BANTAMS 



The little bantam can crow quicker, oftener and 

 with more ginger than any other rooster on the 

 place. He has so much steam that I imagine he must 

 have the spirit of a full-sized Brahma or Cochin 

 compressed into the size of a pigeon. He is so 

 cocky that his very appearance seems a challenge. 

 The first time he stepped out into the barnyard the 

 turkey gobbler challenged him to mortal combat and 

 unlimbered for action without waiting for his chal- 

 lenge to be accepted. But, try as he would, the 

 gobbler could not land on the brisk bantam. The 

 little fellow sidestepped every swipe that was made 

 at him, and went on picking up grain as if it were 

 only a fly that was bothering him. And when he 

 scratches in the straw for grain he does it with a 

 vim that seems to say to all the world, "When I 

 scratch gravel mind your eye." But if I could 

 speak hen language I would feel it my duty to warn 

 him about his little mate. She looks so demure that 

 I suspect her of being a flirt. 



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