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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13302 ***
+
+[Illustration: Yollande appears emerging from her shroud.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN
+
+
+TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+BY
+
+A. VIMAR
+
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+NORA K. HILLS
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+Mother Etienne's Farm
+
+CHAPTER II
+A Mother's Devotion
+
+CHAPTER III
+Yollande's Trousseau
+
+CHAPTER IV
+Father Gusson's Secret
+
+CHAPTER V
+Sir Booum Calls upon Mother Etienne
+
+CHAPTER VI
+The Separation
+
+CHAPTER VII
+Sir Booum's Circus
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+Mother Etienne's Dream
+
+CHAPTER IX
+Mother Etienne's Fortune
+
+CHAPTER X
+Triumph of the Ointment
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S FARM
+
+
+"Oh Grandfather, tell us a story, do. You know, the one you began
+the other evening about Mother Etienne's big farm. You remember.
+The weather is so bad and we can't go out. Go on, Grandfather,
+please."
+
+Coaxingly the three children clung round their grandfather,
+looking at him beseechingly. He adoring the children as he did,
+loved to hear them plead.
+
+At last he began:
+
+Since you have been very good, and you want it so much, I will
+tell you the wonderful story of Mother Etienne's farm and the
+still more wonderful story of what happened to one of its
+occupants.
+
+Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, and you
+will surely have your reward.
+
+Mother Etienne was a good stout woman with a very kind heart.
+While still young she was so unfortunate as to lose her husband
+and her son of whom she was very fond. This made her, as you can
+imagine, very, very sad. She wouldn't listen to any new offers of
+marriage though she had plenty of them. Instead, she devoted her
+life, her whole existence, to the attentive, nay I ought to say,
+the maternal care, of the animals on her farm, making them as
+comfortable as could be.
+
+She had, as I said before, a most excellent heart, the good Mother
+Etienne. You shall see that presently.
+
+This good woman then lived on her big farm, very spacious and
+admirably situated. A slate roof covered the large house; the
+granaries, stables and outhouses were sheltered by old thatching
+upon which grew moss and lichen.
+
+Let me tell you now, dear children, who were the chief occupants
+of the farm. First there was big "Coco"--a fine Normandy
+horse--bay-coloured and very fat, whose silky coat had a purple sheen;
+he had a star on his forehead and a pink mark between his eyes. He
+was very gentle and answered to the voice of his mistress. If
+Mother Etienne passed by his stable he never failed to scent her
+and whinnied at once. That was his way of showing his friendliness
+and saying,
+
+"Good morning."
+
+His good mistress spoiled him with all sorts of dainties.
+Sometimes a crust of bread, sometimes a handful of carrots, but
+what he loved best of all was sugar. If you had given him a whole
+loaf he would soon have eaten it up.
+
+Coco had for stable companions three fine Swiss cows. Their names
+were La Blonde, Blanchotte, and Nera. You know what the colours
+were for the names, don't you?
+
+Petit-Jacques, the stable boy, took care of them. On fine days he
+led them to pasture into a bog paddock near the farm up against a
+pretty wood of silver beeches. A large pond of clear water covered
+one corner of the meadow and lost itself in the reeds and iris.
+There the fine big cows went to quench their thirst; quantities of
+frogs went there, too, to play leap-frog. It was a veritable
+earthly Paradise.
+
+From the farm Mother Etienne caught the sound of the large bronze
+bells each with its different low note, which hung round the necks
+of the cows; thus she could superintend their comings and goings
+without interrupting her various occupations. For the farm was
+very big, as I told you, and had many animals on it.
+
+After the stables and coachhouses came the piggery, the rabbit
+hutches, and finally an immense poultry-yard divided into a
+thousand compartments, and sheltering a whole horde of poultry of
+all sorts; fowls of all kinds and of all breeds, geese,
+guineafowl, pigeons, ducks, and what all besides. What wasn't
+there in that prodigious poultry-yard?
+
+Mother Etienne spent most of her time there, for the smaller and
+more delicate the creatures the more interest and care she gave
+them.
+
+"The weak need so much protection," this excellent woman would
+say, and she was right.
+
+So for the baby ducks her tenderness was limitless. What dangers
+had to be avoided to raise successfully all these tiny folks!
+
+Did a pig escape? Immediately danger threatened the poultry-yard.
+For a pig has terrible teeth and he doesn't care what he eats--he
+would as soon crunch a little duckling as a carrot. So she had to
+watch every minute, every second even. For besides, in spite of
+the vigilance of "Labrie," the faithful watchdog, sometimes rats
+would suck the blood of the young pigeons. Once even a whole
+litter of rabbits was destroyed that way.
+
+To dispose of the products of her farm, Mother Etienne drove twice
+a week to market in her market-cart drawn by Coco.
+
+She was famed for the best vegetables, the purest and creamiest
+milk; in short, the eggs she sold were the freshest, the poultry
+and rabbits the tenderest and most juicy to be had. As soon as she
+and Coco came trotting into the market there was a rush to get to
+her first.
+
+There, as everywhere, everyone loved Mother Etienne.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+A MOTHER'S DEVOTION
+
+
+Thus time passed peacefully at the big farm.
+
+One day, however, the quiet was disturbed by a little drama which
+convulsed the calm but busy spot.
+
+Mother Etienne had given to a Cochin-China hen, which she had
+christened Yollande, some white duck's eggs to sit on. The batch
+of fifteen eggs had all come out. It was really wonderful to see
+these fifteen baby ducks, yellow as canaries, beaks and webbed
+feet pink, swarming around the big patient sitting mother, ducking
+under her wings, to come out presently and clamber helter-skelter
+onto her broad back. As often happens with nurses, Yollande loved
+the ducklings as her own children, and without worrying about
+their shape or plumage, so different from her own, she showered
+upon them proofs of the tenderest affection. Did a fly pass within
+their reach, all these little ones jumped at it--tumbling in their
+efforts to catch it. The little yellow balls with their wide-awake
+air never took a second's rest.
+
+Well cared for and well fed, they grew so rapidly that soon they
+had to have more space. Mother Etienne housed them then on the
+edge of the pond in a latticed coop opening onto a sloping board
+which led down to the water. It was, as it were, a big swimming
+bath, which grew gradually deeper and deeper. The ducks and geese
+loved to plunge in and hardly left the water except to take their
+meals.
+
+Yollande felt very out of place in this new dwelling. The
+ducklings on the contrary, urged on by their instinct, madly
+enjoyed it and rushed pell-mell into the water.
+
+This inexplicable impulse terrified their mama. She was, in fact,
+"as mad as a wet hen."
+
+She ran up and down, her feathers on end, her face swollen, her
+crest red, clucking away, trying to persuade her babies not to
+venture into the water. For hens, like cats, hate the water. It
+was unspeakable torture to her. The children would not listen;
+deaf to her prayers, her cries, these rascally babies ventured
+farther and farther out. They were at last and for the first time
+in their favourite element, lighter than little corks, they
+floated, dived, plunged, raced, fought, playing all sorts of
+tricks.
+
+Meanwhile, Yollande was eating her heart out. She rushed to and
+fro, keeping her eyes glued on the disobedient ones. Suddenly she
+saw a mother-duck chasing her darlings. This was more than she
+could bear,--driven by her maternal instinct she leapt like a fury
+to the aid of her family.
+
+A flap or two of her wings and she was above the water into which
+she fell at the deepest part.
+
+Splashing,--struggling madly in the midst of her frightened
+brood,--she was soon exhausted and succumbing to syncope, she sank
+to the bottom.
+
+The surface of the water closed above her. The little ones did not
+realize what had happened--very quickly recovering from their
+momentary fright, they went on with their games--splashing the
+water with their beaks and amusing themselves as though nothing
+were the matter.
+
+Mother Etienne, busy giving green apples to the pigs, bran to the
+rabbits, and corn to the pigeons, came back presently, and could
+not see the big Yollande beside the pond, only her children
+floating far, far away on the water. Surprised she drew nearer,
+called, but in vain. The mother-hen had disappeared. Then only did
+she understand the tragedy that had occurred. She called for help.
+Petit-Jacques immediately opened the big sluice and the water ran
+out, but much too slowly for their impatience. At last they began
+to see the bottom, and soon the body of poor Yollande was
+discovered stiff and motionless.
+
+There was general consternation at the farm. Petit-Jacques, by
+means of a long pole, seized her and drew her to land at Mother
+Etienne's feet. Labrie came up and sniffed sadly at the body of
+the unhappy hen. In vain they dried her and rubbed her,--nothing
+did any good.
+
+"She's quite dead, alas," said Mother Etienne with tears in her
+eyes, "but it was my own fault. I ought to have closed down the
+lattice and this misfortune would not have happened. It really is
+a great pity--such a fine hen. She weighs at least eight pounds.
+There, Germaine, take her and weigh her."
+
+Germaine was the maid and also the cousin of Petit-Jacques--of
+whom she was very fond. She was a fine buxom girl of eighteen,
+strong and well-grown. She loved animals, too, but her feeling for
+them could not be compared to Mother Etienne's.
+
+"Germaine, take away poor Yollande, I am quite upset
+by this trouble. You will bury her this evening, in a corner of
+the kitchen-garden--deep enough to prevent any animal digging her
+up. I leave it to you--do it carefully."
+
+The girl bore away the fine hen in her apron. "How heavy she
+is--it is a shame," and blowing apart the feathers, she saw the skin
+underneath as yellow and plump as you could wish. Mechanically she
+plucked a few feathers.
+
+"After all," she said, "it isn't as though she had died--she was
+drowned, quite a clean death; she's firm and healthy, only an hour
+ago she was as strong and well as could be. Why shouldn't we eat
+her?--We'll stew her because, though she is not old, she is not
+exactly in her first youth--but there's a lot on her--with a
+dressing of carrots and nutmeg, a bunch of herbs and a tomato,
+with a calf's foot to make a good jelly, I believe she'd make a
+lovely dinner."
+
+Saying this she went on plucking Yollande. All the feathers, large
+and small, gone, a little down was left, so to get rid of this she
+lit an old newspaper and held her over it.
+
+"Madame won't know anything and will enjoy her as much as we
+shall. There's enough on her for two good meals."
+
+Quite decided, instead of burying her, she wrapped the future stew
+carefully in a perfectly clean cloth and put it on a shelf in the
+kitchen out of the way of flies or accident.
+
+During this time Mother Etienne was busy making as warm a home as
+she could for the fifteen little orphans. Poor darlings. In a
+wicker-basket she covered a layer of straw with another of wadding
+and fine down. Upon this she put the ducklings one by one, and
+covered the whole with feathers; then closing the lid, she carried
+the basket to the stable where the air was always nice and warm.
+All this took time; it was about six o'clock in the evening, the
+sun was going down, throwing a last oblique smile into the
+kitchen, gleaming here and there on the shining copper which hung
+on the walls.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+
+YOLLANDE'S TROUSSEAU
+
+
+As for Germaine, she, with Petit-Jacques to help her, had gone to
+milk the cows. Mother Etienne soon joined them, and the two women
+came back to the house together.
+
+Horror of horrors! What a terrible sight. Pale with fear they
+stood on the threshold of the kitchen not daring to move--to
+enter. Their hearts were in their mouths. A ghost stood there in
+front of them--Yollande--and Germaine fell at Mother Etienne's
+feet in utter consternation. Yollande? Yes, Yollande, but what a
+Yollande! Heavens! Yollande plucked, literally plucked! Yollande
+emerging from her shroud like Lazarus from his tomb! Yollande
+risen from the dead! A cry of anguish burst from the heart of kind
+Mother Etienne.
+
+"Yollande, oh, Yollande!"
+
+The Cochin-China replied by a long shudder.
+
+This is what had happened.
+
+On falling into the water, Yollande after struggling fiercely
+succumbed to syncope, and her lungs ceasing to act she had ceased
+to breathe, so the water had not entered her lungs. That is why
+she was not drowned. Life was, so to speak, suspended. The syncope
+lasted some time. The considerable heat to which she was subjected
+when Germaine held her above the flaming newspaper had brought
+about a healthy reaction and in the solitude of the kitchen she
+had recovered consciousness.
+
+After the first moment of terror was over, Germaine confessed her
+plan to Mother Etienne, who, glad to find Yollande still alive,
+forgave Germaine the disobedience which had saved her.
+
+But the hen was still shivering, shaking in every limb, her skin
+all goose-flesh. Dragging after her her travesty of a tail, she
+jumped onto the kitchen-table which she shook with her shivering.
+
+"We can't leave her like that any longer," said Mother Etienne,
+"we must cover her up somehow," and straightway she wrapped her up
+in all the cloths she could lay her hands on. Germaine prepared
+some hot wine with sugar in it, and the two women fed her with it
+in spoonfuls,--then they took a good drink of it themselves. All
+three at once felt the better for it. Yollande spent the night in
+these hastily-made swaddling clothes between two foot-warmers
+which threw out a gentle and continuous heat and kept away the
+catarrh with which the poor Cochin-China was threatened. The great
+question which arose now was how they were to protect her from the
+cold in future. Both of them cogitated over it.
+
+Several times during the night, Mother Etienne and the maid came
+to look at the hen, who, worn out by such a long day of fatigue
+and suffering, at last closed her eyes, relaxed, and slept till
+morning.
+
+Nevertheless she was the first in the house to wake up, and at
+dawn began to cackle vigorously. Germaine hastened to her,
+bringing a quantity of corn which the hen, doubtless owing to her
+fast of the day before, ate greedily.
+
+Now the important thing was to find her a practical costume. The
+weather was mild but there was great danger in allowing her to
+wander about in a garb as light as it was primitive. The mornings
+and evenings were cool and might bring on a cold, inflammation or
+congestion of the lungs, rheumatism, or what not.
+
+At all costs a new misfortune must be avoided. At last they
+dressed her in silk cunningly fashioned and lined with wadding.
+Thus garbed her entry into the poultry-yard was a subject of
+astonishment to some, fear to others, and excitement to most of
+the birds she met on her way.
+
+In vain Mother Etienne strove to tone down the colours of the
+stuffs, to modify the cut of the garments, but Yollande long
+remained an object of surprise and antipathy to the majority of
+the poultry.
+
+The scandal soon reached its climax.
+
+"That hen must be mad," said an old duck to his wife.
+
+"Just imagine dressing up like that; she'll come along one of
+these days in a bathing suit," cried a young rooster who prided
+himself on his wit.
+
+A young turkey tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them off, and
+all the others looked on laughing and hurling insults.... They
+vied with one another in sarcastic speeches. At last, after a
+time, as the saying goes, "Familiarity bred contempt." The fear
+which her companions had felt at first soon changed into a
+familiarity often too great for the unhappy Cochin-China. They
+tried to see who could play her the shabbiest trick. Hens are
+often as cruel as men, which is saying a great deal.
+
+Poor Yollande, in spite of her size, her solidity, and strength,
+nearly always emerged half-dressed. Her companions could not stand
+her dressed like that, the sight of her irritated them. Not
+content with tearing her clothes they often pecked at the poor
+creature as well.
+
+Mother Etienne did her best to improve these costumes in every
+way--but it was as impossible to find perfection as the
+philosopher's stone.
+
+They hoped at the farm that in time the feathers would grow again.
+Meanwhile it was hard on the hen.
+
+Nothing of the sort happened; one, two, three months passed and
+not the least vestige of down appeared on the hen, who had to be
+protected like a human being from the changes of climate and so
+forth. Like a well-to-do farmer's wife Yollande had her
+linen-chest and a complete outfit.
+
+It was, I assure you, my dear children, kept up most carefully.
+There was always a button to sew on, a buttonhole to remake, or a
+tear to be mended. Thus constantly in touch with the household
+Madame Hen soon thought she belonged to it. Indeed, worn out by
+the teasing of her companions, by the constant arguments she had
+with them, and touched on the other hand by the affectionate care
+of her mistresses, Yollande stayed more and more in the house.
+Coddled and swathed in her fantastic costumes, she sat in the
+chimney corner like a little Cinderella changed into a hen; from
+this corner she quietly watched; nothing escaped her notice.
+
+Meanwhile her reputation had grown, not only amongst her comrades,
+but amongst all the animals of the neighbourhood, who, hearing her
+discussed, were anxious to see her.
+
+Woe to the cat or dog who dared venture too far into the room!
+Very annoyed at this impertinent curiosity, she would leap upon
+the importunate stranger and punish him terribly with her sharp
+beak. Of course he would run off howling and frightened to death.
+It was very funny to watch.
+
+Mother Etienne and Germaine were much amused at these little
+comedies, and whenever visitors came to the farm they would try to
+provoke one. Everyone enjoyed them hugely.
+
+Germaine treated Yollande like a doll. She made her all sorts of
+fashionable clothes. The Cochin-China would be dressed sometimes
+like a man, sometimes like a woman. She had made her quite a
+collection of little trousers and vests, which had style, I can
+tell you. She had copied, too, from a circus she had seen, an
+English clown's costume which was most becoming. Nothing could be
+funnier than to watch this tiny dwarf, to see her strut, jump,
+dance, coming and going, skipping around suddenly,--one moment
+skittish, the next very important.
+
+Petit-Jacques loved to tease her, but not roughly; he would push
+her with his foot, and make her jump at him impatiently, looking
+perfectly ridiculous in her quaint dress. You could have sworn she
+was a miniature clown. Add to all this, the queer inarticulate
+sounds she made when she was angry, and even then you can have no
+idea how very amusing these pantomimes were.
+
+Soon the fame of Yollande spread far and wide. She became
+celebrated throughout the district. Instead of asking Mother
+Etienne how _she_ was, people asked:
+
+"How's your hen today, Mother Etienne?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+
+FATHER GUSSON'S SECRET
+
+
+One day a peddler, such as often come round to villages, laden
+like a mule, and leading by the bridle an ass still more laden,
+appeared at the farm. Both looked well but tired and dusty--they
+seemed to have had a long journey.
