THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. 5 







Scratchard's predictions, began to find herself suddenly at- 

 tacked with nervous symptoms. She lost her gay spirits, 

 grew dumpish and morose, stuck up her feathers in a bris- 

 tling way, and pecked at her neighbors if they did so much 

 as look at her. Master Gray Cock was greatly concerned, 

 and went to old Doctor Peppercorn, who looked solemn, and 

 recommended an infusion of angle-worms, and said he would 

 look in on the patient twice a day till she was better. 



" Gracious me, Gray Cock ! " said old Goody Kertarkut, 

 who had been lolling at the corner as he passed, "a'n't you 

 a fool ? cocks always are fools. Don't you know what 's 

 the matter with your wife ? She wants to set, that 's all ; 

 and you just let her set ! A fiddlestick for Doctor Pepper- 

 corn ! Why, any good old hen that has brought up a" family 

 knows more than a doctor about such things. You just go 

 home and tell her to set, if she wants to, and behave her- 

 self" 



When Gray Cock came home, he found that Master Freddy 

 had been before him, and established Mrs. Feathertop upon 

 eight nice eggs, where she was sitting in gloomy grandeur. 

 He tried to make a little affable conversation with her, and 

 to relate his interview with the doctor and Goody Kertar- 

 kut, but she was morose and sullen, and only pecked at 

 him now and then in a very sharp, unpleasant way ; so 

 after a few more efforts to make himself agreeable, he left 

 her, and went out promenading with the captivating Mrs. 



