn't
think enough of me. Now they will
think so much more Of me because |
don't lay the number I used to lay.
well, Miss Gray Hen. what have
you to say for yourselfT'
AZ just saw Mr. Red Crown Rooster
picking up a worm. He's a generous
fellow and is always sharing what he
finds with others"
"Cluck, cluck, caekIe. cackle," said
Miss Fidgety Hen. you have that old
fashioned idea that generosity is a
virtue"
why. yes; don't you agreer asked
Miss Gray Hen.
Gracious. no." said Miss Fldgefy
Hen, 'it's too foolish. 1t doesn't get
you anywhere. People think more of
you when you're selfish and impor-
tant and rare. And even If some peo-
pie wouldn't agree. what does that
matter? Every one for himself or
herself, I say, whether she be hen
or girl or dog or cat"
you'll live TO be a friendIess old
hen" said Miss Gray Hen.
"Cackle, eackle, what do 1 care for
friends?" said Miss Fidgety Fashion
able Hen. II have more than friends.
l have the respect Of the whole world.
At last hens have come into their
own, good, sensible hens like myself
who follow the fashion and who make
eggs rare and expensive.
I'm helping build up the noble pro-
fession of the laying of the breakfast
eggs, and I'm the sort of hen who
commands great respect by her pride"