PART I.

REFLECTIONS OF A HEN WITH CHICKENS DURING AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

"Craw * * * craw * * * craw! What's the matter with my eyes? It looks very dark, for a clear summer's day. I must be getting old, for it ain't more than ten o'clock, and it seems exactly like sundown. Craw * * * craw * * * craw! Why, it's getting cold. It seems as chill as evening. Cut, cut, cudawcut! What can be the matter? Why, the sun is going to bed before it's fairly got up. Cur--r-r-r-r-r! Well, after all, it may be only a fit of the vapors--or my gizzard may be put out of order by that toad I ate yesterday. I thought, then, I should pay dear for it. Cur--r-r-r-r-r? Here chicks--come under my wings! I'm going to take a nap. Come along--Nip, Dip, Pip, Rip--come into your featherbed, my little dearies! There! Don't stick your noses out--be still now--I'm going to sing a song.

Hush, my chickies--don't you peep-- Hush, my children--go to sleep! Now the night is dark and thick-- Go to sleep each little chick! * * * * *

Fiddle-de-dee--I can't sleep, and the chickens are as lively as bed-bugs. Cut--cut--cu--daw--cut! What on airth is the matter! The sun has got put out, right up there in the sky, just like a candle. Well--never did I see or hear of such a thing afore! And now it's night in the middle of the day! What will come next? Why, I expect I shall walk on my head, and fly with my claws! It ain't half fair, to shave an old hen and chickens out of their dinner and supper in this way. However, it's too dark for decent people to be abroad. So, my chicks, we must get into the coop and go to rest. Cur--r-r-r-r--it's very queer indeed. How thankful I am that I don't make day and night, and get the world into such a scrape as this. Come in! Come in, chicks! It ain't our affair. Come along--there--you rowdies! You ain't sleepy, and I don't wonder at it. But hens and chickens must go to bed when the lamp is put out. Cur--r-r-r-r-r."