The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-17

A strange noise awoke Dorothy, who
opened her eyes to find that day had
dawned and the sur was shining bright
ly 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.
"Kqt-kut-kut, ya-daw-kutl Kut-kut-
kut, kadaw-kual'
All; here again was the strange noise
| that had awakened her, Surely 1t wal
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 began to re-
member that she was a waif of the
storm. adrift upon a tr~eacherous and
unknown sea.
"Kut-kut-k ut, ka-daw-w-w-kutl"
What's that?" cried Dorothy, start
ing 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 cor
ner Of the coop.
Dear mel" she exclaimed, in sur
prise; have you been here all night,
"of course" answered the hen, flut-
tering her wings and yawning. when
the coop blew away from the ship ]
chung fast to this corner, with claws
and beak, for ! knew If ! fell into the
water I'd surely be drowned. Indeed,
| nearly drowned, as 1t was, with all
that water washing over me, ] never
was so wet before In my life!'
Yes" agreed Dorothy. 1T was pretty
wet, for a time, ! know. But do you
feel comfortable now?'
tAATAN NtArNp Va BNta hos hAlnAH 10
dry my feathers, as it has your dress,
and | feel better since | laid my morn
ing egg, But what's to become Of us,
| should like to know, afloat on this big
pond?"
I'd like to know that, too" said
Dorothy. But. tell me; how does II
happen that you are able to talk?
thought hens could only cluck and
Cackle."
why, as for that" answered the
yellow hen th~oughtfully, "lve. clucked
and cackled all my life, and never
spoken a 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 an
swer you, So | spoke, and | seem to
keep on speaking, Just as you and 9TH
er, human beings do. Strange. isn't
IT,"
Very" replied Dorothy. IF we were
In the Land of OF. | wouldn't think II
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 Oz,"
How is my grammar" asked the
yellow hen, anxiously. "Do | 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 one
because, II one is going to talk. it's
best to tank correctly, The red rooster
has often said that M cluck and
cackle were quite perfect; and now
It's a comfort to know | am talking
properly"
I'm beginning to got 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 it?' asked
the little girl, In surprise,
No. indeed ! never care to hatch
eggs unless I've n nice nus 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 possibly eat it, un-
less II was cooked exclaimed Doro-
thy. But I'm much obliged for your
klnuneSS, JUST the same.
Don't mention It, my dear" an
swered the hen. calmly, and began
pruning her feathers.
) For a moment Dorothy stood looking
out over the wide sea. She was sttll
thinking Of the Egg, though, so present
ly she asked;
why do YOU lay eggs, when you
don't expect to hatch them"
, ITS a habit have" replied the vol
low. hen, ut has always been my
bride to lay a fresh egg every morn
ing, except when I'm moulting. | never
caCkle Till the egg is properly laid, and
, without the chance to caCkle | would
not be happy
It's strange" said the girl, reflect
lively But as I'm not a hen | can't bs
; 'spected to understand that"
| Certainly not, my dear
Then Dorothy fell silent again. The
yellow hen was some company, and a
, bit OF comfort, too; but it was dread
| fully lonely out on the big ocean, never
theless.
After a time the hen flew up and
{ perched upon the topmost Stat of the
coop, which was a little above norothv's
head when she was sitting upon tho
bottom, as she had been doing for som
moments past,
why, we are not far from landv'
exclaimed the hen.
! Where? Where Is it?'' cried noro-
thy, jumping up In great excitement.
over there a little way" answered