+
+Father Gusson, such was the good man's name, sold all sorts of
+things, from tooth-brushes to shoes,--including hardware,
+glassware, notions, drugs, and even patent medicines.
+
+Mother Etienne received him kindly and after letting him show her
+the things in which she was interested, she offered him
+refreshment and suggested that he should take a little rest at the
+farm. This he accepted without needing any pressing.
+
+The donkey, relieved straightway from his load, was led into the
+paddock, where he wallowed in the tall grass, rolling on his back,
+his feet in the air. He enjoyed cleaning himself up like this
+after his dusty journey, then, rested--he took his luncheon,
+choosing here and there the daintiest morsels; after which he lay
+down and philosophised at length.
+
+All this time, Mother Etienne and Germaine were buying, tempted by
+one thing after another, silks, laces, stuffs for dresses, and a
+number of toilet articles, for both were, though you would not
+have suspected it, rather coquettish. Father Gusson--delighted
+with his visit to the farm and the business he had done there--was
+anxious to leave Mother Etienne a little remembrance.
+
+[Illustration: Father Gusson the peddler comes to the farm.]
+
+"Madame," he said, holding out a small china jar carefully sealed
+with parchment, "assuredly you do not need this just now, but if I
+should never come back, and if it should happen that one day your
+beautiful hair should grow thin, turn grey, or fall out, you have
+only to rub your head with this sweet-scented ointment and at once
+your hair will grow again thick and of its original colour. I
+cannot, alas! give you the recipe, it is a secret left me by my
+parents."
+
+Then Father Gusson bade farewell to the two women and went on his
+way with "Neddy," both much refreshed by their pleasant rest.
+
+Mother Etienne handed Germaine the precious pot of ointment to put
+with their other purchases into the big cupboard, and they thought
+no more about it.
+
+One day as she sat by the fire with Yollande, watching the dinner,
+a bright and whimsical idea occurred to the maid. "Supposing I
+were to try the ointment on the hen? But--it might be good for
+feathers too--anyhow, it could not do any harm."
+
+Saying this she went, found the ointment, and delicately rubbed a
+little onto Yollande's head. Yollande did not appear to mind at
+all. Germaine did this three days running.
+
+Two weeks later Mother Etienne while dressing her hen, as she did
+each day, found a thick reddish down sprouting round her head like
+a little flat wig. She showed it to Germaine, who paid no
+attention, having quite forgotten her childish trick.
+
+But during the next few days the wig prospered; the hair was two
+finger-breadths long, very thick and curly. Mother Etienne could
+not understand it at all. Germaine could not, at first, make up
+her mind to confess to her mistress what she had done.
+
+At last one evening, Mother Etienne being in a particularly good
+humour, the young girl took courage and told her all about it. Far
+from scolding her, her mistress was delighted, and so pleased at
+the news that she there and then undressed Yollande and rubbed her
+from head to foot with Father Gusson's marvellous ointment. She
+did the thing thoroughly--rubbing it into every pore. Then they
+made a good fire so that the poor little model, thus exposed,
+should not take cold.
+
+After that they watched her every instant; they were for ever
+undressing her to see if the cure was working--they could hardly
+bear to wait. Just think--if it were to succeed. It would be the
+end and aim of all their care. Yollande could once again take her
+proper place in the world.
+
+At last what had happened to the head, happened to the body too.
+Before a week had gone by a thick down completely covered the big
+hen. The good women, much wondering, imagined that as it grew
+stronger the hair would change into feathers. Anxiously they
+awaited the change. Nothing of the sort happened. The hair
+remained hair--red, Titian red--fine and soft, curling round your
+fingers, admirable in quality and colour.
+
+The hair on the head, older than that on the rest of the body, was
+much longer, which suggested to the mischievous Germaine the idea
+of making her an elaborate headdress.
+
+Nothing like it had ever been seen before.
+
+Soon Yollande was able to discard some of her clothes. Her breast
+and back required for a time yet a little covering, but this grew
+gradually less and less.
+
+Naturally the phenomenon was much discussed in the neighbourhood,
+and it attracted many and delightful visitors to the farm, all of
+whom Mother Etienne welcomed cordially. Yollande was less pleased
+with this desire to inspect her. Generally some unbeliever would
+tug at her hair, a painful experience for her. So, except towards
+her mistress and Germaine, she had become exceedingly vindictive
+and watchful. Every time she had the chance she pecked with her
+short, stout beak at the person indiscreet enough to take such
+liberties. One little visitor, more daring than the rest, nearly
+lost his finger over it.
+
+The fame of the curly-haired hen was tremendous, it spread even
+beyond the limits of the district. It was really worth a journey
+to see her. They wrote of it in the newspapers. The "Daily
+Mirror," I think it was, had a fine long article about her.
+
+But in certain quarters, the whole thing was looked upon as a
+"fish story."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+
+SIR BOOUM CALLS UPON MOTHER ETIENNE
+
+
+Just about this time placards were posted about the whole village,
+announcing the arrival of a Great American Circus, bringing in its
+train the most wonderful spectacles. Menageries,--curiosities of
+all kinds, such as had not been seen since the time of the
+Caesars.
+
+Incredible things were on show. Nobody, however small their purse,
+could resist the pleasure of witnessing these sights. Nobody, that
+is, except the people in and around this village.
+
+The menagerie prepared for its performance by splendid
+processions. Caparisoned in gold the elephants marched around.
+There were horses of all colours and of all sizes, dromedaries,
+rhinoceroses, black men and white monkeys, bands of musicians,
+fairy chariots.
+
+The inhabitants saw the gorgeous procession pass with
+indifference, with a superior kind of air and without the least
+enthusiasm.
+
+On the evening of the first performance, in spite of the placards,
+processions, bands, notices, and illuminations, nobody appeared at
+the ticket-office of the theatre and they played to an empty
+house.
+
+"What," cried the impresario, tearing his hair. "Crowds flocked to
+me in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York. I have been
+congratulated by the Shah of Persia, invited to lunch by the Grand
+Turk, and this little hole despises me, mocks at me, considers me
+a failure."
+
+The lights out, Sir Booum spent a terrible night, wondering what
+evil genius could thus attack his laurels. At dawn, worn out by
+his sleepless night, he set out, eager to learn the cause of his
+failure.
+
+All those whom he met winked knowingly, laughing in their sleeves,
+and courtesied to him without giving him any information. At last
+one, touched by his despair, answered:
+
+"Why should we come to you? We have here in this very place, where
+we can see it for nothing, a marvel beside which yours are
+commonplace. Have you in your menagerie a curly-haired hen?"
+
+"A curly-haired hen!" cried Sir Booum. "Gracious, goodness me!
+What are you talking about? Three times have I been round the
+world and have never heard of such a thing."
+
+"Go to the big farm down yonder and you can see the one I am
+telling you about. You will be ashamed to think how uninteresting
+in comparison are the things you show."
+
+A few minutes later, a magnificent equipage, driven by an elegant
+gentleman and drawn by two light bays, entered the courtyard of
+the big farm.
+
+"Does Madame Etienne live here, please?" he asked Petit-Jacques,
+who was busy grooming Coco.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Will you kindly give her this card and ask if she will see me?"
+
+"Certainly, sir, at once."
+
+Petit-Jacques returned a few minutes later with Mother Etienne.
+
+The gentleman got down from his seat, handing the reins to his
+groom.
+
+"Excuse me, Madame. I am Sir Booum. It was my circus which gave
+its first performance here yesterday as announced on the placards
+posted on the walls throughout the village.
+
+I have heard, Madame, that you have a most extraordinary hen, and
+I have come to beg you to show it to me. If it is really such as
+it was described to me, I will buy it at once."
+
+"Sir," said Mother Etienne, "I am very pleased to meet you; I will
+show you Yollande as you ask, but sell her to you?--never. I love
+the dear thing far too well to part with her."
+
+"But, Madame, if I give you a large sum? How much do you ask? Name
+your figure."
+
+Mother Etienne, without answering a word, went off to fetch the
+Cochin-China hen to show to her visitor.
+
+American as he was, he was astounded and was soon convinced that
+there had been no exaggeration. This was indeed the curly-haired
+hen.
+
+"Well, Madame, how much is it to be?--$1,000, $2,000, $4,000?
+Can't you make up your mind?"
+
+"No, sir, please don't insist. I do not want to part with dear
+Yollande," and Mother Etienne, distressed and trembling, covered
+her hen with caresses.
+
+In vain the American urged. His eyes shone with the desire to
+include this marvel in his collection. He could do nothing, and
+was finally obliged to retreat.
+
+"Night brings counsel, Madame. I will return tomorrow to visit
+you, and I hope you will then decide in my favour. Until tomorrow,
+then, Madame."
+
+The gentleman bowed politely and got into his carriage. The
+equipage left the courtyard, turned onto the high road, and was
+lost in the distance in a cloud of golden dust.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+
+THE SEPARATION
+
+
+Mother Etienne was much distressed. The unexpected appearance of
+this personage, the offer of this huge sum of money, were enough
+to excite a woman more worldly-wise than she. Germaine strove to
+persuade her mistress to accept the offer.
+
+"But, my dear mistress, think of it--$4,000. It is a fortune.
+Don't let it escape you. It is a chance which will never come
+again. Think how well Yollande will be cared for. He does not mean
+to eat her at that price. Think of a stew costing $4,000. No
+indeed, the gentleman will try to keep her well as long as
+possible. It will be to his interest not to hurt her. Be sure of
+it, she will be as well cared for as she is here, if not better."
+
+Thus they talked all evening.
+
+Mother Etienne, feverishly affectionate, looked at the hen lying
+as usual asleep in the chimney corner. She could not make up her
+mind to sell her sweet Cinderella. Her affection for Yollande had
+increased with the constant care she had needed during so many
+long months. Besides, the silky tresses curling like corkscrews,
+which Germaine had kept so smooth, had been a source of amusement,
+not only to the farm but to the whole neighbourhood.
+
+That night Mother Etienne was much agitated in spite of the hot
+drink Germaine had given her. She was haunted by a horrible
+nightmare. She seemed to be lying on a bed of banknotes, whilst
+the Cochin-China, sitting heavily on her chest, reproached her
+bitterly for having handed her over to a stranger in exchange for
+a little filthy lucre. Mother Etienne, bathed in perspiration,
+seemed to suffocate under her sheets.
+
+At last dawn came, the good woman rose, her heart still terribly
+oppressed. Germaine calmed her as best she could with reassuring
+words and also with a foaming bowl of hot coffee.
+
+All morning Mother Etienne endured torments.
+
+It was three o'clock in the afternoon when suddenly the sound of a
+heavy carriage drawn by four horses was heard in the courtyard.
+Labric barked with all his might, Coco whinnied loudly, the three
+cows all mooed at the same time, and the entire poultry-yard in an
+uproar added its piercing and varied tones to the general tumult.
+The pigs especially made a great noise.
+
+It was the American's four-in-hand.
+
+He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty
+woman, exquisitely dressed in white.
+
+The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which
+served also as a reception room. On the hearth burned a small
+bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with
+fragrance. Yollande was sitting in her usual place.
+
+"Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the
+curly-haired hen?"
+
+Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.
+
+"See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000," and so
+saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums
+he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the
+astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.
+
+Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.
+
+Germaine, driven wild by this sight, began to exclaim: "Yes,
+sir,--yes, Madame. Yes, sir,--yes, Madame," and threw herself into
+the arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who
+still remained obdurate.
+
+Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne's hand, said coaxingly: "You can
+safely trust her to me. I will take care of her myself, Madame.
+With us she will become famous throughout the world. All the
+newspapers will speak of her. From your poultry-yard she will come
+into contact with the greatest courts of the world. She will be
+petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive hands. Besides all this she
+will be in good company and will have plenty to amuse her."
+
+This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the
+longed-for "Yes," which, though stifled by emotion, was seized
+upon by the American.
+
+The good woman had said "Yes," she had conquered the selfishness
+of a mother for two reasons. She did not want to prevent Yollande
+from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine
+share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had
+become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her
+of the benefit.
+
+[Illustration: Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus
+tent.]
+
+"That's all settled, then. Here's the contract," said the
+American, "you have only to sign it." And a receipt duly prepared
+was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her
+signature and a flourish. I don't know that she did not even
+embellish it with a huge blot of ink.
+
+Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande,
+who oddly enough made no resistance.
+
+"Oh please, please let me kiss her again," and, tears in her eyes,
+Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.
+
+"You will take great care of Yollande, won't you? You will send me
+news of her? Where is she to sleep to-night?"
+
+"Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared
+for her? Come with us. There is room in the carriage and I promise
+to have you brought back again at once. The camp is not far from
+here, the road is good, the horses fast, and in half an hour at
+most you will be perfectly reassured and can return with your mind
+at rest."
+
+Mother Etienne, without further thought, still guided by her
+tender maternal heart, needed no urging, but followed by the two
+Americans, walked with a brisk, firm step towards the carriage.
+Suddenly changing her mind, she said:
+
+"Will you just let me change my dress? I can't very well go out
+like this."
+
+She went to her room, an idea having entered her head, and soon
+returned very neatly dressed with a little basket in her hand.
+
+The steps were adjusted and the three people took their places on
+top, whilst Yollande, wrapped in soft woollen covers, was
+carefully placed inside, in a basket provided for that very
+purpose.
+
+When Germaine saw her mistress start off she would have liked to
+go with her, but the farm needed her attention. Besides, Miss
+Booum's promise of seats for the next performance quite consoled
+her.
+
+The carriage made a curve in the yard, went through the gate, and
+soon disappeared, bearing the two new travellers. As Miss Booum
+had said, it did not take more than half an hour to reach the
+camp, the cobs went so quickly.
+
+On the way Mother Etienne met many acquaintances to whom she waved
+a simple but cordial greeting. In most cases the carriage was
+already out of sight before they recovered sufficiently from their
+astonishment to wave back.
+
+It was a nine days' wonder.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+
+SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS
+
+
+Our travellers came in sight of the circus. Imagine, children, a
+huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets,
+houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels
+enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the
+centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up
+and down.
+
+There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men,
+little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with
+goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in
+fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit
+every possible taste.
+
+All the most curious specimens were represented. Besides these
+there was a colossal menagerie. In it there were more than twenty
+elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, zebras,
+dromedaries, camels, and the rarest kinds of antelopes. Then came
+the reptiles,--from the boa constrictor, who was ten yards long,
+to the smallest blind-worm, amongst them some of the most
+dangerous kinds. Crocodiles twenty feet long, monstrous toads,
+tortoises as big as donkeys. Then there were the wild beasts too.
+Lions from Abyssinia, from Atlas, tigers from Bengal, from Persia,
+jaguars, panthers, leopards, all the big cat family, lynx, onca,
+tiger cat. Bears of all kinds, grizzly, grey, black, and white.
+Then came wolves, foxes, coyotes, in fact the whole series of the
+dog tribe with every possible domestic variety.
+
+In little barred cages was a collection of smaller carnivorous
+animals and rodents. In a huge room all the monkeys from the big
+gorilla to the minute ouistiti or witsit, were installed; they
+squabbled, pulled one another's tails, bit one another, uttered
+piercing cries. There were constant battles going on in that
+corner.
+
+Then in an immense aviary were all the birds of creation, divided
+into classes, from the humming-bird, the size of a hornet, to the
+ostrich. This was, to tell the truth, the part that interested
+Mother Etienne most of all. She was more used to creatures of this
+kind, they reminded her of her beloved poultry-yard. In spite of
+the signs put up everywhere, "Do not feed the animals," the good
+woman who had purposely filled her basket with cakes threw them in
+indiscriminately. There were enough for all the animals she
+passed. First she threw some to the lions. The lions took no
+notice, at which she was most surprised. Her idea in offering the
+cakes was to see if the animals were hungry and to find out that
+way how they were treated.
+
+Miss Booum, who was acting as her guide, was much amused at her
+astonishment and could not resist saying:
+
+"Madame, to offer a cream bun to a tiger is like offering a
+beef-steak to an elephant. Just keep your cakes for the ostriches,
+they are so greedy that they will eat stones. If they were to keep
+a hardware store they would be certain to eat up their stock."
+
+Pleased at this permission, when she came to the ostriches, Mother
+Etienne offered them a cake, but they looked down at it very
+haughtily and suspiciously. From this she concluded that even
+those birds were so well-fed that they were not hungry and felt
+quite satisfied about Yollande.
+
+After half an hour's walk through the circus, having visited every
+corner of it, they went towards the manager's house. There five
+o'clock tea was served. Mother Etienne, quite at ease, did honour
+to the lunch so graciously provided, and after thanking Miss Booum
+gratefully, she kissed Yollande very tenderly and prepared to
+return to the farm.
+
+At a sign from the young American girl, a stout piebald pony,
+harnessed to a trap, was led forward by a groom.
+
+"That is my own carriage and my horse Charlie, which you can drive
+yourself, Madame, if you like. He is quick and safe, you may be
+sure of that. You will be at home again in less time than it took
+to come here with four horses. Farewell, dear Madame, a pleasant
+drive. Remember that we expect you tomorrow for the afternoon
+performance, and that nice little maid of yours too. Your seats
+will be reserved."
+
+The two women shook hands cordially, Mother Etienne got into the
+carriage, and took the reins. The pony feeling a hand used to
+driving, set off at a quick trot, then warming to his work flew
+over the ground. He had the paces of a big horse and had to be
+kept well in hand.
+
+Mother Etienne soon reached home delighted with her adventure. She
+was assailed by questions from Germaine and Petit-Jacques. They
+sat there drinking in her words. Mother Etienne told them as best
+she could all that had happened and all that she had seen in the
+most secret wings of the gigantic circus. Germaine in her
+excitement was forgetful enough to let the soup boil over and the
+roast burn, but all the same they dined gaily. There were still
+plenty of questions to be asked. Mother Etienne had to go over
+every detail and even to tell some stories over again. They went
+on talking far into the night--so charmed were the listeners at
+the recital.
