132 FIVE A o K E s TOO M u c H. 



close by, who had kept chickens before I had ; but 

 it seemed to me that his flock increased as mine di 

 minished, and I even thought that I recognized some 

 of my &quot; lost ones.&quot; It may be that they went there 

 for safety, although, if any questions were asked, he 

 could always explain how he came by that particular 

 bird, and give its entire history, and the man s name 

 that he bought it from. 



When the pups were repressed and the gaps cured, 

 and my remaining chickens which were reduced to 

 ten were persuaded to stay at home, and when they 

 had become large enough to give promise of future 

 usefulness and eggs, Patrick was directed to prepare 

 boxes for them to lay in. He filled these half full 

 of soft hay, and deposited a white glass nest-egg, 

 which cost twenty-five cents apiece, in each, and 

 fastened them up in the most enticing locations. 

 But the chickens did not seem to fancy the nests; 

 in fact, they did not appear to turn, their minds to 

 laying at all, but were contented to &quot;eat, drink, and 

 be merry,&quot; without regard to their philoprogenitive 

 duties. Patrick suggested that a little &quot; mate&quot; might 

 bring them up to the required point, and, when that 

 failed, said something about lime being required to 

 make the shells ; but I did not see the necessity for 

 shells till we had the &quot; filling&quot; ready. 



