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FRONTISPIECE.
THE
SURPRISING AND SINGULAR
Adventures
OF
A HEN
ADVENTURES OF A HEN.
In the beautiful vale of Ravensworth,is situated a commodious farm house:the proprietors treat all their domesticanimals with humanity, and provideevery possible convenience for them.The poultry yard is large and clean, atthe bottom of it runs a clear brook, inwhich you may always see a numberof ducks and geese sporting.
One day, as an old speckled henwas scratching up some grubs for hernumerous family, one of her chickscame running up to her. Oh, mother,pray do go and kill the young bantamcock! Why? replied the mother. Oh!he has behaved to me worse than everany chicken behaved to another, and Iwill be revenged; I know I cannotfight him myself, but I hope you will.Not till I know how he has offended.Why, I had just scratched up a finefat worm, and was cackling with delight,thinking what a nice feast Ishould have, when the nasty littlebantum came, snatched it from me,ran away with it, and eat it, even beforemy face.
Doubtless he has behaved very improperly,replied the old hen; butthat is no reason you should; the bestway of revenging yourself, is to takeno notice of him, or ever play with himagain; instead of wasting your time inquarrelling, search for another. What!and not punish him for so very unjustan action! did you ever hear of anything so shameful before? Oh yes,many things. I should like to hearone of them. Well, my dear, I haveno objection; but as it is so very hot,it would be better to go under theshade of the laburnum, and I will thenrelate to you the chief occurrences ofmy eventful life. The old hen thenwalked stately on, followed by herchickens; and having got upon a stone,to be a little higher than her audience,the young ones ranged themselvesround her, and she began as follows:
I was hatched with six more in alarge nest, formed by my mother; assoon as we broke the shell, she carefullythrew out every thing she thoughtwould hurt our tender bodies, spreadher warm wings over us, and prattledus to sleep: when we awoke, we complainedof hunger; she immediatelywent forth in search of food, but, alas!we never saw her more.
There chanced to be a large strangedog in the yard, my mother thinkinghe came to destroy us, flew at him,the contest was unequal, the