6 THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. 



Red Comb, a charming young Spanish widow, who had just 

 been imported into the neighboring yard. 



"Bless my soul!" said he, "you Ve no idea how cross my 

 wife is." 



" O you horrid creature ! " said Mrs. Red Comb ; " how 

 little you feel for the weaknesses of us poor hens ! " 



" On my word, ma'am," said Gray Cock, " you do me in- 

 justice. But when a hen gives way to temper, ma'am, and 

 no longer meets her husband with a smile, when she even 

 pecks at him whom she is bound to honor and obey " 



"Horrid monster! talking of obedience! I should say, sir, 

 you came straight from Turkey ! " and Mrs. Red Comb tossed 

 her head with a most bewitching air, and pretended to run 

 away, and old Mrs. Scrat chard looked out of her coop and 

 called to Goody Kertarkut, 



"Look how Mr. Gray Cock is flirting with that widow. 

 I always knew she was a baggage." 



"And his poor wife left at home alone," said Goody Ker- 

 tarkut. " It 's the way with 'em all ! " 



" Yes, yes," said Dame Scratchard, " she '11 know what 

 real life is now, and she won't go about holding her head 

 so high, and looking down on her practical neighbors that 

 have raised families." 



" Poor thing, what '11 she do with a family ? " said Goody 

 Kertarkut. 



"Well, what business have such young flirts to get mar- 



