Beeton's book of poultry and domestic animals - Thurman Lodge ...

A NI8HT WITH IHE CHICKENS.
And may be shot, wiiib the certainty that all neighbours will be
thankful."
Not only for the sake of telling a good story, but further to
impress on the reader's mind that our lady poultry-keeper had
not quite " all the luck to herself," and furthermore to illustrate
the advantage of prompt action in sudden difficulties, we
will relate, in Miss Martineau's own language, a most memorable
" night with the chickens," endured by herself and her
friend M. .
"My entire poultry-yard, except a few old hens on the
perches, was in danger of destruction by an accident one summer
night, and was saved by what I cannot but consider a
remarkable exercise of energy on the part of my companion
M .
Few persons in the north of England will ever forget
the thunder-storm on the night of the 24th of July, 1869. At
eleven p.m. the rain came down iu one sheet, instantly flooding
the level ground to the depth of more than a foot, and the
continuous thunder seemed to crack on one's very skull, while
the blue lightning never intermitted for two seconds for above
an hour. The heat was almost intolerable. Our maids, how-
ever, who kept very early hours, were sleeping through it all
when M escorted me (very feeble through illness) upstairs,
settled me with my book in my easy chair, and bade me good
night.
" Presently I drew up a window-blind to see the lightning
better from my seat. In the midst of its blue blazes there was
more than once a yellow flicker on the window-frame which I
could not understand. I went to look out and saw a yellow
light whisking about far below, sometimes in the quarry, and
then mounting or descending the terrace steps. It was M
saving the fowls. She would not allow the maids, who were
striving enough now, to go straight from their beds into the
storm ; and she knew it was useless to call the ra-aiX from the
cottage, who was a mere incumbrance on critical uocasions.
In fact, he and his wife were at that moment entirely persuaded
that the end- of the world was come. It was
no form oi speech, but their real conviction ; and it could not
Lave been asked of them to care about ducks and chickens.
The maids were lighting a flre in the back kitchen, and strewing
the floor with straw, while M was out in dress that
could not be spoiled, lantern, basket and apron. Some of the
hens and chickens were too cramped to move, sitting in the
water. Some were taking refuge in the shrubs. Two duck-
;