Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1880 — A Devotes Hen. [ARTICLE]

A Devotes Hen.

Ik my father's poultry-yard was a game-cock, the most beautiful bird of the kind I ever saw. He had several wives, and it was a curious thing to see the different airs and graces of the ladies of his train. He was an inveterate fighter, if he could escape from the yard, which was surrounded by a high wall. By some means an accident had happened to his foot, and he became lame. My brother, who was a medical student, advised us to poultice it. Mamma undertaking this, Ralph came every morning to have his foot dressed, and, though evidently suffering very much, allowed her to attend to it. But no improvement came, and the poor bird began to droop. One day we heard a loud noise; a famous game-cock had come into the yard when the gate was left open, at-\ tacked Ralph, and had beaten him severely. He was sorely injured, though he had defended himself well. Mamma Sicked him up and carried him away, ut next morning he was out in the yard warming himself in the sun. I was very glau I was’ there to see what I then saw, or I could not have believed it. Ralph had been beaten! He was no longer to be honored by his faithless wive.'. They came first one by one, and then altogether, looking with all the contempt they could display. One and another pecked at him, and at last the prettiest and his favorite, went straight up to him and gave him a severe dab near the eye. But there was one faithful friend among them, an awkward, bustling brown hen, with no pretensions to beauty, who flew to his rescue, stood resolutely before the prostrate bird—for he had sunk to the ground, as if heartbroken—and sheltered him with her wings. It was useless to leave him in the poultry-yard, so he and his faithful brown hen were placed in the garden, the tool-house being left open for them through the night. Some weeks passed and Ralph grew weaker, till one morning we found him dead. A grave was dug, and his faithful wife saw him placed m it. She was taken back to the yard, but she never rallied; and a few days after we saw her lying cold and lifeless on the spot where the friend of her generous heart lay buried.— Chambers' Journal.