+
+Nobody thought of going to bed. Germaine was longing for the
+morrow, she was so anxious to see for herself this fairyland.
+
+At last, midnight striking, reminded Mother Etienne that it was
+time for sleep. Then they all went to bed, each head full of the
+wonders of tomorrow's performance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S DREAM
+
+
+Mother Etienne was very restless again that night, haunted, not by
+a dreadful nightmare as before, but by a troublesome dream.
+Everything she had just seen at Sir Booum's appeared before her,
+the tiniest incidents, the least important details.
+
+All the explanations, concerning the creatures in the menagerie
+given her by the trainer, came back to her, like an object lesson
+in a curious dream.
+
+The principal person in it was Yollande. Yollande as Barnum,
+Yollande as trainer, Yollande holding in one hairy wing a stout
+whip, in the other the pitchfork as a protection against claws and
+teeth.
+
+"You see here," said Yollande in a loud voice, "you see here the
+wild ox from Madagascar, which takes the place of the horse. In
+that country he is harnessed to small, light vehicles which he
+draws along rapidly. This other is a buffalo from Caffraria. He is
+a Jack-of-all-trades, sometimes ridden, sometimes driven,
+sometimes laden, sometimes yoked to the plough. Those big striped
+animals you see yonder are giraffes. Their long necks permit them,
+without having recourse to a ladder, to eat the young shoots of
+the mimosa, of which they are very fond, as well as the fresh
+dates which usually grow at the tops of the palm-trees."
+
+In this kind of dream a strange idea was at work in the brain of
+the sleeper. With these object lessons were mingled strange,
+quaint asides.
+
+"If children had long necks like that, one couldn't keep the
+jam-pots out of their way by putting them on the top shelves of
+the cupboard."
+
+"There," went on Yollande, "are the elephants. They are used for
+all sorts of tasks. Their trunks, a continuation of their
+nostrils, serve both for breathing and holding. It is, as it were,
+an extremely sensitive and powerful hand."
+
+"Great goodness me," cried Mother Etienne; "imagine having a hand
+at the end of your nose! Would it have a glove on it and rings on
+its fingers?"
+
+All sorts of ridiculous ideas like that came into her head. The
+little beaver, who builds his houses all along the Canadian
+streams, appeared trowel in hand, mortar-board on his head, and
+Mother Etienne felt most anxious to have his valuable assistance
+in repairing her barns and mills. Dear little marabout, how useful
+you would be in the village, sweeping the streets, cleaning up the
+refuse, advance-guard of the street-cleaner with his, "Now then,
+everything into the gutter."
+
+"The antelopes are very silly, coquettish creatures to wear such
+long boas round their necks in this warm country. But, after all,
+perhaps they are wise enough, for they have chosen a kind which,
+unlike our make of furs, is cold to the touch."
+
+Yollande, in her rôle of trainer, went on and on like a brook.
+
+"Here, now, is a dromedary. He has a hump on his back, a fatty
+exerescence which enables him to bear much fatigue, without eating
+or drinking for several days. It is owing to this fat, rather like
+a box of provisions on his back, that he can traverse hot and
+sandy deserts where it would be difficult to find a single blade
+of grass to eat."
+
+Then through the farm bedroom passed long caravans of camels, led
+by carnival Arabs, their humps changed into gigantic larders in
+which rattled all sorts of canned things. Canned salmon, Russian
+caviare, dried biscuits, smoked meats, tongues, sardines, canned
+peas, foies-gras, lobsters, and fruits, in fact all those things
+which Mother Etienne had seen piled up in many-coloured pyramids
+at the best grocery stores. Really it was too ridiculous.--Miss
+Booum must have been making fun of her visitor.--That couldn't
+really be the best food for camels.
+
+It was still worse when it came to the turn of the hippopotami. A
+thousand ill-digested memories from the illustrated papers were in
+her mind, all mixed up. Where did the Nile and the Zanzibar flow?
+Which was it that separated Egypt from Senegal? And the gigantic
+hippopotamus, looking perfectly huge and out-of-place in a gondola
+fit for a sultana, appeared to her, floating down the calm stream,
+a red fez with a golden star on his head, puffing away at a
+peculiar double-bowled pipe, the pride of the collection of a
+retired police-officer in the village, who had it from the real
+cousin of a sea-captain from Marseilles.
+
+"Do you see those little lumps there enclosed between four boards?
+It is a nest of land-tortoises. The largest, called the Giant
+tortoise, easily supports on its back a weight of two hundred
+pounds. This shell which weighs so heavily is its house. At the
+least alarm, it retreats into its house and stays there, till all
+danger is past." This plan of walking about with your house on
+your back seemed rather a good one to Mother Etienne. You could go
+out on rainy days without getting wet, and on cold days it would
+keep your back nice and warm.
+
+"Near at hand is a collection of mammals, the kangaroo family. The
+kangaroo is the largest mammal of Australia. It is generally a
+peace-loving animal, but bites, scratches, and claws if it is
+teased. Its best defence however is flight." All these technical
+details left the good woman cold. What she remembered best were
+the practical qualities of the creatures. The kangaroo has one
+very great peculiarity, the female has a pouch, a sort of bag, in
+which she hides her young if danger appears, just as the soldier
+has his knapsack.
+
+For the first time in her life Mother Etienne was much struck
+By certain resemblances between animals and human beings,
+finding in them actions, looks, and habits which reminded her
+irresistibly of many of her acquaintances. It was amongst the
+monkeys that it was the most marked. Two chimpanzees, with pensive
+faces garbed in black, seemed to be mourning some beloved
+relative. It was as though their sad but shining eyes, gazing at
+the straw which half-covered them, were seeking something hidden,
+intangible.
+
+A family of big African monkeys, by their challenging, crafty air,
+reminded her unpleasantly of a band of good-for-nothings who for
+months had spread terror and desolation throughout the country.
+The chief--or the one who appeared to be the chief--the biggest
+and strongest, hurled himself at the bars and shook them in his
+clenched hands. He would certainly have enjoyed strangling Mother
+Etienne, had he been able to do so. Since he was not able to, he
+displayed in a huge yawn, a terrifying set of teeth, worthy of a
+wild beast. They were horrid animals, I assure you, not the kind
+you would like to meet loose on a lonely road.
+
+Fortunately some pretty little witsits, with black faces, no
+bigger than your fist, and white and grey ruffles, whistling like
+blackbirds, by their pretty tricks did away with the bad
+impression made by these sinister neighbours.
+
+[Illustration: Cake Walk; Mother Etienne's dream.]
+
+This one was a regular little mother, that one had just been
+sweeping out the yard, another was the living image of the Count's
+servant when he followed his master on his walks, carrying under
+his arm a shawl or a sunshade. An orang-outang, an elderly
+peasant, whose four big hands were clasped, suggested to her how
+useful it would be to have a helper like that to milk the cows. It
+would go twice as fast with four hands. What a lot of precious
+time it would save.
+
+And many other queer things came into her head. That yowling dog,
+that sharp-faced rabbit, are the type who come on fair-days to cry
+their papers, sell their toys, etc.--a noisy, rough crew. Goodness
+gracious! Where was Mother Etienne's absurd dream leading her?
+She, whose life was always so calm, and who, to tell the truth,
+with Germaine, were rather like the two little monkeys at the
+corner of the fire-place, hands clasped under their aprons, feet
+on foot-warmers, and little pointed handkerchiefs on their heads.
+
+At this personal picture everything turned as though by
+enchantment into one huge, vast medley, which ended in a general
+cake-walk of the whole menagerie, passing before the tired eyes of
+Mother Etienne, roaring, bellowing, mewing, whistling, howling,
+whinnying, and braying. Poor Mother Etienne was thoroughly
+exhausted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S FORTUNE
+
+
+When she woke up the good woman thought of her small fortune. She
+gave it for safe keeping into the hands of her lawyer, M. La
+Plume, while she was making up her mind how she should dispose of
+it. She wanted plenty of time to think it over. She had already
+decided to give Germaine a dowry, for the whole thing was largely
+owing to her. She knew that she and Petit-Jacques were in love.
+
+"They will make a fine couple," she thought, "and later on how
+pleased I shall be to have a nice family around me--with dear
+children who will love and care for me."
+
+Then she thought of Père Gusson--the good old man could have no
+idea of all that had happened at the farm. He was going his
+rounds, selling his wares as best he could. It was three months
+since he had appeared, he would be back again before long--he had
+already been away longer than usual.
+
+And, sure enough, two days later Neddy announced his entrance into
+the courtyard with a loud bray. If his master was glad to see
+Mother Etienne who always received him so cordially, and who
+bought so much from him, the donkey fully appreciated the hours of
+rest and the good food he found in the paddock with the cows.
+
+Mother Etienne went forward to meet the old man and gaily told him
+the whole story.
+
+He, utterly astounded, could not at first believe it. He made her
+repeat the wonder over and over again. It certainly was a very
+curious thing. He had always known his ointment was effective,
+but--as to making hair grow on a hen--that was quite another
+thing. He was just petrified by it.
+
+Mother Etienne told Germaine to serve some good cider, and all
+three drank to one another's healths.
+
+"That is not all," said Mother Etienne, "I want you to have a
+share in my good fortune. That's only fair. You have worked all
+your life, you must think of taking a rest. You have certainly
+earned it. Here is a check for $2,000 which my lawyer, M. La
+Plume, will cash for you. This sum, together with what you have
+saved, will be enough to buy a little house and garden and to keep
+you from want. If one is wise and knows how to manage, one can
+live here for very little."
+
+Father Gusson, quite upset and touched, could not find words to
+thank dear, kind Mother Etienne. It was as though he had
+unexpectedly won the big prize in the lottery. He could hardly
+believe his eyes and ears.
+
+Soon he pulled himself together and began to calculate.
+
+"I have a few savings, it is true, but I think it would be wise to
+take advantage of the fame of the ointment and double my small
+fortune. I hope that, thanks to the already widespread fame of
+Yollande, if (with your kind permission) I were to call my
+ointment, 'Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen' I should have
+considerable success."
+
+"Not only am I quite willing, but I thoroughly approve of your
+idea and strongly advise you to carry it out," replied Mother
+Etienne warmly.
+
+No sooner said than done.
+
+Father Gusson withdrew from the notary the sum, so fairly
+But generously given him, and spent his time henceforth in
+manufacturing (according to the recipe of his ancestors) the
+wonderful ointment. He filled a great quantity of jars of all
+sizes, and like the good business man he was, having adorned them
+with magnificent labels he doubled the price of the ointment and
+put on a trade mark so as to prohibit imitations. Then he bought a
+cart like Mother Etienne's and harnessed Neddy to it. On the hood
+of the cart was a huge picture of a Curly-Haired Hen, and under it
+was the inscription, "Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen." Now the
+peddler could go his rounds, selling only this specialty, without
+need of further advertisement. The effect was magic. Doors,
+hitherto too often closed against him, opened wide at his coming
+and there was not a soul who did not buy quite a lot of it.
+
+In a month and without effort, Father Gusson took in ten times
+more money than he had earned in all his long and hardworking life
+before.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+
+TRIUMPH OF THE OINTMENT
+
+
+The craze of the public for this new preparation was
+extraordinary. A china factory, about to close its doors, made a
+fortune out of manufacturing jars for it. Of course all the bald
+people bought it. Everyone expected it to work miracles. The women
+with tow-coloured rat-tails expected to grow luxuriant black
+tresses and others with coarse scrubby black hair dreamed of
+having fine soft golden braids.
+
+A very rich land-owner, who did not care how much he spent, rubbed
+with it the back of his mangy dog, and his horse's tail, which was
+growing somewhat thin.
+
+The mayor even, they tell me, put a thick layer of it onto his
+wig, which was beginning to wear out. The district was steeped in
+it, the air seemed to smell of musk.
+
+Alas! everything has its bad side. The good side of this was for
+the merchant alone, who, though he guaranteed his wares for human
+beings, refused any further responsibility. The bad side was
+for the hens and ducks. (I believe even the geese suffered
+occasionally.) I can't tell you how many people, knowing all about
+the effect it had had on Yollande and the resultant fortune, tried
+to duplicate the famous Curly-Haired Hen, bought by Sir Booum.
+
+In the poultry-yards around, the hens for several months had a
+pretty bad time. They were nearly all plucked and rubbed with the
+ointment. It was a craze, a rage with the farmers, and those hens
+who could retain a vestige of their plumage esteemed themselves
+fortunate.
+
+It was a sad sight to see all the feathered creatures fly at the
+sight of a human being. They knew by bitter experience what to
+expect. Alas! with all these attempts with roosters, chickens,
+ducks, and turkeys, none had the desired effect. They long
+remained scented and devoid of plumage, that was all. We must take
+it that no subject as good as Yollande presented itself. Nature
+makes these queer incomprehensible distinctions, you know, which
+we just can't understand. There was _one_ Curly-Haired Hen,
+there was to be no other! For, since her metamorphosis, for a
+reason unknown to this day, the Curly-Haired Hen absolutely
+refused to lay eggs. This was, I must confess, a great
+disappointment to Sir Booum. Like the good American he was, he
+would have liked to continue the race.
+
+He had perforce to content himself with portraits of her from the
+pen of M. Vimar. One of these was sent, affectionately dedicated
+by Yollande, to her good Mother Etienne, who regards it as her
+greatest treasure, and keeps it, elegantly framed, above the
+mantelpiece in her bedroom. Never a day passes but the good woman
+looks at it with tender, motherly affection.
+
+Father Gusson is now the owner of a pretty little house and
+cultivates his own garden, in which is a corner reserved for
+Neddy, for he too has earned his rest.
+
+Germaine, to whom her mistress and adopted mother gave a good
+dowry, has just married Petit-Jacques, quartermaster, lately
+returned from his military service.
+
+It is hard to tell which is the happiest. The wedding was
+performed with much ceremony. The whole village was present, and
+amongst the various healths drunk they did not omit that of the
+"Curly-Haired Hen."
+
+Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, you
+will certainly have your reward.
+
+
+
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Curly-Haired Hen, by Auguste Vimar
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13302 ***
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+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13302 ***</div>
+
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/cover.jpg"><img src="images/cover-tn.jpg"
+ alt="Cover: THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN" />
+</a>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/i001.png"><img src="images/i001-tn.png"
+ alt="Yollande appears emerging from her shroud." />
+</a>
+<p>Yollande appears emerging from her shroud.</p>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<h1><span class="pgnum">i</span><a id="Pagei" name="Pagei"/>THE<br/>
+CURLY-HAIRED HEN</h1>
+<p class="front"><big>TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS</big><br/>
+BY<br/>
+<big><big>A. VIMAR</big></big></p>
+<p class="front">TRANSLATED BY<br/>
+<big>NORA K. HILLS</big></p>
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/i002.png"><img src="images/i002-tn.png"
+ alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<p><span class="pgnum">ii</span><a id="Pageii" name="Pageii"/></p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">iii</span><a id="Pageiii" name="Pageiii"/><a href="images/i004.png"><img
+ src="images/i004-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page001">CHAPTER I<br/>
+Mother Etienne's Farm</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page010">CHAPTER II<br/>
+A Mother's Devotion</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page022">CHAPTER III<br/>
+Yollande's Trousseau</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page037">CHAPTER IV<br/>
+Father Gusson's Secret</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page047">CHAPTER V<br/>
+Sir Booum Calls upon Mother Etienne</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page054">CHAPTER VI<br/>
+The Separation</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page062">CHAPTER VII<br/>
+Sir Booum's Circus</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><span class="pgnum">iv</span><a id="Pageiv" name="Pageiv"/><a href="#Page071">CHAPTER
+VIII<br/>
+Mother Etienne's Dream</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page085">CHAPTER IX<br/>
+Mother Etienne's Fortune</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page090">CHAPTER X<br/>
+Triumph of the Ointment</a></p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<div class="figureL"><span class="pgnum">1</span><a id="Page001" name="Page001"/>
+<a href="images/i006.png"><img src="images/i006-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S FARM</h3>
+<p>"Oh Grandfather, tell us a story, do. You know, the one you began
+the other evening about Mother Etienne's big farm. You remember.
+The weather is so bad and we can't go out. Go on, Grandfather,
+please."</p>
+<p>Coaxingly the three children clung round their grandfather,
+looking at him beseechingly. He adoring the children as he did,
+loved to hear them plead.
+</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">2</span><a id="Page002" name="Page002"/>At last he began:</p>
+<p>Since you have been very good, and you want it so much, I will
+tell you the wonderful story of Mother Etienne's farm and the
+still more wonderful story of what happened to one of its
+occupants.</p>
+<p>Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, and you
+will surely have your reward.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne was a good stout woman with a very kind heart.
+While still young she was so unfortunate as to lose her husband
+and her son of whom she was very fond. This made her, as you can
+imagine, very, very sad. She wouldn't listen to any new offers of
+marriage though she had plenty of them. Instead, she devoted her
+life, her whole existence, to the attentive, nay I ought to say,
+the maternal care, of the animals on her farm, making them as
+comfortable as could be.</p>
+<p>She had, as I said before, a most excellent heart, the good Mother
+Etienne. You shall see that presently.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i007.png"><img src="images/i007-tn.png"
+ alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>This good woman then lived on
+her big farm, very spacious and
+admirably situated. A slate roof covered the large house; the
+granaries,<span class="pgnum">3</span><a id="Page003" name="Page003"/>
+stables and outhouses were sheltered by old thatching upon which
+grew moss and lichen.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i008.png"><img src="images/i008-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Let me tell you now, dear children, who were the chief occupants
+of the farm. First there was big "Coco"&#8212;a fine Normandy
+horse&#8212;bay-coloured and very fat, whose silky coat had a purple sheen;
+he
+had a star on his forehead and a pink mark between his eyes. He
+was very gentle and answered to the voice of his mistress. If
+Mother Etienne passed by his stable he never failed to scent her
+and whinnied at once. That was his way of showing his friendliness
+and saying</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">4</span><a id="Page004" name="Page004"/>"Good morning."</p>
+<p>His good mistress spoiled him with all sorts of dainties.
