In the beautiful vale of Ravensworth, is situated a commodious farm
house: the proprietors treat all their domestic animals with humanity,
and provide every possible convenience for them. The poultry yard is
large and clean, at the bottom of it runs a clear brook, in which you
may always see a number of ducks and geese sporting.
One day, as an old speckled hen was scratching up some grubs for her
numerous family, one of her chicks came running up to her. Oh, mother,
pray do go and kill the young bantam cock! Why? replied the mother. Oh!
he has behaved to me worse than ever any chicken behaved to another, and
I will be revenged; I know I cannot fight him myself, but I hope you
will. Not till I know how he has offended. Why, I had just scratched up
a fine fat worm, and was cackling with delight, thinking what a nice
feast I should have, when the nasty little bantum came, snatched it from
me, ran away with it, and eat it, even before my face.
Doubtless he has behaved very improperly, replied the old hen; but that
is no reason you should; the best way of revenging yourself, is to take
no notice of him, or ever play with him again; instead of wasting your
time in quarrelling, search for another. What! and not punish him for so
very unjust an action! did you ever hear of any thing so shameful
before? Oh yes, many things. I should like to hear one of them. Well, my
dear, I have no objection; but as it is so very hot, it would be better
to go under the shade of the laburnum, and I will then relate to you the
chief occurrences of my eventful life. The old hen then walked stately
on, followed by her chickens; and having got upon a stone, to be a
little higher than her audience, the young ones ranged themselves round
her, and she began as follows:
I was hatched with six more in a large nest, formed by my mother; as
soon as we broke the shell, she carefully threw out every thing she
thought would hurt our tender bodies, spread her warm wings over us, and
prattled us to sleep: when we awoke, we complained of hunger; she
immediately went forth in search of food, but, alas! we never saw her
more.
There chanced to be a large strange dog in the yard, my mother thinking
he came to destroy us, flew at him, the contest was unequal, the dog
provoked, seized my mother by the neck, and strangled her.
We lay cold and comfortless, wondering what had become of our parent.
Before night, two of my brothers died; and we should all soon have
shared their fate, had not a little girl, the farmer's daughter, found
us: she took us to the fire, and fed us with a little warm milk and
bread, which revived us; she then wrapped us up in flannel, and put us
in a little basket, which she put in the chimney corner. She fed us very
regularly; but I suppose not with proper food, as all my poor sisters
and brothers died, probably I was stronger than they. My little mistress
grew very fond of me, as I would eat out of her hand, and when she
called chickee, would run to her.
As I grew large, I was very troublesome in flying upon the tables, and
pecking at every thing; many severe blows I got from the farmer and his
servants; who always ended by saying, if that troublesome fowl is not
sent into the poultry yard, it shall certainly be killed; but my
mistress always begged that I might stay a little longer, for she feared
the other fowls would drive me away.
And indeed I had not endeavoured to make friends of any of them; but
when the door was open, and I could see them, I insulted them, with
calling out, poor creatures! you are obliged to work hard all day, and
can scarcely get enough to eat, while I am fed plentifully with the
greatest dainties, and have nothing to do but amuse myself. An old hen
who had been a friend of my mother's, offered to supply her place, in
teaching me how to scratch for myself; but I rejected her kind advice
with disdain.