ii8 The Hen at Work 



water placed at hand. Then the quietest hen is 

 selected, treated for lice, and, at evening, dropped 

 into the run. 



At first she frequently runs about, and tries to 

 escape; then she grows more quiet and stops to 

 look around her. Seeing com, her favorite food, 

 and fresh water, she remembers that she is hungry. 

 Gradually the hen works her way to the door of 

 the coop. There is more com just inside. She 

 looks suspiciously about, but no one is watching. 

 Cautiously she slips through the opening and 

 follows the trail of com. 



In another moment, by the fading light, a neat 

 nest with thirteen eggs appears to her enraptured 

 gaze. AH is quiet; she is well fed and watered. 

 Here is just the chance she has been looking for, 

 and if the hen has a spark of real motherhood 

 she will nestle down with a contented cluck, and 

 start off on her three weeks' vacation. 



If the hen is still ramping around the rttn next 

 day she probably is not ready to sit, but it may be 

 that she needs a little longer to get used to her 

 surroundings. Another day will settle the matter, 

 and if the second morning dawns on eggs uncovered 

 she must be returned to the flock. 