+Sometimes a crust of bread, sometimes a handful of carrots, but
+what he loved best of all was sugar. If you had given him a whole
+loaf he would soon have eaten it up.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i009.png"><img src="images/i009-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Coco had for stable companions three fine Swiss cows. Their names
+were La Blonde, Blanchotte, and Nera. You know what the colours
+were for the names, don't you?</p>
+<p>Petit-Jacques, the stable boy, took care of them. On fine<span
+ class="pgnum">5</span>
+days he led them to pasture into a bog paddock near the farm up
+against a pretty wood of silver beeches. A large pond of clear
+water covered one corner of the meadow and lost itself in the
+reeds and iris. There the fine big cows went to quench their
+thirst; quantities of frogs went there, too, to play leap-frog. It
+was a veritable earthly Paradise.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i010.png"><img src="images/i010-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">6</span><a id="Page006" name="Page006"/>
+<a href="images/i011a.png"><img src="images/i011a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>From the farm Mother Etienne caught the sound of the large bronze
+bells each with its different low note, which hung round the necks
+of the cows; thus she could superintend their comings and goings
+without interrupting her various occupations. For the farm was
+very big, as I told you, and had many animals on it.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i011b.png"><img src="images/i011b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>After the stables and coachhouses came the piggery, the rabbit
+hutches, and finally an immense poultry-yard divided into a
+thousand compartments, and sheltering a whole horde of poultry of
+all sorts; fowls of all kinds and of all breeds, geese,
+guineafowl, pigeons, ducks, and what all besides. What wasn't
+there in that prodigious poultry-yard? <span class="pgnum">7</span><a id="Page007" name="Page007"/>
+</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne spent most of her time there, for the smaller and
+more delicate the creatures the more interest and care she gave
+them.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i012.png"><img src="images/i012-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"The weak need so much protection," this excellent woman would
+say, and she was right.</p>
+<p>So for the baby ducks her tenderness was limitless. What dangers
+had to be avoided to raise successfully all these tiny folks!</p>
+<p>Did a pig escape? Immediately danger threatened the
+<span class="pgnum">8</span><a id="Page008" name="Page008"/>
+poultry-yard. For a pig has terrible teeth and he doesn't care
+what he eats&#8212;he would as soon crunch a little duckling as a
+carrot. So she had to watch every minute, every second even. For
+besides, in spite of the vigilance of "Labrie," the faithful
+watchdog, sometimes rats would suck the blood of the young
+pigeons. Once even a whole litter of rabbits was destroyed that
+way.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i013a.png"><img src="images/i013a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>To dispose of the products of her farm, Mother Etienne drove twice
+a week to market in her market-cart drawn by Coco.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i013b.png"><img src="images/i013b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>She was famed for the best vegetables, the purest and creamiest
+milk; in short, the eggs she sold were the freshest, the poultry
+and rabbits the tenderest and most juicy to be had.
+<span class="pgnum">9</span><a id="Page009" name="Page009"/>
+As soon as she and Coco came trotting into the market there was a
+rush to get to her first.</p>
+<p>There, as everywhere, everyone loved Mother Etienne.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i014.png"><img src="images/i014-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">10</span><a id="Page010" name="Page010"/>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>A MOTHER'S DEVOTION</h3>
+<p>Thus time passed peacefully at the big farm.</p>
+<p>One day, however, the quiet was disturbed by a little drama which
+convulsed the calm but busy spot.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne had given to a Cochin-China hen, which she had
+christened Yollande, some white duck's eggs to sit on. The batch
+of fifteen eggs had all come out. It was really wonderful to see
+these fifteen baby ducks, yellow as canaries, beaks and webbed
+feet pink, swarming around the big patient sitting mother, ducking
+under her wings, to come out presently and clamber helter-skelter
+onto her broad back. As often happens with nurses, Yollande loved
+the ducklings as her own children, and without worrying about
+their shape or plumage, so different from her own, she showered
+upon them proofs of the tenderest affection. Did a fly pass within
+their reach, all these little ones jumped at it&#8212;tumbling in their
+efforts to catch it. The little yellow balls with their wide-awake
+air never took a second's rest.</p>
+<p>Well cared for and well fed, they grew so rapidly that soon they
+had to have more space. Mother Etienne housed them then on the
+edge of the pond in a latticed coop opening onto a sloping board
+which led down to the water. It was, as it were, a big swimming
+bath, which grew gradually deeper and deeper. The ducks and geese
+loved to plunge in and hardly left the water except to take their
+meals.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">11</span><a id="Page011" name="Page011"/>Yollande felt very
+out of place in this new dwelling. The
+ducklings on the contrary, urged on by their instinct, madly
+enjoyed it and rushed pell-mell into the water.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i016.png"><img src="images/i016-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>This inexplicable impulse terrified their mama. She was, in fact,
+"as mad as a wet hen."</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">12</span><a id="Page012" name="Page012"/><a href="images/i017a.png"><img src="images/i017a-tn.png"
+ alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i017b.png"><img src="images/i017b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>She ran up and down, her feathers on end, her face swollen, her
+crest red, clucking away, trying to persuade her babies not to
+venture into the water. For hens, like cats, hate the water. It
+was unspeakable torture to her. The children would not listen;
+deaf to her prayers, her cries, these rascally babies ventured
+farther and farther out. They were at last and for the first time
+in their favourite element, lighter than little corks, they<span
+ class="pgnum">13</span>
+floated, dived, plunged, raced, fought, playing all sorts of
+tricks.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i018.png"><img src="images/i018-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Meanwhile, Yollande was eating her heart out. She rushed to and
+fro, keeping her eyes glued on the disobedient ones. Suddenly she
+saw a mother-duck chasing her darlings. This was more than she
+could bear,&#8212;driven by her maternal instinct she leapt like a fury
+to the aid of her family.</p>
+<p>A flap or two of her wings and she was above the water into which
+she fell at the deepest part.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">14</span><a id="Page014" name="Page014"/>Splashing,&#8212;struggling
+madly in the midst of her frightened
+brood,&#8212;she was soon exhausted and succumbing to syncope, she sank
+to the bottom.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i019.png"><img src="images/i019-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The surface of the water closed above her. The little ones did not
+realize what had happened&#8212;very quickly recovering from their
+momentary fright, they went on with their games&#8212;splashing the
+water with their beaks and amusing themselves as though nothing
+were the matter.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne, busy giving green apples to the pigs, bran to the
+rabbits, and corn to the pigeons, came back presently,
+<span class="pgnum">15</span><a id="Page015" name="Page015"/>
+and could not see the big Yollande beside the pond, only her
+children floating far, far away on the water. Surprised she drew
+nearer, called, but in vain. The mother-hen had disappeared. Then
+only did she understand the tragedy that had occurred. She called
+for help. Petit-Jacques immediately opened the big sluice and the
+water ran out, but much too slowly for their impatience. At last
+they began to see the bottom, and soon the body of poor Yollande
+was discovered stiff and motionless.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i020.png"><img src="images/i020-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>There was general consternation at the farm. Petit-Jacques, by
+means of a long pole, seized her and drew her to land at Mother
+Etienne's feet. Labrie came up and sniffed sadly at the
+<span class="pgnum">16</span><a id="Page016" name="Page016"/>
+body of the unhappy hen. In vain they dried her and rubbed her,&#8212;nothing
+did any good.</p>
+<p>"She's quite dead, alas," said Mother Etienne with tears in her
+eyes, "but it was my own fault. I ought to have closed down the
+lattice and this misfortune would not have happened. It really is
+a great pity&#8212;such a fine hen. She weighs at least eight pounds.
+There, Germaine, take her and weigh her."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i021.png"><img src="images/i021-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Germaine was the maid and also the cousin of Petit-Jacques&#8212;of
+whom she was very fond. She was a fine buxom girl of eighteen,
+strong and well-grown. She loved animals, too, but her feeling for
+them could not be compared to Mother Etienne's.</p>
+<p>"Germaine, take away poor Yollande, I am quite upset
+<span class="pgnum">17</span><a id="Page017" name="Page017"/>by this trouble. You
+will bury her this evening, in a corner of
+the kitchen-garden&#8212;deep enough to prevent any animal digging her
+up. I leave it to you&#8212;do it carefully."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i022.png"><img src="images/i022-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p><span class="pgnum">18</span><a id="Page018" name="Page018"/>The girl bore away the fine hen in her
+apron. "How heavy she is&#8212;it
+is a shame," and blowing apart the feathers, she saw the skin
+underneath as yellow and plump as you could wish. Mechanically she
+plucked a few feathers.</p>
+<p>"After all," she said, "it isn't as though she had died&#8212;she was
+drowned, quite a clean death; she's firm and healthy, only an hour
+ago she was as strong and well as could be. Why shouldn't we eat
+her?&#8212;We'll stew her because, though she is not old, she is not
+exactly in her first youth&#8212;but there's a lot on her&#8212;with a
+dressing of carrots and nutmeg, a bunch of herbs and a tomato,
+with a calf's foot to make a good jelly, I believe she'd make a
+lovely dinner."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i023.png"><img src="images/i023-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Saying this she went on plucking Yollande. All the feathers, large
+and small, gone, a little down was left, so to get rid of this she
+lit an old newspaper and held her over it.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">19</span><a id="Page019" name="Page019"/>
+<a href="images/i024.png"><img src="images/i024-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Madame won't know anything and will enjoy her as much as we
+shall. There's enough on her for two good meals."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">20</span><a id="Page020" name="Page020"/>
+Quite decided, instead of burying her, she wrapped the future stew
+carefully in a perfectly clean cloth and put it on a shelf in the
+kitchen out of the way of flies or accident.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i025.png"><img src="images/i025-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>During this time Mother Etienne was busy making as warm a home as
+she could for the fifteen little orphans. Poor darlings. In a
+wicker-basket she covered a layer of straw with another of wadding
+and fine down. Upon this she put the ducklings one by one, and
+covered the whole with feathers; then closing the lid, she carried
+the basket to the stable where the air was always
+<span class="pgnum">21</span><a id="Page021" name="Page021"/>
+nice and warm. All this took time; it was about six o'clock in the
+evening, the sun was going down, throwing a last oblique smile
+into the kitchen, gleaming here and there on the shining copper
+which hung on the walls.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i026.png"><img src="images/i026-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">22</span><a id="Page022" name="Page022"/>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>YOLLANDE'S TROUSSEAU</h3>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i027.png"><img src="images/i027-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>As for Germaine, she, with Petit-Jacques to help her, had gone to
+milk the cows. Mother Etienne soon joined them, and the two women
+came back to the house together.</p>
+<p>Horror of horrors! What a terrible sight. Pale with fear they
+stood on the threshold of the kitchen not daring to move&#8212;to
+enter. Their hearts were in their mouths. A ghost stood there in
+front of them&#8212;Yollande&#8212;and Germaine fell at Mother Etienne's
+feet in utter consternation. Yollande? Yes, Yollande, but what a
+Yollande! Heavens! Yollande plucked, literally plucked! Yollande
+emerging from her shroud like Lazarus from his tomb! Yollande
+risen from the dead! A cry of anguish burst from the heart of kind
+Mother Etienne.</p>
+<p>"Yollande, oh, Yollande!"</p>
+<p>The Cochin-China replied by a long shudder.</p>
+<p>This is what had happened.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">23</span><a id="Page023" name="Page023"/>
+<a href="images/i028.png"><img src="images/i028-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>On falling into the water, Yollande after struggling fiercely
+succumbed to syncope, and her lungs ceasing to act she had ceased
+to breathe, so the water had not entered her lungs. That is why
+she was not drowned. Life was, so to speak, suspended. The syncope
+lasted some time. The considerable heat to which she was subjected
+when Germaine held her above the flaming newspaper had brought
+about a healthy reaction and in the solitude of the kitchen she
+had recovered consciousness.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">24</span><a id="Page024" name="Page024"/>After the first
+moment of terror was over, Germaine confessed her
+plan to Mother Etienne, who, glad to find Yollande still alive,
+forgave Germaine the disobedience which had saved her.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i029.png"><img src="images/i029-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>But the hen was still shivering, shaking in every limb, her skin
+all goose-flesh. Dragging after her her travesty of a tail, she
+jumped onto the kitchen-table which she shook with her shivering.</p>
+<p>"We can't leave her like that any longer," said Mother Etienne,
+"we must cover her up somehow," and straightway she wrapped her up
+in all the cloths she could lay her hands on. Germaine prepared some
+hot wine with sugar in it, and the two women fed her with it
+in spoonfuls,&#8212;then they took a good
+<span class="pgnum">25</span><a id="Page025" name="Page025"/>
+drink of it themselves. All three at once felt the better for it.
+Yollande spent the night in these hastily-made swaddling clothes
+between two foot-warmers which threw out a gentle and continuous
+heat and kept away the catarrh with which the poor Cochin-China
+was threatened. The great question which arose now was how they
+were to protect her from the cold in future. Both of them
+cogitated over it.</p>
+<p>Several times during the night, Mother Etienne and the maid came
+to look at the hen, who, worn out by such a long day of fatigue
+and suffering, at last closed her eyes, relaxed, and slept till
+morning.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i030.png"><img src="images/i020-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Nevertheless she was the first in the house to wake up, and at
+dawn began to cackle vigorously. Germaine hastened to her,
+bringing a quantity of corn which the hen, doubtless owing to her
+fast of the day before, ate greedily.
+<span class="pgnum">26</span><a id="Page026" name="Page026"/>
+</p>
+<p>Now the important thing was to find her a practical costume. The
+weather was mild but there was great danger in allowing her to
+wander about in a garb as light as it was primitive. The mornings
+and evenings were cool and might bring on a cold, inflammation or
+congestion of the lungs, rheumatism, or what not.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i031.png"><img src="images/i031-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>At all costs a new misfortune must be avoided. At last they
+dressed her in silk cunningly fashioned and lined with wadding.
+Thus garbed her entry into the poultry-yard was a subject<span
+ class="pgnum">27</span>
+of astonishment to some, fear to others, and excitement to most of
+the birds she met on her way.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i032a.png"><img src="images/i032a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i032b.png"><img src="images/i032b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>In vain Mother Etienne strove to tone down the colours of
+<span class="pgnum">28</span><a id="Page028" name="Page028"/>
+the stuffs, to modify the cut of the garments, but Yollande long
+remained an object of surprise and antipathy to the majority of
+the poultry.</p>
+<p>The scandal soon reached its climax.</p>
+<p>"That hen must be mad," said an old duck to his wife.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i033.png"><img src="images/i033-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Just imagine dressing up like that; she'll come along one of
+these days in a bathing suit," cried a young rooster who prided
+himself on his wit.</p>
+<p>A young turkey tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them
+<span class="pgnum">29</span><a id="Page029" name="Page029"/>
+off, and all the others looked on laughing and hurling insults....
+They vied with one another in sarcastic speeches. At last, after a
+time, as the saying goes, "Familiarity bred contempt." The fear
+which her companions had felt at first soon changed into a
+familiarity often too great for the unhappy Cochin-China. They
+tried to see who could play her the shabbiest trick. Hens are
+often as cruel as men, which is saying a great deal.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i034.png"><img src="images/i034-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Poor Yollande, in spite of her size, her solidity, and strength,
+nearly always emerged half-dressed. Her companions could not stand
+her dressed like that, the sight of her irritated them. Not
+content with tearing her clothes they often pecked at the poor
+creature as well.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne did her best to improve these costumes in every
+way&#8212;but it was as impossible to find perfection as the
+philosopher's stone.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">30</span><a id="Page030" name="Page030"/>They hoped at the
+farm that in time the feathers would grow again.
+Meanwhile it was hard on the hen.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i035.png"><img src="images/i035-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Nothing of the sort happened; one, two, three months
+<span class="pgnum">31</span><a id="Page031" name="Page031"/>
+passed and not the least vestige of down appeared on the hen, who
+had to be protected like a human being from the changes of climate
+and so forth. Like a well-to-do farmer's wife Yollande had her
+linen-chest and a complete outfit.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i036.png"><img src="images/i036-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>It was, I assure you, my dear children, kept up most carefully.
+There was always a button to sew on, a buttonhole to remake, or a
+tear to be mended. Thus constantly in touch with the household
+Madame Hen soon thought she belonged to it. Indeed, worn out by
+the teasing of her companions, by the constant arguments she had
+with them, and touched on the other hand by the affectionate care
+of her mistresses, Yollande
+<span class="pgnum">32</span><a id="Page032" name="Page032"/>
+stayed more and more in the house. Coddled and swathed in her
+fantastic costumes, she sat in the chimney corner like a little
+Cinderella changed into a hen; from this corner she quietly
+watched; nothing escaped her notice.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i037.png"><img src="images/i037-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Meanwhile her reputation had grown, not only amongst her comrades,
+but amongst all the animals of the neighbourhood, who, hearing her
+discussed, were anxious to see her.</p>
+<p>Woe to the cat or dog who dared venture too far into the room!
+Very annoyed at this impertinent curiosity, she would leap upon
+the importunate stranger and punish him terribly with her sharp
+beak. Of course he would run off howling and frightened to death.
