Page:Frank Stockton - Rudder Grange.djvu/97

Rh other things, Euphemia would take charge of the chickens. She wished to do this entirely herself, so that there might be one thing that should be all her own, just as my work in town was all my own. As she wished to buy the chickens and defray all the necessary expenses out of her own private funds, I could make no objections, and indeed, I had no desire to do so. She bought a chicken-book, and made herself mistress of the subject. For a week there was a strong chicken flavour in all our conversation.

This was while the poultry-yard was building. There was a chicken-house on the place, but no yard, and Euphemia intended to have a good big one, because she was going into the business to make money.

"Perhaps my chickens may buy the place," she said; and I very much hoped they would.

Everything was to be done very systematically. She would have Leghorn, Brahmas, and common fowls. The first, because they laid so many eggs; the second, because they were such fine, big fowls; and the third, because they were such good mothers. "We will eat and sell the eggs of the first and third classes," she said, "and set the eggs of the second class, under the hens of the third class."

"There seems to be some injustice in that arrangement," I said, "for the first class will always be childless; the second class will have nothing to do with their offspring, while the third will be obliged to bring up and care for the children of others."

But I really had no voice in the matter. As soon as the carpenter had finished the yard, and had made some coops, and other necessary arrangements, Euphemia hired a carriage and went about the country to buy chickens. It was not easy to find just what she wanted, and she was gone all day.