THE BANTAMS 



Improver as he answered, a bit hesitatingly, "I believe 

 William says there are a hundred and ten." 



"A hundred and ten!" I exclaimed in amazement. 

 "Have you gone into the poultry business?" 



"No, not exactly," he mildly returned. "You see, 

 it's this way. The bantams won't lay their eggs in those 

 specially prepared nests in the chicken house. They 

 will steal their nests and they come back from the woods 

 with an air of the greatest importance and ten or twelve 

 little ones trailing along behind them." 



"Do you mean to tell me that from those four hens 

 and one rooster with the assistance of eight or nine yel 

 low pullets we have now a hundred and ten bantams, 

 big and little?" 



"I do indeed and they 're increasing weekly. 

 Something must be done." 



Something indeed. I was speechless. 



"I wonder if the F s would n't like a few," inter 

 rupted my vis-a-vis, "their little boy said something 

 about wanting one the other day." 



109 



