2 ' THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. 



possible for a hen to be. She was bought by young Master 

 Fred Little John, with four or five family connections of 

 hers, and a lively young cock, who was held to be as brisk 

 a scratcher and as capable a head of a family as any half- 

 dozen sensible hens could desire. 



I can't say that at first Mrs. Feathertop was a very sen- 

 sible hen. She was very pretty and lively, to be sure, 

 and a great favorite with Master Bolton Gray Cock, on 

 account of her bright eyes, her finely shaded feathers, and 

 certain saucy dashing ways that she had, which seemed 

 greatly to take his fancy. But old Mrs. Scratchard, living 

 in the neighboring yard, assured all the neighborhood that 

 Gray Cock was a fool for thinking so much of that flighty 

 young thing, that she had not the smallest notion how 

 to get on in life, and thought of nothing in the world but 

 her own pretty feathers. "Wait till she comes to have 

 chickens," said Mrs. Scratchard. "Then you will see. I 

 have brought up ten broods myself, as likely and respecta- 

 ble chickens as ever were a blessing to society, and I think 

 I ought to know $ a good hatcher and brooder when I see 

 her ; and I know that fine piece of trumpery, with her white 

 feathers tipped with gray, never will come down to family 

 life. She scratch for chickens ! Bless me, she never did 

 anything in all her days but run round and eat the worms 

 which somebody else scratched up for her. 



When Master Bolton Gray heard this he crowed very 



