第11部分(第4/8 頁)

into　a　chair。　“No；”　she　whimpered。　“No　more　chicks！”

“They're　not　chicks；　Mom　…　they're　eggs！”

She　was　still　looking　quite　pale；　so　I　sat　in　the　chair　next　to　her　and　said；　“We　don't　have　a

rooster…？”

“Oh。”　The　color　was　ing　back　to　her　cheeks。　“Is　that　so？”

“I've　never　heard　a　cock…a…doodle…do；　have　you？”

She　laughed。　“'41　blessing　I　guess　I've　forgotten　to　count。”　She　sat　up　a　little　and　took　an　egg

from　my　palm。　“Eggs；　huh。　How　many　do　you

suppose　they'll　lay？”

“I　have　no　idea。”

………　Page　34………

As　it　turns　out；　my　hens　laid　more　eggs　than　we　could　eat。　At　first　we　tried　to　keep　up；　but

soon　we　were　tired　of　boiling　and　pickling　and　deviling；

and　my　mother　started　plaining　that　all　these　free　eggs　were　costing　her　way　too　much。

Then　one　afternoon　as　I　was　collecting　eggs；　our　neighbor　Mrs。　Stueby　leaned　over　the　side

fence　and　said；　“If　you　ever　have　any　extra；　I'd　be

happy　to　buy　them　from　you。”

“Really？”　I　asked。

“Most　certainly。　Nothing　quite　like　free…range　eggs。　Two　dollars　a　dozen　sound　fair　to　you？”

Two　dollars　a　dozen！　I　laughed　and　said；　“Sure！”

“Okay；　then。　Whenever　you　have　some　extras；　just　bring　'em　over。　Mrs。　Helms　and　I　got　to

discussing　it　last　night　on　the　phone；　but　I　asked　you

first；　so　make　sure　you　offer　'em　up　to　me　before　her；　okay；　Juli？”

“Sure　thing；　Mrs。　Stueby！”

Between　Mrs。　S