+It was very funny to watch.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">33</span><a id="Page033" name="Page033"/>
+<a href="images/i038a.png"><img src="images/i038a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i038b.png"><img src="images/i038b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Mother Etienne and Germaine were much amused at these little
+comedies, and whenever visitors came to the farm<span class="pgnum">34</span><a id="Page034" name="Page034"/>
+they would try to provoke one. Everyone enjoyed them hugely.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i039.png"><img src="images/i039-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Germaine treated Yollande like a doll. She made her all sorts of
+fashionable clothes. The Cochin-China would be dressed sometimes
+like a man, sometimes like a woman. She had made her quite a
+collection of little trousers and vests, which had style, I can
+tell you. She had copied, too, from a circus she had seen, an
+English clown's costume which was most becoming. Nothing could be
+funnier than to watch this tiny dwarf, to see her strut, jump,
+dance, coming and going, skipping
+<span class="pgnum">35</span><a id="Page035" name="Page035"/>around suddenly,&#8212;one moment skittish, the next very important.</p>
+<p>Petit-Jacques loved to tease her, but not roughly; he would push
+her with his foot, and make her jump at him impatiently, looking
+perfectly ridiculous in her quaint dress. You could have sworn she
+was a miniature clown. Add to all this, the queer inarticulate
+sounds she made when she was angry, and even then you can have no
+idea how very amusing these pantomimes were.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i040.png"><img src="images/i040-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p><span class="pgnum">36</span><a id="Page036" name="Page036"/>Soon the fame of Yollande spread far
+and wide. She became
+celebrated throughout the district. Instead of asking Mother
+Etienne how <i>she</i> was, people asked:</p>
+<p>"How's your hen today, Mother Etienne?"</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i041.png"><img src="images/i041-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">37</span><a id="Page037" name="Page037"/>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>FATHER GUSSON'S SECRET</h3>
+<p>One day a peddler, such as often come round to villages, laden
+like a mule, and leading by the bridle an ass still more laden,
+appeared at the farm. Both looked well but tired and dusty&#8212;they
+seemed to have had a long journey.</p>
+<p>Father Gusson, such was the good man's name, sold all sorts of
+things, from tooth-brushes to shoes,&#8212;including hardware,
+glassware, notions, drugs, and even patent medicines.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne received him kindly and after letting him show her
+the things in which she was interested, she offered him
+refreshment and suggested that he should take a little rest at the
+farm. This he accepted without needing any pressing.</p>
+<p>The donkey, relieved straightway from his load, was led into the
+paddock, where he wallowed in the tall grass, rolling on his back,
+his feet in the air. He enjoyed cleaning himself up like this
+after his dusty journey, then, rested&#8212;he took his luncheon,
+choosing here and there the daintiest morsels; after which he lay
+down and philosophised at length.</p>
+<p>All this time, Mother Etienne and Germaine were buying, tempted by
+one thing after another, silks, laces, stuffs for dresses, and a
+number of toilet articles, for both were, though you would not
+have suspected it, rather coquettish.
+<span class="pgnum">38</span><a id="Page038" name="Page038"/>
+Father Gusson&#8212;delighted with his visit to the farm and the
+business he had done there&#8212;was anxious to leave Mother Etienne a
+little remembrance.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i043.png"><img src="images/i043-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i044.png"><img src="images/i044-tn.png"
+ alt="Father Gusson the peddler comes to the farm." /></a><p>Father
+Gusson the peddler comes to the farm.</p>
+</div>
+<p>"Madame," he said, holding out a small china jar carefully sealed
+with parchment, "assuredly you do not need this just now, but if I
+should never come back, and if it should happen that one day your
+beautiful hair should grow thin, turn grey, or fall out, you have
+only to rub your head with this sweet-scented ointment and at once
+your hair will grow again thick
+<span class="pgnum">39</span><a id="Page039" name="Page039"/>
+and of its original colour. I cannot, alas! give you the recipe,
+it is a secret left me by my parents."
+</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i045.png"><img src="images/i045-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Then Father Gusson bade farewell to the two women and went on his
+way with "Neddy," both much refreshed by their pleasant rest.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne handed Germaine the precious pot of ointment
+<span class="pgnum">40</span><a id="Page040" name="Page040"/>
+to put with their other purchases into the big cupboard, and they
+thought no more about it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i046.png"><img src="images/i046-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>One day as she sat by the fire with Yollande, watching the dinner,
+a bright and whimsical idea occurred to the maid. "Supposing I
+were to try the ointment on the hen? But&#8212;it might be good for
+feathers too&#8212;anyhow, it could not do any harm."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">41</span><a id="Page041" name="Page041"/>Saying this she went, found the
+ointment, and delicately rubbed a
+little onto Yollande's head. Yollande did not appear to mind at
+all. Germaine did this three days running.</p>
+<p>Two weeks later Mother Etienne while dressing her hen, as she did
+each day, found a thick reddish down sprouting round her head like
+a little flat wig. She showed it to Germaine, who paid no
+attention, having quite forgotten her childish trick.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i047.png"><img src="images/i047-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>But during the next few days the wig prospered; the hair was two
+finger-breadths long, very thick and curly. Mother Etienne could
+not understand it at all. Germaine could not, at first, make up
+her mind to confess to her mistress what she had done.
+<span class="pgnum">42</span><a id="Page042" name="Page042"/>
+</p>
+<p>At last one evening, Mother Etienne being in a particularly good
+humour, the young girl took courage and told her all about it. Far
+from scolding her, her mistress was delighted, and so pleased at
+the news that she there and then undressed Yollande and rubbed her
+from head to foot with Father Gusson's marvellous ointment. She
+did the thing thoroughly&#8212;rubbing it into every pore. Then they
+made a good fire so that the poor little model, thus exposed,
+should not take cold.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i048.png"><img src="images/i048-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>After that they watched her every instant; they were for ever
+undressing her to see if the cure was working&#8212;they could hardly
+bear to wait. Just think&#8212;if it were to succeed.<span class="pgnum">43</span><a id="Page043" name="Page043"/>
+It would be the end and aim of all their care. Yollande could once
+again take her proper place in the world.</p>
+<p>At last what had happened to the head, happened to the body too.
+Before a week had gone by a thick down completely covered the big
+hen. The good women, much wondering, imagined that as it grew
+stronger the hair would change into feathers. Anxiously they
+awaited the change. Nothing of the sort happened. The hair
+remained hair&#8212;red, Titian red&#8212;fine and soft, curling round your
+fingers, admirable in quality and colour.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i049.png"><img src="images/i049-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The hair on the head, older than that on the rest of the body, was
+much longer, which suggested to the mischievous Germaine the idea
+of making her an elaborate headdress.</p>
+<p>Nothing like it had ever been seen before.</p>
+<p>Soon Yollande was able to discard some of her clothes. Her
+<span class="pgnum">44</span><a id="Page044" name="Page044"/>
+breast and back required for a time yet a little covering, but
+this grew gradually less and less.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i050a.png"><img src="images/i050a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i050b.png"><img src="images/i050b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Naturally the phenomenon was much discussed in the neighbourhood,
+and it attracted many and delightful visitors to the farm, all of
+whom Mother Etienne welcomed cordially. Yollande was less pleased
+with this desire to inspect her. Generally some unbeliever would
+tug at her hair, a painful experience for her. So, except towards
+her mistress and Germaine, she had become exceedingly
+<span class="pgnum">45</span><a id="Page045" name="Page045"/>
+vindictive and watchful. Every time she had the chance she pecked
+with her short, stout beak at the person indiscreet enough to take
+such liberties. One little visitor, more daring than the rest,
+nearly lost his finger over it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i051.png"><img src="images/i051-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The fame of the curly-haired hen was tremendous, it spread even
+beyond the limits of the district. It was really worth a journey
+to see her. They wrote of it in the newspapers. The
+<span class="pgnum">46</span><a id="Page046" name="Page046"/>
+"Daily Mirror," I think it was, had a fine long article about her.</p>
+<p>But in certain quarters, the whole thing was looked upon as a
+"fish story."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i052.png"><img src="images/i052-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">47</span><a id="Page047" name="Page047"/>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>SIR BOOUM CALLS UPON MOTHER ETIENNE</h3>
+<p>Just about this time placards were posted about the whole village,
+announcing the arrival of a Great American Circus, bringing in its
+train the most wonderful spectacles. Menageries,&#8212;curiosities of
+all kinds, such as had not been seen since the time of the
+Caesars.</p>
+<p>Incredible things were on show. Nobody, however small their purse,
+could resist the pleasure of witnessing these sights. Nobody, that
+is, except the people in and around this village.</p>
+<p>The menagerie prepared for its performance by splendid
+processions. Caparisoned in gold the elephants marched around.
+There were horses of all colours and of all sizes, dromedaries,
+rhinoceroses, black men and white monkeys, bands of musicians,
+fairy chariots.</p>
+<p>The inhabitants saw the gorgeous procession pass with
+indifference, with a superior kind of air and without the least
+enthusiasm.</p>
+<p>On the evening of the first performance, in spite of the placards,
+processions, bands, notices, and illuminations, nobody appeared at
+the ticket-office of the theatre and they played to an empty
+house.</p>
+<p>"What," cried the impresario, tearing his hair. "Crowds flocked to
+me in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York.
+<span class="pgnum">48</span><a id="Page048" name="Page048"/>
+I have been congratulated by the Shah of Persia, invited to lunch
+by the Grand Turk, and this little hole despises me, mocks at me,
+considers me a failure."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i054.png"><img src="images/i054-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The lights out, Sir Booum spent a terrible night, wondering what
+evil genius could thus attack his laurels. At dawn, worn
+<span class="pgnum">49</span><a id="Page049" name="Page049"/>
+out by his sleepless night, he set out, eager to learn the cause
+of his failure.</p>
+<p>All those whom he met winked knowingly, laughing in their
+sleeves, and courtesied to him without giving him any
+information. At last one, touched by his despair, answered:</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i055.png"><img src="images/i055-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Why should we come to you? We have here in this very place, where
+we can see it for nothing, a marvel beside which yours are
+commonplace. Have you in your menagerie a curly-haired hen?"</p>
+<p>"A curly-haired hen!" cried Sir Booum. "Gracious, goodness me!
+What are you talking about? Three times have I been round the
+world and have never heard of such a thing."</p>
+<p>"Go to the big farm down yonder and you can see the
+<span class="pgnum">50</span><a id="Page050" name="Page050"/>
+one I am telling you about. You will be ashamed to think how
+uninteresting in comparison are the things you show."</p>
+<p>A few minutes later, a magnificent equipage, driven by an elegant
+gentleman and drawn by two light bays, entered the courtyard of
+the big farm.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i056.png"><img src="images/i056-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Does Madame Etienne live here, please?" he asked Petit-Jacques,
+who was busy grooming Coco.</p>
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+<p>"Will you kindly give her this card and ask if she will see me?"</p>
+<p>"Certainly, sir, at once."
+<span class="pgnum">51</span><a id="Page051" name="Page051"/>
+</p>
+<p>Petit-Jacques returned a few minutes later with Mother Etienne.</p>
+<p>The gentleman got down from his seat, handing the reins to his
+groom.</p>
+<p>"Excuse me, Madame. I am Sir Booum. It was my circus which gave
+its first performance here yesterday as announced on the placards
+posted on the walls throughout the village.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i057.png"><img src="images/i057-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>I have heard, Madame, that you have a most extraordinary hen, and
+I have come to beg you to show it to me. If it is really such as
+it was described to me, I will buy it at once."</p>
+<p>"Sir," said Mother Etienne, "I am very pleased to meet you; I will
+show you Yollande as you ask, but sell her to you?&#8212;never. I love
+the dear thing far too well to part with her."</p>
+<p>"But, Madame, if I give you a large sum? How much do you ask? Name
+your figure."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">52</span><a id="Page052" name="Page052"/>
+Mother Etienne, without answering a word, went off to fetch the
+Cochin-China hen to show to her visitor.</p>
+<p>American as he was, he was astounded and was soon convinced that
+there had been no exaggeration. This was indeed the curly-haired
+hen.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i058.png"><img src="images/i058-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Well, Madame, how much is it to be?&#8212;$1,000, $2,000, $4,000?
+Can't you make up your mind?"</p>
+<p>"No, sir, please don't insist. I do not want to part with dear
+Yollande," and Mother Etienne, distressed and trembling, covered
+her hen with caresses.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">53</span><a id="Page053" name="Page053"/>
+In vain the American urged. His eyes shone with the desire to
+include this marvel in his collection. He could do nothing, and
+was finally obliged to retreat.
+</p>
+<p>"Night brings counsel, Madame. I will return tomorrow to visit
+you, and I hope you will then decide in my favour. Until tomorrow,
+then, Madame."</p>
+<p>The gentleman bowed politely and got into his carriage. The
+equipage left the courtyard, turned onto the high road, and was
+lost in the distance in a cloud of golden dust.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">54</span><a id="Page054" name="Page054"/>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>THE SEPARATION</h3>
+<p>Mother Etienne was much distressed. The unexpected appearance of
+this personage, the offer of this huge sum of money, were enough
+to excite a woman more worldly-wise than she. Germaine strove to
+persuade her mistress to accept the offer.</p>
+<p>"But, my dear mistress, think of it&#8212;$4,000. It is a fortune.
+Don't let it escape you. It is a chance which will never come
+again. Think how well Yollande will be cared for. He does not mean
+to eat her at that price. Think of a stew costing $4,000. No
+indeed, the gentleman will try to keep her well as long as
+possible. It will be to his interest not to hurt her. Be sure of
+it, she will be as well cared for as she is here, if not better."</p>
+<p>Thus they talked all evening.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne, feverishly affectionate, looked at the hen lying
+as usual asleep in the chimney corner. She could not make up her
+mind to sell her sweet Cinderella. Her affection for Yollande had
+increased with the constant care she had needed during so many
+long months. Besides, the silky tresses curling like corkscrews,
+which Germaine had kept so smooth, had been a source of amusement,
+not only to the farm but to the whole neighbourhood.</p>
+<p>That night Mother Etienne was much agitated in spite of the hot
+drink Germaine had given her. She was haunted by
+<span class="pgnum">55</span><a id="Page055" name="Page055"/>
+a horrible nightmare. She seemed to be lying on a bed of
+banknotes, whilst the Cochin-China, sitting heavily on her chest,
+reproached her bitterly for having handed her over to a stranger
+in exchange for a little filthy lucre. Mother Etienne, bathed in
+perspiration, seemed to suffocate under her sheets.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i061.png"><img src="images/i061-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>At last dawn came, the good woman rose, her heart still terribly
+oppressed. Germaine calmed her as best she could with reassuring
+words and also with a foaming bowl of hot coffee.</p>
+<p>All morning Mother Etienne endured torments.</p>
+<p>It was three o'clock in the afternoon when suddenly the sound of a
+heavy carriage drawn by four horses was heard in the courtyard.
+Labric barked with all his might, Coco whinnied loudly, the three
+cows all mooed at the same time, and the entire poultry-yard in an
+uproar added its piercing <span class="pgnum">56</span><a id="Page056" name="Page056"/>
+and varied tones to the general tumult. The pigs especially made a
+great noise.</p>
+<p>It was the American's four-in-hand.</p>
+<p>He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty
+woman, exquisitely dressed in white.</p>
+<p>The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which
+served also as a reception room. On the hearth burned a small
+bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with
+fragrance. Yollande was sitting in her usual place.</p>
+<p>"Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the
+curly-haired hen?"</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i062.png"><img src="images/i062-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000," and so
+saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums
+he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the
+astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">57</span><a id="Page057" name="Page057"/>Germaine, driven wild by this sight,
+began to exclaim: "Yes,
+sir,&#8212;yes, Madame. Yes, sir,&#8212;yes, Madame," and threw herself into the
+arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who still
+remained obdurate.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i063.png"><img src="images/i063-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne's hand, said coaxingly: "You can
+safely trust her to me. I will take care of her myself, Madame.
+With us she will become famous throughout the world. All the
+newspapers will speak of her. From your poultry-yard she will come
+into contact with the greatest courts of the world. She will be
+petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive
+<span class="pgnum">58</span><a id="Page058" name="Page058"/>
+hands. Besides all this she will be in good
+company and will have plenty to amuse her."</p>
+<p>This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the
+longed-for "Yes," which, though stifled by emotion, was seized
+upon by the American.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i064.png"><img src="images/i064-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The good woman had said "Yes," she had conquered the selfishness
+of a mother for two reasons. She did not want to prevent Yollande
+from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine
+share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had
+become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her
+of the benefit.</p>
+
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i065.png"><img src="images/i065-tn.png"
+ alt="Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus tent." /></a>
+<p>Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus
+tent.</p>
+</div>
+<p>"That's all settled, then. Here's the contract," said the
+<span class="pgnum">59</span><a id="Page059" name="Page059"/>
+American, "you have only to sign it." And a receipt duly prepared
+was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her
+signature and a flourish. I don't know that she did not even
+embellish it with a huge blot of ink.</p>
+<p>Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande,
+who oddly enough made no resistance.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i066.png"><img src="images/i066-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Oh please, please let me kiss her again," and, tears in her eyes,
+Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.</p>
+<p>"You will take great care of Yollande, won't you? You will send me
+news of her? Where is she to sleep to-night?"</p>
+<p>"Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared
+for her? Come with us. There is room in the carriage and I promise
+to have you brought back again at once. The
+<span class="pgnum">60</span><a id="Page060" name="Page060"/>
+camp is not far from here, the road is good, the horses fast, and
+in half an hour at most you will be perfectly reassured and can
+return with your mind at rest."</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne, without further thought, still guided by her
+tender maternal heart, needed no urging, but followed by the two
+Americans, walked with a brisk, firm step towards the carriage.
+Suddenly changing her mind, she said:</p>
+<p>"Will you just let me change my dress? I can't very well go out
+like this."</p>
+<p>She went to her room, an idea having entered her head, and soon
+returned very neatly dressed with a little basket in her hand.</p>
+<p>The steps were adjusted and the three people took their places on
+top, whilst Yollande, wrapped in soft woollen covers, was
+carefully placed inside, in a basket provided for that very
+purpose.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i067.png"><img src="images/i067-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>When Germaine saw her mistress start off she would have liked to
+go with her, but the farm needed her attention. Besides,
+Miss Booum's promise of seats for the next performance quite
+consoled her.</p>
+<p>The carriage made a curve in the yard, went through the gate, and
+soon disappeared, bearing the two new travellers.
