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operation in which Phoebe shows a delicacy of discrimination and a
fearlessness of attack amounting to genius； we count the entire
number and find several missing。 Searching for their animate or
inanimate bodies； we 〃scoop〃 one from under the tool…house； chance
upon two more who are being harried and pecked by the big geese in
the lower meadow； and discover one sailing by himself in solitary
splendour in the middle of the deserted pond； a look of evil
triumph in his bead…like eye。 Still we lack one young duckling；
and he at length is found dead by the hedge。 A rat has evidently
seized him and choked him at a single throttle； but in such haste
that he has not had time to carry away the tiny body。
〃Poor think！〃 says Phoebe tearfully； 〃it looks as if it was 'it
with some kind of a wepping。 I don't know whatever to do with the
rats； they're gettin' that fearocious！〃
Before I was admitted into daily contact with the living goose （my
previous intercourse with him having been carried on when gravy and
stuffing obscured his true personality）； I thought him a very
Dreyfus among fowls； a sorely slandered bird； to whom justice had
never been done； for even the gentle Darwin is hard upon him。 My
opinion is undergoing some slight modifications； but I withhold
judgment at present； hoping that some of the follies； faults；
vagaries； and limitations that I observe in Phoebe's geese may be
due to Phoebe's educational methods； which were； before my advent；
those of the darkest ages。
CHAPTER IV
July 9th。
By the time the ducks and geese are incarcerated for the night； the
reasonable； sensible； practical…minded hensespecially those whose
mentality is increased and whose virtue is heightened by the
responsibilities of motherhoodhave gone into their own particular
rat…proof boxes； where they are waiting in a semi…somnolent state
to have the wire doors closed； the bricks set against them； and the
bits of sacking flung over the tops to keep out the draught。 We
have a great many young families； both ducklings and chicks； but we
have no duck mothers at present。 The variety of bird which Phoebe
seems to have bred during the past year may be called the New Duck；
with certain radical ideas about woman's sphere。 What will happen
to Thornycroft if we develop a New Hen and a New Cow； my
imagination fails to conceive。 There does not seem to be the
slightest danger for the moment； however； and our hens lay and sit
and sit and lay as if laying and sitting were the twin purposes of
life。
The nature of the hen seems to broaden with the duties of
maternity； but I think myself that we presume a little upon her
amiability and natural motherliness。 It is one thing to desire a
family of one's own； to lay eggs with that idea in view； to sit
upon them three long weeks and hatch out and bring up a nice brood
of chicks。 It must be quite another to have one's eggs abstracted
day by day and eaten by a callous public； the nest filled with
deceitful substitutes； and at the end of a dull and weary period of
hatching to bring into the world another person's children
children； too； of the wrong size； the wrong kind of bills and feet；
and； still more subtle grievance； the wrong kind of instincts；
leading them to a dangerous aquatic career； one which the mother
may not enter to guide； guard； and teach； one on the brink of which
she must ever stand； uttering dryshod warnings which are never
heeded。 They grow used to this strange order of things after a
bit； it is true； and are less anxious and excited。 When the duck…
brood returns safely again and again from what the hen…mother
thinks will prove a watery grave； she becomes accustomed to the
situation； I suppose。 I find that at night she stands by the pond
for what she considers a decent； self…respecting length of time；
calling the ducklings out of the water； then； if they refuse to
come； the mother goes off to bed and leaves them to Providence； or
Phoebe。
The brown hen that we have named Cornelia is the best mother； the
one who waits longest and most patiently for the web…footed Gracchi
to finish their swim。
When a chick is taken out of the incubytor （as Phoebe calls it） and
refused by all the other hens； Cornelia generally accepts it；
though she had twelve of her own when we began using her as an
orphan asylum。 〃Wings are made to stretch；〃 she seems to say
cheerfully； and with a kind glance of her round eye she welcomes
the wanderer and the outcast。 She even tended for a time the
offspring of an absent…minded； light…headed pheasant who flew over
a four…foot wall and left her young behind her to starve； it was
not a New Pheasant； either； for the most conservative and old…
fashioned of her tribe occasionally commits domestic solecisms of
this sort。
There is no telling when； where； or how the maternal instinct will
assert itself。 Among our Thornycroft cats is a certain Mrs。
Greyskin。 She had not been seen for many days； and Mrs。 Heaven
concluded that she had hidden herself somewhere with a family of
kittens； but as the supply of that article with us more than equals
the demand； we had not searched for her with especial zeal。
The other day Mrs。 Greyskin appeared at the dairy door； and when
she had been fed Phoebe and I followed her stealthily； from a
distance。 She walked slowly about as if her mind were quite free
from harassing care； and finally approached a deserted cow…house
where there was a great mound of straw。 At this moment she caught
sight of us and turned in another direction to throw us off the
scent。 We persevered in our intention of going into her probable
retreat； and were cautiously looking for some sign of life in the
haymow； when we heard a soft cackle and a ruffling of plumage。
Coming closer to the sound we saw a black hen brooding a nest； her
bright bead eyes turning nervously from side to side； and； coaxed
out from her protecting wings by youthful curiosity； came four
kittens； eyes wide open； warm； happy； ready for sport！
The sight was irresistible； and Phoebe ran for Mr。 and Mrs。 Heaven
and the Square Baby。 Mother Hen was not to be embarrassed or
daunted； even if her most sacred feelings were regarded in the
light of a cheap entertainment。 She held her ground while one of
the kits slid up and down her glossy back； and two others； more
timid； crept underneath her breast； only daring to put out their
pink noses！ We retired then for very shame and met Mrs。 Greyskin
in the doorway。 This should have thickened the plot； but there is
apparently no rivalry nor animosity between the co…mothers。 We
watch them every day now； through a window in the roof。 Mother
Greyskin visits the kittens frequently； lies down beside the home
nest； and gives them their dinner。 While this is going on Mother
Blackwing goes modestly away for a bite； a sup； and a little
exercise； returning to the kittens when the cat leaves them。 It is
pretty to see her settle down over the four； fat； furry dumplings；
and they seem to know no difference in warmth or comfort； whichever
mother is brooding them； while； as their eyes have been open for a
week； it can no longer be called a blind error