Grandmamma. She is afraid you are going to hurt her chickens, when she sees you run after them. Hens are often very fierce, if any one offers to meddle with their young ones.
Charles. Well then, poor things! I will not take you up in my hand, but I will give you your food on the ground. How pretty they look! They are the colour of my canary bird.
Arthur. I see the old hen does not eat much herself. She only pecks about the grits, to show them to her chickens.
Grandmamma. She is a very good mother; so we will give her some barley. That is the best food for the old ones.
Arthur. See, Charles, how oddly they drink! They turn up their heads whenever they swallow.
Grandmamma. By that means they let the water trickle down their throats.
The Poultry Yard.