Fowls 



THE HEN 



"Will you take the basket, Tom, please?" asked 

 Miss Clare as she drove up to the school-house door. 

 "If you hear a little noise, don't be frightened," 

 she continued, merrily, as they went in, "for it con- 

 tains something that is alive." 



There was a piece of netting tied over the basket, 

 so Tom peeped in and saw feathers. He caught 

 a glimpse, also, of a tiny dark eye, but it was after 

 the morning hymn had been sung and everybody 

 was sitting with a "straight back," that the cover 

 was finally removed; then, as Miss Clare tipped 

 the basket down, out walked a ben. 



She was a very handsome white one, with beauti- 

 ful long tail feathers. As the room was very quiet 

 she did not seem at all afraid, and as she walked 

 slowly across the room the children were bidden to 



watch her most carefully. 



127 



