The Happy Party.
Pubd. May 1, 1831, by J. Harris, St. Pauls Church Yard.
THE HEN AND CHICKENS.
The visit to the farm-yard made the girls turn with fresh pleasure to their own little court, and their own poultry; whilst Kate fed the larger fowls, from a basket under her arm, Blanche knelt down, and held a dish of softer food, for the hen and the young chickens within their wicker coop; this little brood had been a source of much pleasure. In a corner of the cow-house, Kate had first found their pretty white hen sitting on five eggs; her Aunt told her some more eggs had better be placed under her, as she could cover and give warmth to twelve or fourteen. "But, Aunt, she will not let any one approach; she pecks at my fingers, even if I try to feed her!"—"Well, we must see what can be done," was the Aunt's reply; and she took a basket full of fine fresh eggs and went to the nest. The hen, at first, seemed ruffled and angry; but when an egg was held out to her, she raised her breast a little, and with her bill, helped to receive and place the egg under her bosom. In this manner she took ten eggs, and then would have no more. "She finds she has now as many as she can cover and keep warm," said the Aunt, "therefore she will not receive any more."—"What sense! What instinct!" cried the girls, charmed with the scene; "how useful her bill is to her!"—"Yes, it is her third hand," said the Aunt; "with her bill she will daily turn each egg, so that each part shall be duly warmed; and she will never quit her nest for more than a few minutes at a time, for fear her eggs should be harmed by the cold."—"Oh! the good creature!" cried Kate. "She will do all this for three weeks," added her Aunt, "for three long weeks, and nothing will divert her from her duty; nothing will draw her from her loved nest, and she will become thin and weak from watching and little food; yet she will fulfil her duty. Such is the instinct given her by the great Author of nature! I often think that human mothers would act better towards their children, did they listen more to the dictates of their hearts,—their hearts, which our Father in heaven warms and inspires."
Hen & Chickens.
Pubd. May 1, 1831, by J. Harris, St. Pauls Church Yard.