Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-08-19
A Hen That
Walked Backwards
By WILLIAM FALL

(
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS >>~>e~>~~>~>e>>4
q. 1921. Western Newspaper Union)
why, Colonel Travers sends 500
miles for a plate Of strawberries cost
ing dollar piece, If he takes q no
tion," was the way Gregory Jones usu-
ally descanted upon the immense
wealth of the proprietor of Hillsdale
hall. "They say, too, that he has bank
notes bound up into books in his
library" y
The Travers family lived in grand
style. They were pleasant. liberal, and
spent a good deal of money with the
village ~storekeepers. There was,
therefore, considerable regret when It
was known that the hall had been sold
for a seminary.
In Hillsdale hall Gregory was very
much interested. He>was given many
an odd task well paid fQr by the col
onel. The matron Of thAt lordly es-
Establishment was Mrs. Susan, Morton.
She was a buxom widow, CHEEKY but
all business.
! = On the day that the hall family
moved, Gregory brushed up his best
suit and started for the hall with de-
termined, though anxious face. He ex-
pected to find Susan there, and he did
seated on the top step Of the porch.
The house had been Invested of all its
furniture and moving vans were visi-
BILE down the road. Susan had the keys
of the house in her hand and looked
! lonely. - ''""'1ssc
you've been crying, Susan" OBJ
served Gregory, sitting down beside
| her.
yes, I'll admit it," confessed Susan,
making room for him. 1T grieves me
to leave such kind, liberal family"
"Susan," said Gregory, with longing
eyes, "you know my feelings towards
your
II do, Gregory" acknowledged Su-
san, frankly, land feel hOnOred by
them. Itsis useless to talk about that,
though, just now. All have is the lit
tie plat Of farm land my mother left
me- You will have to wait till you get
some steady position
"And then, Susan? pressed Greg
ory anxiously.
"Why, the day you can make a
start to stock up the farm I will be
glad and willing to 60 into life part
nership with YOU
'It's."a good,> sensible woman you
are," declared Gregory, warmly. I'm
going to deserve you, and then I'm
going to have you"
II hope So" returned Susan With an
encouraging smile. "Oh, Gregory
would you do favor for me?'
"You don't need to ask that"
1.-THE colonel sold off all his barn
stuff, the chickens among them
There's a poor witless hen the pur
chasers wouldn't take. They said il
was crazy and would annoy the Other
layers. They've left the homeless:
thing behind. Won't you take care
of it?''
Il wiu,' promised Gregory, "ant
think of what kind-hearted woman
you are every time look at it."
Gregory located the lone chick OF
its roost, found bag, said good-by t.
Susan and took his prize home. Thu
keeper of the village general store wa
just getting ready to put up the shut
tiers for the night when Gregor.
rushed into the place.
"Hello!" hailed the storekeeper
"going to novel,
"Pretty nigh that, silas," replied
Gregory "See here, want little &C
commodation of you"
"What is it, Gregory"
Il want to borrow $25."
The storekeeper proceeded to hi
old iron box of a safe. Gregory be
came immersed in reading the glarinI
poster on the wall of a circus exhibit
ing so miles away.
Just in time" he said to himself
'Thank you, Silas, I'll pay you back al
right" he added aloud.
There was great gossip as to tn
mysterious departure of Gregory.
Dear Sweetheart Susan" it read
1--WE ordered that farm outfit and IN
, coming home. Get ready to begi
! that life partnership this fall-beaut1
full sunsets, harvests and ALL"
! Susan gave a scream of delight a
she opened the door one morning an
found Gregory on the doorstep.
"Gregory," was her first word &
they were seated on the sofa, "wha
does it all mean? Did some one leav
? you q fortune?"
! Better than that" replied Gregor
E buoyantly-"a chance to earn ever
! dollar I've got. It was the CHECKER
r Susan"
e What chicken? asked Susan TO,
q getfully.
|, 1.-The one you asked me to care fol
s Susan. that was a wonderful fowl. N
e lnore crazy than you or 1-only queer.
G: "How queer, Gregory"
3"Wen, it walked backwards. Thin
of a hen that walked backwards
only one in the world. I went straigh
I to the city where q circus was show
j. Ing. A side show was interested. Nc
e that q chicken that walked backward
) was 80 strong an attraction Of itsel
I but with the tattooed boy and the trio
-. porcupine it made big draw. A show
man offered me $1,000 cash for til
y curiosity, 30 I'm here with the none
s to stock up that fsrna. What do yo
say. Susan p %7' ~a.