LITTLE BROWN HEN

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22343, 5 March 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITTLE BROWN HEN

She was a little brown hen—not mow-white, with a fine red comb, tibe the others. Her comb was dullish, and because she wasn't as big ss the rest the other hens teased her. Even the little boy from the house called her Brownie. "Why don't you go about with the oiliers?" quacked the Utile yellow duck one day, waddling along on bis way to the pond. „ "They would not want me, Brownie answered sighing. "1 am

not as big and beautiful as they, and my eggs are small and brown—: cot like their lovely white ones." The yellow duck blinked his bright little eyes.

"It is a shame!" he said. "Never mind, Brownie, you wait and see. Folk who are proud usually have a fall sooner or later. Just wait and

see!" And he hurried on to the pond. _ „," "There's that silly little Brownie! said somebody, and Brownie put her head into a heap of straw, pretending not to listen. ".What a pity she can't lay eggs like ours!" And two white hens stalked by with thenheads in the air. Now, that morning was Sunday, and Brownie always longed to lay a specially nice egg for Sunday, because it was the morning when the farmer and his wife, and the little boy, all had boiled eggs for breakfast. But the egg she laid this morning was just as small and brown as usual, and she walked away from it feelintf sadder than ever. But to-day a surprise awaited her, for down the path came the farmer and his little boy—and a small g.irl as well! Such a pretty little girl, thought Brownie, and she guessed

she was the little boy's cousin, as he often spoke of her. "You can choose your own egg," the farmer said to her. "Frank always likes those lovely big white ones." But the little girl was hardly listening. She was looking at a shy brown hen, and thinking how sweet it looked! And then, all at once. she nearly tripped over a pile of straw—and in it nestled a wee brown egg. "Ohl" said the little girl as she saw it. "What a darling egg! May I have this one for my breakfast, uncle? I would much rather have this than those big ones—" The farmer seemed ever so pleased. . "Of course you may," he said readily. "You are a sensible little thing—and the first one to notice my Brownie. She is by far the nicest hen of the lot, and I think you will agree with me that her eggs taste the best of any." Well—weren't those proud hens surprised! They felt very silly, too. and wished with all their hearts they hadn't said such unkind things to the little brown hen. And, as fof Brownie—well, she puffed her little feathers up with pride, and since that day she has been the favourite of the farmyard. The yellow duck always nods to her as he goes by. He seems to be saying: "There! I told you so, didn't I?"