+<span class="pgnum">61</span><a id="Page061" name="Page061"/>
+As Miss Booum had said, it did not take more than half an hour to
+reach the camp, the cobs went so quickly.</p>
+<p>On the way Mother Etienne met many acquaintances to whom she waved
+a simple but cordial greeting. In most cases the carriage was
+already out of sight before they recovered sufficiently from their
+astonishment to wave back.</p>
+<p>It was a nine days' wonder.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">62</span><a id="Page062" name="Page062"/>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS</h3>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i069.png"><img src="images/i069-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Our travellers came in sight of the circus. Imagine, children, a
+huge encampment like a small town,&#8212;with sections, and streets,
+houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans
+<span class="pgnum">63</span><a id="Page063" name="Page063"/>
+on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls,
+and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes,
+walking up and down.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i070.png"><img src="images/i070-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men,
+little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with
+goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,&#8212;in
+fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,&#8212;men to suit
+every possible taste.</p>
+<p>All the most curious specimens were represented. Besides these
+there was a colossal menagerie. In it there were more
+<span class="pgnum">64</span><a id="Page064" name="Page064"/>
+than twenty elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, rhinoceroses,
+zebras, dromedaries, camels, and the rarest kinds of antelopes.
+Then came the reptiles,&#8212;from the boa constrictor, who was ten
+yards long, to the smallest blind-worm, amongst them some of the
+most dangerous kinds. Crocodiles twenty feet long, monstrous
+toads, tortoises as big as donkeys. Then there were the wild
+beasts too. Lions from Abyssinia, from Atlas, tigers from Bengal,
+from Persia, jaguars, panthers, leopards, all the big cat family,
+lynx, onca, tiger cat. Bears of all kinds, grizzly, grey, black,
+and white. Then came wolves, foxes, coyotes, in fact the whole
+series of the dog tribe with every possible domestic variety.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i071.png"><img src="images/i071-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In little barred cages was a collection of smaller carnivorous
+animals and rodents. In a huge room all the monkeys from the big
+gorilla to the minute ouistiti or witsit, were installed; they
+squabbled, pulled one another's tails, bit one another, uttered
+piercing cries. There were constant battles going on in that
+corner.</p>
+
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">65</span><a id="Page065" name="Page065"/>
+<a href="images/i072.png"><img src="images/i072-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Then in an immense aviary were all the birds of creation, divided
+into classes, from the humming-bird, the size of a hornet, to the
+ostrich. This was, to tell the truth, the part that interested
+Mother Etienne most of all. She was more used to creatures of this
+kind, they reminded her of her beloved poultry-yard. In spite of
+the signs put up everywhere, "Do not feed the animals," the good
+woman who had purposely filled her basket with cakes threw them in
+indiscriminately. There were enough for all the animals she
+passed. First she threw some to the lions. The lions took no
+notice, at which she was most surprised. Her idea in offering the
+cakes was to see if the animals
+<span class="pgnum">66</span><a id="Page066" name="Page066"/>
+were hungry and to find out that way how they were treated.</p>
+<p>Miss Booum, who was acting as her guide, was much amused at her
+astonishment and could not resist saying:</p>
+<p>"Madame, to offer a cream bun to a tiger is like offering a
+beef-steak to an elephant. Just keep your cakes for the ostriches, they
+are so greedy that they will eat stones. If they were to keep a
+hardware store they would be certain to eat up their stock."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i073.png"><img src="images/i073-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Pleased at this permission, when she came to the ostriches, Mother
+Etienne offered them a cake, but they looked down at it very
+haughtily and suspiciously. From this she concluded that even
+those birds were so well-fed that they were not hungry and felt
+quite satisfied about Yollande.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">67</span><a id="Page067" name="Page067"/>After half an hour's walk through the
+circus, having visited every
+corner of it, they went towards the manager's house. There five
+o'clock tea was served. Mother Etienne, quite at ease, did honour
+to the lunch so graciously provided, and after thanking Miss Booum
+gratefully, she kissed Yollande very tenderly and prepared to
+return to the farm.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i074.png"><img src="images/i074-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>At a sign from the young American girl, a stout piebald pony,
+harnessed to a trap, was led forward by a groom.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">68</span><a id="Page068" name="Page068"/>
+<a href="images/i075.png"><img src="images/i075-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"That is my own carriage and my horse Charlie, which you can drive
+yourself, Madame, if you like. He is quick and safe,
+<span class="pgnum">69</span><a id="Page069" name="Page069"/>
+you may be sure of that. You will be at home again in less time
+than it took to come here with four horses. Farewell, dear Madame,
+a pleasant drive. Remember that we expect you tomorrow for the
+afternoon performance, and that nice little maid of yours too.
+Your seats will be reserved."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i076.png"><img src="images/i076-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>The two women shook hands cordially, Mother Etienne got into the
+carriage, and took the reins. The pony feeling a hand used to
+driving, set off at a quick trot, then warming to his work flew
+over the ground. He had the paces of a big horse and had to be
+kept well in hand.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne soon reached home delighted with her adventure. She
+was assailed by questions from Germaine and
+<span class="pgnum">70</span><a id="Page070" name="Page070"/>
+Petit-Jacques. They sat there drinking in her words. Mother
+Etienne told them as best she could all that had happened and all
+that she had seen in the most secret wings of the gigantic circus.
+Germaine in her excitement was forgetful enough to let the soup
+boil over and the roast burn, but all the same they dined gaily.
+There were still plenty of questions to be asked. Mother Etienne
+had to go over every detail and even to tell some stories over
+again. They went on talking far into the night&#8212;so charmed were
+the listeners at the recital.</p>
+<p>Nobody thought of going to bed. Germaine was longing for the
+morrow, she was so anxious to see for herself this fairyland.</p>
+<p>At last, midnight striking, reminded Mother Etienne that it was
+time for sleep. Then they all went to bed, each head full of the
+wonders of tomorrow's performance.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">71</span><a id="Page071" name="Page071"/>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S DREAM</h3>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i078.png"><img src="images/i078-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Mother Etienne was very restless again that night, haunted, not by
+a dreadful nightmare as before, but by a troublesome
+<span class="pgnum">72</span><a id="Page072" name="Page072"/>
+dream. Everything she had just seen at Sir Booum's appeared before
+her, the tiniest incidents, the least important details.</p>
+<p>All the explanations, concerning the creatures in the menagerie
+given her by the trainer, came back to her, like an object lesson
+in a curious dream.</p>
+<p>The principal person in it was Yollande. Yollande as Barnum,
+Yollande as trainer, Yollande holding in one hairy wing a stout
+whip, in the other the pitchfork as a protection against claws and
+teeth.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i079.png"><img src="images/i079-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"You see here," said Yollande in a loud voice, "you see here the
+wild ox from Madagascar, which takes the place of
+<span class="pgnum">73</span><a id="Page073" name="Page073"/>
+the horse. In that country he is harnessed to small, light
+vehicles which he draws along rapidly. This other is a buffalo
+from Caffraria. He is a Jack-of-all-trades, sometimes ridden,
+sometimes driven, sometimes laden, sometimes yoked to the plough.
+Those big striped animals you see yonder are giraffes. Their long
+necks permit them, without having recourse to a ladder, to eat the
+young shoots of the mimosa, of which they are very fond, as well
+as the fresh dates which usually grow at the tops of the palm-trees."</p>
+<div class="figureR">
+<a href="images/i080.png"><img src="images/i080-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In this kind of dream a strange idea was at work in the brain of
+the sleeper. With these object lessons were mingled strange,
+quaint asides.</p>
+<p>"If children had long necks like that, one couldn't keep the
+jam-pots out of their way by putting them on the top shelves of the
+cupboard."</p>
+<p>"There," went on Yollande, "are the elephants. They are
+<span class="pgnum">74</span><a id="Page074" name="Page074"/>
+used for all sorts of tasks. Their trunks, a continuation of their
+nostrils, serve both for breathing and holding. It is, as it were,
+an extremely sensitive and powerful hand."</p>
+<p>"Great goodness me," cried Mother Etienne; "imagine having a hand
+at the end of your nose! Would it have a glove on it and rings on
+its fingers?"</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i081.png"><img src="images/i081-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>All sorts of ridiculous ideas like that came into her head. The
+little beaver, who builds his houses all along the Canadian
+streams, appeared trowel in hand, mortar-board on his head, and
+Mother Etienne felt most anxious to have his valuable assistance
+in repairing her barns and mills. Dear little marabout, how useful
+you would be in the village, sweeping the streets, cleaning up the
+refuse, advance-guard of the street-cleaner with his, "Now then,
+everything into the gutter."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">75</span><a id="Page075" name="Page075"/>"The antelopes are
+very silly, coquettish creatures to wear such
+long boas round their necks in this warm country. But, after all,
+perhaps they are wise enough, for they have chosen a kind which,
+unlike our make of furs, is cold to the touch."</p>
+<p>Yollande, in her r&ocirc;le of trainer, went on and on like a brook.</p>
+<p>"Here, now, is a dromedary. He has a hump on his back, a fatty
+exerescence which enables him to bear much fatigue, without eating
+or drinking for several days. It is owing to this fat, rather like
+a box of provisions on his back, that he can traverse hot and
+sandy deserts where it would be difficult to find a single blade
+of grass to eat."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i082.png"><img src="images/i082-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Then through the farm bedroom passed long caravans of camels, led
+by carnival Arabs, their humps changed into gigantic
+<span class="pgnum">76</span><a id="Page076" name="Page076"/>
+larders in which rattled all sorts of canned things. Canned
+salmon, Russian caviare, dried biscuits, smoked meats, tongues,
+sardines, canned peas, foies-gras, lobsters, and fruits, in fact
+all those things which Mother Etienne had seen piled up in
+many-coloured pyramids at the best grocery stores. Really it was too
+ridiculous.&#8212;Miss Booum must have been making fun of her visitor.&#8212;That
+couldn't really be the best food for camels.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i083.png"><img src="images/i083-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">77</span><a id="Page077" name="Page077"/>
+<a href="images/i084.png"><img src="images/i084-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>It was still worse when it came to the turn of the hippopotami. A
+thousand ill-digested memories from the illustrated papers were in
+her mind, all mixed up. Where did the Nile and the Zanzibar flow?
+Which was it that separated Egypt from Senegal? And the gigantic
+hippopotamus, looking perfectly huge and out-of-place in a gondola
+fit for a sultana, appeared to her, floating down the calm stream,
+a red
+<span class="pgnum">78</span><a id="Page078" name="Page078"/>
+fez with a golden star on his head, puffing away at a peculiar
+double-bowled pipe, the pride of the collection of a retired
+police-officer in the village, who had it from the real cousin of
+a sea-captain from Marseilles.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i085.png"><img src="images/i085-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"Do you see those little lumps there enclosed between four boards?
+It is a nest of land-tortoises. The largest, called the Giant
+tortoise, easily supports on its back a weight of two hundred
+pounds. This shell which weighs so heavily is its house. At the
+least alarm, it retreats into its house and stays there, till
+<span class="pgnum">79</span><a id="Page079" name="Page079"/>
+all danger is past." This plan of walking about with your house on
+your back seemed rather a good one to Mother Etienne. You could go
+out on rainy days without getting wet, and on cold days it would
+keep your back nice and warm.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i086.png"><img src="images/i086-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"Near at hand is a collection of mammals, the kangaroo family. The
+kangaroo is the largest mammal of Australia. It is generally a
+peace-loving animal, but bites, scratches, and claws if it is
+teased. Its best defence however is flight." All these technical
+details left the good woman cold. What she remembered best were
+the practical qualities of the creatures. The kangaroo has one
+very great peculiarity, the female has a pouch, a sort of bag, in
+which she hides her young if danger appears, just as the soldier
+has his knapsack.</p>
+
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">80</span><a id="Page080" name="Page080"/>
+<a href="images/i087a.png"><img src="images/i087a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i087b.png"><img src="images/i087b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>For the first time in her life Mother Etienne was much struck by
+certain resemblances between animals and human beings,
+<span class="pgnum">81</span><a id="Page081" name="Page081"/>
+finding in them actions, looks, and habits which reminded her
+irresistibly of many of her acquaintances. It was amongst the
+monkeys that it was the most marked. Two chimpanzees, with pensive
+faces garbed in black, seemed to be mourning some beloved
+relative. It was as though their sad but shining eyes, gazing at
+the straw which half-covered them, were seeking something hidden,
+intangible.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i088.png"><img src="images/i088-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>A family of big African monkeys, by their challenging,
+<span class="pgnum">82</span><a id="Page082" name="Page082"/>
+crafty air, reminded her unpleasantly of a band of good-for-nothings
+who for months had spread terror and desolation
+throughout the country. The chief&#8212;or the one who appeared to be
+the chief&#8212;the biggest and strongest, hurled himself at the bars
+and shook them in his clenched hands. He would certainly have
+enjoyed strangling Mother Etienne, had he been able to do so.
+Since he was not able to, he displayed in a huge yawn, a
+terrifying set of teeth, worthy of a wild beast. They were horrid
+animals, I assure you, not the kind you would like to meet loose
+on a lonely road.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i089.png"><img src="images/i089-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Fortunately some pretty little witsits, with black faces, no
+bigger than your fist, and white and grey ruffles, whistling like
+blackbirds, by their pretty tricks did away with the bad
+impression made by these sinister neighbours.</p>
+
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i090.png"><img src="images/i090-tn.png" alt="Cake Walk; Mother Etienne's dream." /></a>
+<p>Mother Etienne's dream.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pgnum">83</span><a id="Page083" name="Page083"/>
+This one was a regular little mother, that one had just been
+sweeping out the yard, another was the living image of the Count's
+servant when he followed his master on his walks, carrying under
+his arm a shawl or a sunshade. An orang-outang, an elderly
+peasant, whose four big hands were clasped, suggested to her how
+useful it would be to have a helper like that to milk the cows. It
+would go twice as fast with four hands. What a lot of precious
+time it would save.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i091.png"><img src="images/i091-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>And many other queer things came into her head. That yowling dog,
+that sharp-faced rabbit, are the type who come on fair-days to cry
+their papers, sell their toys, etc.&#8212;a noisy, rough crew.
+<span class="pgnum">84</span><a id="Page084" name="Page084"/>
+Goodness gracious! Where was Mother Etienne's absurd dream leading
+her? She, whose life was always so calm, and who, to tell the
+truth, with Germaine, were rather like the two little monkeys at
+the corner of the fire-place, hands clasped under their aprons,
+feet on foot-warmers, and little pointed handkerchiefs on their
+heads.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i092a.png"><img src="images/i092a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>At this personal picture everything turned as though by
+enchantment into one huge, vast medley, which ended in a general
+cake-walk of the whole menagerie, passing before
+the tired eyes of Mother Etienne, roaring, bellowing, mewing,
+whistling, howling, whinnying, and braying. Poor Mother Etienne
+was thoroughly exhausted.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i092b.png"><img src="images/i092b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">85</span><a id="Page085" name="Page085"/>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S FORTUNE</h3>
+<p>When she woke up the good woman thought of her small fortune. She
+gave it for safe keeping into the hands of her lawyer, M. La
+Plume, while she was making up her mind how she should dispose of
+it. She wanted plenty of time to think it over. She had already
+decided to give Germaine a dowry, for the whole thing was largely
+owing to her. She knew that she and Petit-Jacques were in love.</p>
+<p>"They will make a fine couple," she thought, "and later on how
+pleased I shall be to have a nice family around me&#8212;with dear
+children who will love and care for me."</p>
+<p>Then she thought of P&amp;egrav;re Gusson&#8212;the good old man could
+have no
+idea of all that had happened at the farm. He was going his
+rounds, selling his wares as best he could. It was three months
+since he had appeared, he would be back again before long&#8212;he had
+already been away longer than usual.</p>
+<p>And, sure enough, two days later Neddy announced his entrance into
+the courtyard with a loud bray. If his master was glad to see
+Mother Etienne who always received him so cordially, and who
+bought so much from him, the donkey fully appreciated the hours of
+rest and the good food he found in the paddock with the cows.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">86</span><a id="Page086" name="Page086"/>
+Mother Etienne went forward to meet the old man and gaily told him
+the whole story.
