Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-15
The Yellow Hen

In a clear sky She had been dream
Ing 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. a-daw-kua"' .,. .
All: here again was the strange
noise that had awakened her. Surely
1t was a hen cackling. But her wide
open eyes first saw. through the Stats
Of the coop, the blue waves of the
q ocean. now calm and placid. and her
thoughts few back to the past night.
90 full of danger and discomfort.
Also she began to remember that she
was a waif Of the storm. adrift upon
q treacherous and unknown sea.
ut-kut- kut. ka -daw -w-w-kut"
Whats that" cried Dorothy. start
ing to her feet . 5. ~
why. I've just laid an egg. that's
tll." replied a small, but sharp and
distinct voice. and looking around her
the small girl discovered yellow
hen squatting in the opposite corner
Of the coop.
.Dear me-" she exclaimed. in sur
too" .- -. I.
"Of course" answered the hen. fut-
tering her wings and yawning. when
the coop blew away from the ship l
chung fast to this corner. with claws
and beak. for knew IL l fell into the
water I'd surely be drowned. Indeed.
] nearly drowned, as it was. with all
that water washing over me. l never
was so wet before in my life"
Eyes," agreed Dorothy. ut was
pretty wet. for a time. l know. But
do you feel comforble now"
"Not very. The sun has helped to
dry my feathers. as it has your dress,
and l feel better since l laid my
morning egg. But what's TO become
Of US, I should like to know. afoat on
this big pond" ~,
'rd like to know that, too" said
4JUTOluy. DUE tSii 'hS' NV" NS~S -
happen that you are able to talk
thought hens could only cluck and
cackle.'
"Why. as for that" answered the
yellow hen. thoughtfully. 1--WE cluck-
ed and cackled all my life. and never
kpoken a word before this morning.
that I can remember, But wheD you
asked a question. minute ago, IL
seemed the most natural thing in the
world to answer you. So l spoke, and
i seem 70 keep on speaking. just as
s.you and other human beings do.
Strange. isn't it," .-..
Every" replied Dorothy. III We
were in the Land Of Oz. 1 wouldn't
think it so queer. because many OF
the animals can talk in that fairy
country. But out here in the ocean
must be a 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 be ginner."
"Tm glad to know that" contin-
ued the yellow hen, in a confidential
tone; because, il one Is going to
talk, it's best to talk correctly. The
red rooster has often said that my
cluck and my cackle were quite per-
feet, and now it's a comfort to know
] am talking properly"
I'm beginning to get hungry" re-
marked Dorothy. Its 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 ito" ask
ed the little girls. in surprise.
mo, indeed: never care to hatch
eggs unless I've a nice snug nest, in
some quiet place. with bakers
ddzen of eggs under me. That's thir-
teen, you know. and it's a lucky num-
Der for hens. So you may as well eat
this egg" ...
ooh. ] couldn't possibly eat it. I'M
less it was cooked" exclaimed Dor
othy. But I'm much obliged for
your kindness. Just the same"
"Don't mention it, my dear" an
swered the hen. calmly, and began
pruning her feathers.
For a moment Dorothy stood look
iug out over the wide sea. She was