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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。
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The Diary of a Goose Girl
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
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The Diary of a Goose Girl
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；
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The Diary of a Goose Girl
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 on their part。
When we have closed all our small hen…nurseries for the night； there is
still the large house inhabited by the thirty…two full… grown chickens which
Phoebe calls the broilers。 I cannot endure the term； and will not use it。
〃Now for the April chicks；〃 I say every evening。
〃Do you mean the broilers？〃 asks Phoebe。
〃I