+</p>
+<p>He, utterly astounded, could not at first believe it. He made her
+repeat the wonder over and over again. It certainly was a very
+curious thing. He had always known his ointment was effective,
+but&#8212;as to making hair grow on a hen&#8212;that was quite another
+thing. He was just petrified by it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i094.png"><img src="images/i094-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Mother Etienne told Germaine to serve some good cider, and all
+three drank to one another's healths.</p>
+<p>"That is not all," said Mother Etienne, "I want you to have a
+share in my good fortune. That's only fair. You have worked all
+your life, you must think of taking a rest. You have certainly
+earned it. Here is a check for $2,000 which
+<span class="pgnum">87</span><a id="Page087" name="Page087"/>
+my lawyer, M. La Plume, will cash for you. This sum, together with
+what you have saved, will be enough to buy a little house and
+garden and to keep you from want. If one is wise and knows how to
+manage, one can live here for very little."</p>
+<p>Father Gusson, quite upset and touched, could not find words to
+thank dear, kind Mother Etienne. It was as though he had
+unexpectedly won the big prize in the lottery. He could hardly
+believe his eyes and ears.</p>
+<p>Soon he pulled himself together and began to calculate.</p>
+<p>"I have a few savings, it is true, but I think it would be wise to
+take advantage of the fame of the ointment and double my small
+fortune. I hope that, thanks to the already widespread fame of
+Yollande, if (with your kind permission) I were to call my
+ointment, 'Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen' I should have
+considerable success."</p>
+<p>"Not only am I quite willing, but I thoroughly approve of your
+idea and strongly advise you to carry it out," replied Mother
+Etienne warmly.</p>
+<p>No sooner said than done.</p>
+<p>Father Gusson withdrew from the notary the sum, so fairly but
+generously given him, and spent his time henceforth in
+manufacturing (according to the recipe of his ancestors) the
+wonderful ointment. He filled a great quantity of jars of all
+sizes, and like the good business man he was, having adorned them
+with magnificent labels he doubled the price of the ointment and
+put on a trade mark so as to prohibit imitations. Then he bought a
+cart like Mother Etienne's and harnessed Neddy to it. On the hood
+of the cart was a huge picture of
+<span class="pgnum">88</span><a id="Page088" name="Page088"/>
+a Curly-Haired Hen, and under it was the inscription, "Ointment of
+the Curly-Haired Hen." Now the peddler could go his rounds,
+selling only this specialty, without need of further
+advertisement. The effect was magic. Doors, hitherto too
+<span class="pgnum">89</span><a id="Page089" name="Page089"/>
+often closed against him, opened wide at his coming and there was
+not a soul who did not buy quite a lot of it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i096.png"><img src="images/i096-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In a month and without effort, Father Gusson took in ten times
+more money than he had earned in all his long and hardworking life
+before.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i097.png"><img src="images/i097-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">90</span><a id="Page090" name="Page090"/>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>TRIUMPH OF THE OINTMENT</h3>
+<p>The craze of the public for this new preparation was
+extraordinary. A china factory, about to close its doors, made a
+fortune out of manufacturing jars for it. Of course all the bald
+people bought it. Everyone expected it to work miracles. The women
+with tow-coloured rat-tails expected to grow luxuriant black
+tresses and others with coarse scrubby black hair dreamed of
+having fine soft golden braids.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i098.png"><img src="images/i098-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>A very rich land-owner, who did not care how much he spent, rubbed
+with it the back of his mangy dog, and his horse's tail, which was
+growing somewhat thin.</p>
+<p>The mayor even, they tell me, put a thick layer of it onto his
+wig, which was beginning to wear out. The district was steeped in
+it, the air seemed to smell of musk.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">91</span><a id="Page091" name="Page091"/>Alas! everything has
+its bad side. The good side of this was for
+the merchant alone, who, though he guaranteed his wares for human
+beings, refused any further responsibility. The bad side was for
+the hens and ducks. (I believe even the geese suffered
+occasionally.) I can't tell you how many people, knowing all about
+the effect it had had on Yollande and the resultant fortune, tried
+to duplicate the famous Curly-Haired Hen, bought by Sir Booum.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i099.png"><img src="images/i099-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In the poultry-yards around, the hens for several months had a
+pretty bad time. They were nearly all plucked and rubbed with the
+ointment. It was a craze, a rage with the farmers, and those hens
+who could retain a vestige of their plumage esteemed themselves
+fortunate.</p>
+<p>It was a sad sight to see all the feathered creatures fly at the
+<span class="pgnum">92</span><a id="Page092" name="Page092"/>
+sight of a human being. They knew by bitter experience what to
+expect. Alas! with all these attempts with roosters, chickens,
+ducks, and turkeys, none had the desired effect. They long
+remained scented and devoid of plumage, that was all. We must take
+it that no subject as good as Yollande presented itself. Nature
+makes these queer incomprehensible distinctions, you know, which
+we just can't understand. There was <i>one</i> Curly-Haired Hen,
+there was to be no other! For, since her metamorphosis, for a
+reason unknown to this day, the Curly-Haired Hen absolutely
+refused to lay eggs. This was, I must confess, a great
+disappointment to Sir Booum. Like the good American he was, he
+would have liked to continue the race.</p>
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/i100.png"><img src="images/i100-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">93</span><a id="Page093" name="Page093"/><a href="images/i101.png"><img src="images/i101-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">94</span><a id="Page094" name="Page094"/><a href="images/i102.png"><img src="images/i102-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>He had perforce to content himself with portraits of her from the
+pen of M. Vimar. One of these was sent, affectionately dedicated
+by Yollande, to her good Mother Etienne, who regards
+<span class="pgnum">95</span><a id="Page095" name="Page095"/>
+it as her greatest treasure, and keeps it, elegantly framed, above
+the mantelpiece in her bedroom. Never a day passes but the good
+woman looks at it with tender, motherly affection.</p>
+<p>Father Gusson is now the owner of a pretty little house and
+cultivates his own garden, in which is a corner reserved for
+Neddy, for he too has earned his rest.</p>
+<p>Germaine, to whom her mistress and adopted mother gave a good
+dowry, has just married Petit-Jacques, quartermaster, lately
+returned from his military service.</p>
+<p>It is hard to tell which is the happiest. The wedding was
+performed with much ceremony. The whole village was present, and
+amongst the various healths drunk they did not omit that of the
+"Curly-Haired Hen."</p>
+<p>Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, you
+will certainly have your reward.</p>
+<p class="front">&nbsp;</p>
+<p class="front">
+FINIS</p>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13302 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
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+
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #13302 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13302)
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Curly-Haired Hen, by Auguste Vimar
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Curly-Haired Hen
+
+Author: Auguste Vimar
+
+Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13302]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Hagen von Eitzen and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Yollande appears emerging from her shroud.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN
+
+
+TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+BY
+
+A. VIMAR
+
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+NORA K. HILLS
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+Mother Etienne's Farm
+
+CHAPTER II
+A Mother's Devotion
+
+CHAPTER III
+Yollande's Trousseau
+
+CHAPTER IV
+Father Gusson's Secret
+
+CHAPTER V
+Sir Booum Calls upon Mother Etienne
+
+CHAPTER VI
+The Separation
+
+CHAPTER VII
+Sir Booum's Circus
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+Mother Etienne's Dream
+
+CHAPTER IX
+Mother Etienne's Fortune
+
+CHAPTER X
+Triumph of the Ointment
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S FARM
+
+
+"Oh Grandfather, tell us a story, do. You know, the one you began
+the other evening about Mother Etienne's big farm. You remember.
+The weather is so bad and we can't go out. Go on, Grandfather,
+please."
+
+Coaxingly the three children clung round their grandfather,
+looking at him beseechingly. He adoring the children as he did,
+loved to hear them plead.
+
+At last he began:
+
+Since you have been very good, and you want it so much, I will
+tell you the wonderful story of Mother Etienne's farm and the
+still more wonderful story of what happened to one of its
+occupants.
+
+Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, and you
+will surely have your reward.
+
+Mother Etienne was a good stout woman with a very kind heart.
+While still young she was so unfortunate as to lose her husband
+and her son of whom she was very fond. This made her, as you can
+imagine, very, very sad. She wouldn't listen to any new offers of
+marriage though she had plenty of them. Instead, she devoted her
+life, her whole existence, to the attentive, nay I ought to say,
+the maternal care, of the animals on her farm, making them as
+comfortable as could be.
+
+She had, as I said before, a most excellent heart, the good Mother
+Etienne. You shall see that presently.
+
+This good woman then lived on her big farm, very spacious and
+admirably situated. A slate roof covered the large house; the
+granaries, stables and outhouses were sheltered by old thatching
+upon which grew moss and lichen.
+
+Let me tell you now, dear children, who were the chief occupants
+of the farm. First there was big "Coco"--a fine Normandy
+horse--bay-coloured and very fat, whose silky coat had a purple sheen;
+he had a star on his forehead and a pink mark between his eyes. He
+was very gentle and answered to the voice of his mistress. If
+Mother Etienne passed by his stable he never failed to scent her
+and whinnied at once. That was his way of showing his friendliness
+and saying,
+
+"Good morning."
+
+His good mistress spoiled him with all sorts of dainties.
+Sometimes a crust of bread, sometimes a handful of carrots, but
+what he loved best of all was sugar. If you had given him a whole
+loaf he would soon have eaten it up.
+
+Coco had for stable companions three fine Swiss cows. Their names
+were La Blonde, Blanchotte, and Nera. You know what the colours
+were for the names, don't you?
+
+Petit-Jacques, the stable boy, took care of them. On fine days he
+led them to pasture into a bog paddock near the farm up against a
+pretty wood of silver beeches. A large pond of clear water covered
+one corner of the meadow and lost itself in the reeds and iris.
+There the fine big cows went to quench their thirst; quantities of
+frogs went there, too, to play leap-frog. It was a veritable
+earthly Paradise.
+
+From the farm Mother Etienne caught the sound of the large bronze
+bells each with its different low note, which hung round the necks
+of the cows; thus she could superintend their comings and goings
+without interrupting her various occupations. For the farm was
+very big, as I told you, and had many animals on it.
+
+After the stables and coachhouses came the piggery, the rabbit
+hutches, and finally an immense poultry-yard divided into a
+thousand compartments, and sheltering a whole horde of poultry of
+all sorts; fowls of all kinds and of all breeds, geese,
+guineafowl, pigeons, ducks, and what all besides. What wasn't
+there in that prodigious poultry-yard?
+
+Mother Etienne spent most of her time there, for the smaller and
+more delicate the creatures the more interest and care she gave
+them.
+
+"The weak need so much protection," this excellent woman would
+say, and she was right.
+
+So for the baby ducks her tenderness was limitless. What dangers
+had to be avoided to raise successfully all these tiny folks!
+
+Did a pig escape? Immediately danger threatened the poultry-yard.
+For a pig has terrible teeth and he doesn't care what he eats--he
+would as soon crunch a little duckling as a carrot. So she had to
+watch every minute, every second even. For besides, in spite of
+the vigilance of "Labrie," the faithful watchdog, sometimes rats
+would suck the blood of the young pigeons. Once even a whole
+litter of rabbits was destroyed that way.
+
+To dispose of the products of her farm, Mother Etienne drove twice
+a week to market in her market-cart drawn by Coco.
+
+She was famed for the best vegetables, the purest and creamiest
+milk; in short, the eggs she sold were the freshest, the poultry
+and rabbits the tenderest and most juicy to be had. As soon as she
+and Coco came trotting into the market there was a rush to get to
+her first.
+
+There, as everywhere, everyone loved Mother Etienne.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+A MOTHER'S DEVOTION
+
+
+Thus time passed peacefully at the big farm.
+
+One day, however, the quiet was disturbed by a little drama which
+convulsed the calm but busy spot.
+
+Mother Etienne had given to a Cochin-China hen, which she had
+christened Yollande, some white duck's eggs to sit on. The batch
+of fifteen eggs had all come out. It was really wonderful to see
+these fifteen baby ducks, yellow as canaries, beaks and webbed
+feet pink, swarming around the big patient sitting mother, ducking
+under her wings, to come out presently and clamber helter-skelter
+onto her broad back. As often happens with nurses, Yollande loved
+the ducklings as her own children, and without worrying about
+their shape or plumage, so different from her own, she showered
+upon them proofs of the tenderest affection. Did a fly pass within
+their reach, all these little ones jumped at it--tumbling in their
+efforts to catch it. The little yellow balls with their wide-awake
+air never took a second's rest.
+
+Well cared for and well fed, they grew so rapidly that soon they
+had to have more space. Mother Etienne housed them then on the
+edge of the pond in a latticed coop opening onto a sloping board
+which led down to the water. It was, as it were, a big swimming
+bath, which grew gradually deeper and deeper. The ducks and geese
+loved to plunge in and hardly left the water except to take their
+meals.
+
+Yollande felt very out of place in this new dwelling. The
+ducklings on the contrary, urged on by their instinct, madly
+enjoyed it and rushed pell-mell into the water.
+
+This inexplicable impulse terrified their mama. She was, in fact,
+"as mad as a wet hen."
+
+She ran up and down, her feathers on end, her face swollen, her
+crest red, clucking away, trying to persuade her babies not to
+venture into the water. For hens, like cats, hate the water. It
+was unspeakable torture to her. The children would not listen;
+deaf to her prayers, her cries, these rascally babies ventured
+farther and farther out. They were at last and for the first time
+in their favourite element, lighter than little corks, they
+floated, dived, plunged, raced, fought, playing all sorts of
+tricks.
+
+Meanwhile, Yollande was eating her heart out. She rushed to and
+fro, keeping her eyes glued on the disobedient ones. Suddenly she
+saw a mother-duck chasing her darlings. This was more than she
+could bear,--driven by her maternal instinct she leapt like a fury
+to the aid of her family.
+
+A flap or two of her wings and she was above the water into which
+she fell at the deepest part.
+
+Splashing,--struggling madly in the midst of her frightened
+brood,--she was soon exhausted and succumbing to syncope, she sank
+to the bottom.
+
+The surface of the water closed above her. The little ones did not
+realize what had happened--very quickly recovering from their
+momentary fright, they went on with their games--splashing the
+water with their beaks and amusing themselves as though nothing
+were the matter.
+
+Mother Etienne, busy giving green apples to the pigs, bran to the
+rabbits, and corn to the pigeons, came back presently, and could
+not see the big Yollande beside the pond, only her children
+floating far, far away on the water. Surprised she drew nearer,
+called, but in vain. The mother-hen had disappeared. Then only did
+she understand the tragedy that had occurred. She called for help.
+Petit-Jacques immediately opened the big sluice and the water ran
+out, but much too slowly for their impatience. At last they began
+to see the bottom, and soon the body of poor Yollande was
+discovered stiff and motionless.
+
+There was general consternation at the farm. Petit-Jacques, by
+means of a long pole, seized her and drew her to land at Mother
+Etienne's feet. Labrie came up and sniffed sadly at the body of
+the unhappy hen. In vain they dried her and rubbed her,--nothing
+did any good.
+
+"She's quite dead, alas," said Mother Etienne with tears in her
+eyes, "but it was my own fault. I ought to have closed down the
+lattice and this misfortune would not have happened. It really is
+a great pity--such a fine hen. She weighs at least eight pounds.
+There, Germaine, take her and weigh her."
+
+Germaine was the maid and also the cousin of Petit-Jacques--of
+whom she was very fond. She was a fine buxom girl of eighteen,
+strong and well-grown. She loved animals, too, but her feeling for
+them could not be compared to Mother Etienne's.
+
+"Germaine, take away poor Yollande, I am quite upset
+by this trouble. You will bury her this evening, in a corner of
+the kitchen-garden--deep enough to prevent any animal digging her
+up. I leave it to you--do it carefully."
+
+The girl bore away the fine hen in her apron. "How heavy she
+is--it is a shame," and blowing apart the feathers, she saw the skin
+underneath as yellow and plump as you could wish. Mechanically she
+plucked a few feathers.
+
+"After all," she said, "it isn't as though she had died--she was
+drowned, quite a clean death; she's firm and healthy, only an hour
+ago she was as strong and well as could be. Why shouldn't we eat
+her?--We'll stew her because, though she is not old, she is not
+exactly in her first youth--but there's a lot on her--with a
+dressing of carrots and nutmeg, a bunch of herbs and a tomato,
+with a calf's foot to make a good jelly, I believe she'd make a
+lovely dinner."
+
+Saying this she went on plucking Yollande. All the feathers, large
+and small, gone, a little down was left, so to get rid of this she
+lit an old newspaper and held her over it.
+
+"Madame won't know anything and will enjoy her as much as we
+shall. There's enough on her for two good meals."
+
+Quite decided, instead of burying her, she wrapped the future stew
+carefully in a perfectly clean cloth and put it on a shelf in the
+kitchen out of the way of flies or accident.
+
+During this time Mother Etienne was busy making as warm a home as
+she could for the fifteen little orphans. Poor darlings. In a
+wicker-basket she covered a layer of straw with another of wadding
+and fine down. Upon this she put the ducklings one by one, and
+covered the whole with feathers; then closing the lid, she carried
+the basket to the stable where the air was always nice and warm.
+All this took time; it was about six o'clock in the evening, the
+sun was going down, throwing a last oblique smile into the
+kitchen, gleaming here and there on the shining copper which hung
+on the walls.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+
+YOLLANDE'S TROUSSEAU
+
+
+As for Germaine, she, with Petit-Jacques to help her, had gone to
+milk the cows. Mother Etienne soon joined them, and the two women
+came back to the house together.
+
+Horror of horrors! What a terrible sight. Pale with fear they
+stood on the threshold of the kitchen not daring to move--to
+enter. Their hearts were in their mouths. A ghost stood there in
+front of them--Yollande--and Germaine fell at Mother Etienne's
+feet in utter consternation. Yollande? Yes, Yollande, but what a
+Yollande! Heavens! Yollande plucked, literally plucked! Yollande
+emerging from her shroud like Lazarus from his tomb! Yollande
+risen from the dead! A cry of anguish burst from the heart of kind
+Mother Etienne.
+
+"Yollande, oh, Yollande!"
+
+The Cochin-China replied by a long shudder.
+
+This is what had happened.
+
+On falling into the water, Yollande after struggling fiercely
+succumbed to syncope, and her lungs ceasing to act she had ceased
+to breathe, so the water had not entered her lungs. That is why
+she was not drowned. Life was, so to speak, suspended. The syncope
+lasted some time. The considerable heat to which she was subjected
+when Germaine held her above the flaming newspaper had brought
+about a healthy reaction and in the solitude of the kitchen she
+had recovered consciousness.
+
+After the first moment of terror was over, Germaine confessed her
+plan to Mother Etienne, who, glad to find Yollande still alive,
+forgave Germaine the disobedience which had saved her.
+
+But the hen was still shivering, shaking in every limb, her skin
+all goose-flesh. Dragging after her her travesty of a tail, she
+jumped onto the kitchen-table which she shook with her shivering.
+
+"We can't leave her like that any longer," said Mother Etienne,
+"we must cover her up somehow," and straightway she wrapped her up
+in all the cloths she could lay her hands on. Germaine prepared
+some hot wine with sugar in it, and the two women fed her with it
+in spoonfuls,--then they took a good drink of it themselves. All
+three at once felt the better for it. Yollande spent the night in
+these hastily-made swaddling clothes between two foot-warmers
+which threw out a gentle and continuous heat and kept away the
+catarrh with which the poor Cochin-China was threatened. The great
+question which arose now was how they were to protect her from the
+cold in future. Both of them cogitated over it.
+
+Several times during the night, Mother Etienne and the maid came
+to look at the hen, who, worn out by such a long day of fatigue
+and suffering, at last closed her eyes, relaxed, and slept till
+morning.
+
+Nevertheless she was the first in the house to wake up, and at
+dawn began to cackle vigorously. Germaine hastened to her,
+bringing a quantity of corn which the hen, doubtless owing to her
+fast of the day before, ate greedily.
