-APRIL. 105 



the house, till the whole brood is hatched. In 

 farm-kitchens, in spring, we perpetually hear 

 a chirping of chickens, ducklings, goslings, etc. 

 and see a basket set near the fire, covered with 

 a flannel; or a worsted stocking rolling about 

 the hearth, like a great snake, with here and 

 there the head of a chicken peeping through 

 a hole. They have next to be placed under 

 a coop, which confines the hen till they are 

 strong enough to follow her, and are fed with 

 those various compounds which good house- 

 wives prepare. It is a common practice to give 

 each young turkey a peppercorn the first thing, 

 but good judges disapprove of it, and prefer to 

 feed them with chopped docks and oatmeal. 

 Many broods of young poultry, and especially 

 turkeys, which, as they are the hardiest of 

 birds when .grown, are certainly the most ten- 

 der at first, must have a careful lad to tend 

 them, and to see that the hen does not weary 

 them by her wanderings ; that they are not 

 overtaken by rain, or get into other dangers : 

 such are the cares of hatching- time. , 