+
+Now the important thing was to find her a practical costume. The
+weather was mild but there was great danger in allowing her to
+wander about in a garb as light as it was primitive. The mornings
+and evenings were cool and might bring on a cold, inflammation or
+congestion of the lungs, rheumatism, or what not.
+
+At all costs a new misfortune must be avoided. At last they
+dressed her in silk cunningly fashioned and lined with wadding.
+Thus garbed her entry into the poultry-yard was a subject of
+astonishment to some, fear to others, and excitement to most of
+the birds she met on her way.
+
+In vain Mother Etienne strove to tone down the colours of the
+stuffs, to modify the cut of the garments, but Yollande long
+remained an object of surprise and antipathy to the majority of
+the poultry.
+
+The scandal soon reached its climax.
+
+"That hen must be mad," said an old duck to his wife.
+
+"Just imagine dressing up like that; she'll come along one of
+these days in a bathing suit," cried a young rooster who prided
+himself on his wit.
+
+A young turkey tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them off, and
+all the others looked on laughing and hurling insults.... They
+vied with one another in sarcastic speeches. At last, after a
+time, as the saying goes, "Familiarity bred contempt." The fear
+which her companions had felt at first soon changed into a
+familiarity often too great for the unhappy Cochin-China. They
+tried to see who could play her the shabbiest trick. Hens are
+often as cruel as men, which is saying a great deal.
+
+Poor Yollande, in spite of her size, her solidity, and strength,
+nearly always emerged half-dressed. Her companions could not stand
+her dressed like that, the sight of her irritated them. Not
+content with tearing her clothes they often pecked at the poor
+creature as well.
+
+Mother Etienne did her best to improve these costumes in every
+way--but it was as impossible to find perfection as the
+philosopher's stone.
+
+They hoped at the farm that in time the feathers would grow again.
+Meanwhile it was hard on the hen.
+
+Nothing of the sort happened; one, two, three months passed and
+not the least vestige of down appeared on the hen, who had to be
+protected like a human being from the changes of climate and so
+forth. Like a well-to-do farmer's wife Yollande had her
+linen-chest and a complete outfit.
+
+It was, I assure you, my dear children, kept up most carefully.
+There was always a button to sew on, a buttonhole to remake, or a
+tear to be mended. Thus constantly in touch with the household
+Madame Hen soon thought she belonged to it. Indeed, worn out by
+the teasing of her companions, by the constant arguments she had
+with them, and touched on the other hand by the affectionate care
+of her mistresses, Yollande stayed more and more in the house.
+Coddled and swathed in her fantastic costumes, she sat in the
+chimney corner like a little Cinderella changed into a hen; from
+this corner she quietly watched; nothing escaped her notice.
+
+Meanwhile her reputation had grown, not only amongst her comrades,
+but amongst all the animals of the neighbourhood, who, hearing her
+discussed, were anxious to see her.
+
+Woe to the cat or dog who dared venture too far into the room!
+Very annoyed at this impertinent curiosity, she would leap upon
+the importunate stranger and punish him terribly with her sharp
+beak. Of course he would run off howling and frightened to death.
+It was very funny to watch.
+
+Mother Etienne and Germaine were much amused at these little
+comedies, and whenever visitors came to the farm they would try to
+provoke one. Everyone enjoyed them hugely.
+
+Germaine treated Yollande like a doll. She made her all sorts of
+fashionable clothes. The Cochin-China would be dressed sometimes
+like a man, sometimes like a woman. She had made her quite a
+collection of little trousers and vests, which had style, I can
+tell you. She had copied, too, from a circus she had seen, an
+English clown's costume which was most becoming. Nothing could be
+funnier than to watch this tiny dwarf, to see her strut, jump,
+dance, coming and going, skipping around suddenly,--one moment
+skittish, the next very important.
+
+Petit-Jacques loved to tease her, but not roughly; he would push
+her with his foot, and make her jump at him impatiently, looking
+perfectly ridiculous in her quaint dress. You could have sworn she
+was a miniature clown. Add to all this, the queer inarticulate
+sounds she made when she was angry, and even then you can have no
+idea how very amusing these pantomimes were.
+
+Soon the fame of Yollande spread far and wide. She became
+celebrated throughout the district. Instead of asking Mother
+Etienne how _she_ was, people asked:
+
+"How's your hen today, Mother Etienne?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+
+FATHER GUSSON'S SECRET
+
+
+One day a peddler, such as often come round to villages, laden
+like a mule, and leading by the bridle an ass still more laden,
+appeared at the farm. Both looked well but tired and dusty--they
+seemed to have had a long journey.
+
+Father Gusson, such was the good man's name, sold all sorts of
+things, from tooth-brushes to shoes,--including hardware,
+glassware, notions, drugs, and even patent medicines.
+
+Mother Etienne received him kindly and after letting him show her
+the things in which she was interested, she offered him
+refreshment and suggested that he should take a little rest at the
+farm. This he accepted without needing any pressing.
+
+The donkey, relieved straightway from his load, was led into the
+paddock, where he wallowed in the tall grass, rolling on his back,
+his feet in the air. He enjoyed cleaning himself up like this
+after his dusty journey, then, rested--he took his luncheon,
+choosing here and there the daintiest morsels; after which he lay
+down and philosophised at length.
+
+All this time, Mother Etienne and Germaine were buying, tempted by
+one thing after another, silks, laces, stuffs for dresses, and a
+number of toilet articles, for both were, though you would not
+have suspected it, rather coquettish. Father Gusson--delighted
+with his visit to the farm and the business he had done there--was
+anxious to leave Mother Etienne a little remembrance.
+
+[Illustration: Father Gusson the peddler comes to the farm.]
+
+"Madame," he said, holding out a small china jar carefully sealed
+with parchment, "assuredly you do not need this just now, but if I
+should never come back, and if it should happen that one day your
+beautiful hair should grow thin, turn grey, or fall out, you have
+only to rub your head with this sweet-scented ointment and at once
+your hair will grow again thick and of its original colour. I
+cannot, alas! give you the recipe, it is a secret left me by my
+parents."
+
+Then Father Gusson bade farewell to the two women and went on his
+way with "Neddy," both much refreshed by their pleasant rest.
+
+Mother Etienne handed Germaine the precious pot of ointment to put
+with their other purchases into the big cupboard, and they thought
+no more about it.
+
+One day as she sat by the fire with Yollande, watching the dinner,
+a bright and whimsical idea occurred to the maid. "Supposing I
+were to try the ointment on the hen? But--it might be good for
+feathers too--anyhow, it could not do any harm."
+
+Saying this she went, found the ointment, and delicately rubbed a
+little onto Yollande's head. Yollande did not appear to mind at
+all. Germaine did this three days running.
+
+Two weeks later Mother Etienne while dressing her hen, as she did
+each day, found a thick reddish down sprouting round her head like
+a little flat wig. She showed it to Germaine, who paid no
+attention, having quite forgotten her childish trick.
+
+But during the next few days the wig prospered; the hair was two
+finger-breadths long, very thick and curly. Mother Etienne could
+not understand it at all. Germaine could not, at first, make up
+her mind to confess to her mistress what she had done.
+
+At last one evening, Mother Etienne being in a particularly good
+humour, the young girl took courage and told her all about it. Far
+from scolding her, her mistress was delighted, and so pleased at
+the news that she there and then undressed Yollande and rubbed her
+from head to foot with Father Gusson's marvellous ointment. She
+did the thing thoroughly--rubbing it into every pore. Then they
+made a good fire so that the poor little model, thus exposed,
+should not take cold.
+
+After that they watched her every instant; they were for ever
+undressing her to see if the cure was working--they could hardly
+bear to wait. Just think--if it were to succeed. It would be the
+end and aim of all their care. Yollande could once again take her
+proper place in the world.
+
+At last what had happened to the head, happened to the body too.
+Before a week had gone by a thick down completely covered the big
+hen. The good women, much wondering, imagined that as it grew
+stronger the hair would change into feathers. Anxiously they
+awaited the change. Nothing of the sort happened. The hair
+remained hair--red, Titian red--fine and soft, curling round your
+fingers, admirable in quality and colour.
+
+The hair on the head, older than that on the rest of the body, was
+much longer, which suggested to the mischievous Germaine the idea
+of making her an elaborate headdress.
+
+Nothing like it had ever been seen before.
+
+Soon Yollande was able to discard some of her clothes. Her breast
+and back required for a time yet a little covering, but this grew
+gradually less and less.
+
+Naturally the phenomenon was much discussed in the neighbourhood,
+and it attracted many and delightful visitors to the farm, all of
+whom Mother Etienne welcomed cordially. Yollande was less pleased
+with this desire to inspect her. Generally some unbeliever would
+tug at her hair, a painful experience for her. So, except towards
+her mistress and Germaine, she had become exceedingly vindictive
+and watchful. Every time she had the chance she pecked with her
+short, stout beak at the person indiscreet enough to take such
+liberties. One little visitor, more daring than the rest, nearly
+lost his finger over it.
+
+The fame of the curly-haired hen was tremendous, it spread even
+beyond the limits of the district. It was really worth a journey
+to see her. They wrote of it in the newspapers. The "Daily
+Mirror," I think it was, had a fine long article about her.
+
+But in certain quarters, the whole thing was looked upon as a
+"fish story."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+
+SIR BOOUM CALLS UPON MOTHER ETIENNE
+
+
+Just about this time placards were posted about the whole village,
+announcing the arrival of a Great American Circus, bringing in its
+train the most wonderful spectacles. Menageries,--curiosities of
+all kinds, such as had not been seen since the time of the
+Caesars.
+
+Incredible things were on show. Nobody, however small their purse,
+could resist the pleasure of witnessing these sights. Nobody, that
+is, except the people in and around this village.
+
+The menagerie prepared for its performance by splendid
+processions. Caparisoned in gold the elephants marched around.
+There were horses of all colours and of all sizes, dromedaries,
+rhinoceroses, black men and white monkeys, bands of musicians,
+fairy chariots.
+
+The inhabitants saw the gorgeous procession pass with
+indifference, with a superior kind of air and without the least
+enthusiasm.
+
+On the evening of the first performance, in spite of the placards,
+processions, bands, notices, and illuminations, nobody appeared at
+the ticket-office of the theatre and they played to an empty
+house.
+
+"What," cried the impresario, tearing his hair. "Crowds flocked to
+me in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York. I have been
+congratulated by the Shah of Persia, invited to lunch by the Grand
+Turk, and this little hole despises me, mocks at me, considers me
+a failure."
+
+The lights out, Sir Booum spent a terrible night, wondering what
+evil genius could thus attack his laurels. At dawn, worn out by
+his sleepless night, he set out, eager to learn the cause of his
+failure.
+
+All those whom he met winked knowingly, laughing in their sleeves,
+and courtesied to him without giving him any information. At last
+one, touched by his despair, answered:
+
+"Why should we come to you? We have here in this very place, where
+we can see it for nothing, a marvel beside which yours are
+commonplace. Have you in your menagerie a curly-haired hen?"
+
+"A curly-haired hen!" cried Sir Booum. "Gracious, goodness me!
+What are you talking about? Three times have I been round the
+world and have never heard of such a thing."
+
+"Go to the big farm down yonder and you can see the one I am
+telling you about. You will be ashamed to think how uninteresting
+in comparison are the things you show."
+
+A few minutes later, a magnificent equipage, driven by an elegant
+gentleman and drawn by two light bays, entered the courtyard of
+the big farm.
+
+"Does Madame Etienne live here, please?" he asked Petit-Jacques,
+who was busy grooming Coco.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Will you kindly give her this card and ask if she will see me?"
+
+"Certainly, sir, at once."
+
+Petit-Jacques returned a few minutes later with Mother Etienne.
+
+The gentleman got down from his seat, handing the reins to his
+groom.
+
+"Excuse me, Madame. I am Sir Booum. It was my circus which gave
+its first performance here yesterday as announced on the placards
+posted on the walls throughout the village.
+
+I have heard, Madame, that you have a most extraordinary hen, and
+I have come to beg you to show it to me. If it is really such as
+it was described to me, I will buy it at once."
+
+"Sir," said Mother Etienne, "I am very pleased to meet you; I will
+show you Yollande as you ask, but sell her to you?--never. I love
+the dear thing far too well to part with her."
+
+"But, Madame, if I give you a large sum? How much do you ask? Name
+your figure."
+
+Mother Etienne, without answering a word, went off to fetch the
+Cochin-China hen to show to her visitor.
+
+American as he was, he was astounded and was soon convinced that
+there had been no exaggeration. This was indeed the curly-haired
+hen.
+
+"Well, Madame, how much is it to be?--$1,000, $2,000, $4,000?
+Can't you make up your mind?"
+
+"No, sir, please don't insist. I do not want to part with dear
+Yollande," and Mother Etienne, distressed and trembling, covered
+her hen with caresses.
+
+In vain the American urged. His eyes shone with the desire to
+include this marvel in his collection. He could do nothing, and
+was finally obliged to retreat.
+
+"Night brings counsel, Madame. I will return tomorrow to visit
+you, and I hope you will then decide in my favour. Until tomorrow,
+then, Madame."
+
+The gentleman bowed politely and got into his carriage. The
+equipage left the courtyard, turned onto the high road, and was
+lost in the distance in a cloud of golden dust.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+
+THE SEPARATION
+
+
+Mother Etienne was much distressed. The unexpected appearance of
+this personage, the offer of this huge sum of money, were enough
+to excite a woman more worldly-wise than she. Germaine strove to
+persuade her mistress to accept the offer.
+
+"But, my dear mistress, think of it--$4,000. It is a fortune.
+Don't let it escape you. It is a chance which will never come
+again. Think how well Yollande will be cared for. He does not mean
+to eat her at that price. Think of a stew costing $4,000. No
+indeed, the gentleman will try to keep her well as long as
+possible. It will be to his interest not to hurt her. Be sure of
+it, she will be as well cared for as she is here, if not better."
+
+Thus they talked all evening.
+
+Mother Etienne, feverishly affectionate, looked at the hen lying
+as usual asleep in the chimney corner. She could not make up her
+mind to sell her sweet Cinderella. Her affection for Yollande had
+increased with the constant care she had needed during so many
+long months. Besides, the silky tresses curling like corkscrews,
+which Germaine had kept so smooth, had been a source of amusement,
+not only to the farm but to the whole neighbourhood.
+
+That night Mother Etienne was much agitated in spite of the hot
+drink Germaine had given her. She was haunted by a horrible
+nightmare. She seemed to be lying on a bed of banknotes, whilst
+the Cochin-China, sitting heavily on her chest, reproached her
+bitterly for having handed her over to a stranger in exchange for
+a little filthy lucre. Mother Etienne, bathed in perspiration,
+seemed to suffocate under her sheets.
+
+At last dawn came, the good woman rose, her heart still terribly
+oppressed. Germaine calmed her as best she could with reassuring
+words and also with a foaming bowl of hot coffee.
+
+All morning Mother Etienne endured torments.
+
+It was three o'clock in the afternoon when suddenly the sound of a
+heavy carriage drawn by four horses was heard in the courtyard.
+Labric barked with all his might, Coco whinnied loudly, the three
+cows all mooed at the same time, and the entire poultry-yard in an
+uproar added its piercing and varied tones to the general tumult.
+The pigs especially made a great noise.
+
+It was the American's four-in-hand.
+
+He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty
+woman, exquisitely dressed in white.
+
+The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which
+served also as a reception room. On the hearth burned a small
+bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with
+fragrance. Yollande was sitting in her usual place.
+
+"Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the
+curly-haired hen?"
+
+Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.
+
+"See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000," and so
+saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums
+he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the
+astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.
+
+Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.
+
+Germaine, driven wild by this sight, began to exclaim: "Yes,
+sir,--yes, Madame. Yes, sir,--yes, Madame," and threw herself into
+the arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who
+still remained obdurate.
+
+Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne's hand, said coaxingly: "You can
+safely trust her to me. I will take care of her myself, Madame.
+With us she will become famous throughout the world. All the
+newspapers will speak of her. From your poultry-yard she will come
+into contact with the greatest courts of the world. She will be
+petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive hands. Besides all this she
+will be in good company and will have plenty to amuse her."
+
+This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the
+longed-for "Yes," which, though stifled by emotion, was seized
+upon by the American.
+
+The good woman had said "Yes," she had conquered the selfishness
+of a mother for two reasons. She did not want to prevent Yollande
+from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine
+share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had
+become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her
+of the benefit.
+
+[Illustration: Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus
+tent.]
+
+"That's all settled, then. Here's the contract," said the
+American, "you have only to sign it." And a receipt duly prepared
+was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her
+signature and a flourish. I don't know that she did not even
+embellish it with a huge blot of ink.
+
+Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande,
+who oddly enough made no resistance.
+
+"Oh please, please let me kiss her again," and, tears in her eyes,
+Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.
+
+"You will take great care of Yollande, won't you? You will send me
+news of her? Where is she to sleep to-night?"
+
+"Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared
+for her? Come with us. There is room in the carriage and I promise
+to have you brought back again at once. The camp is not far from
+here, the road is good, the horses fast, and in half an hour at
+most you will be perfectly reassured and can return with your mind
+at rest."
+
+Mother Etienne, without further thought, still guided by her
+tender maternal heart, needed no urging, but followed by the two
+Americans, walked with a brisk, firm step towards the carriage.
+Suddenly changing her mind, she said:
+
+"Will you just let me change my dress? I can't very well go out
+like this."
+
+She went to her room, an idea having entered her head, and soon
+returned very neatly dressed with a little basket in her hand.
+
+The steps were adjusted and the three people took their places on
+top, whilst Yollande, wrapped in soft woollen covers, was
+carefully placed inside, in a basket provided for that very
+purpose.
+
+When Germaine saw her mistress start off she would have liked to
+go with her, but the farm needed her attention. Besides, Miss
+Booum's promise of seats for the next performance quite consoled
+her.
+
+The carriage made a curve in the yard, went through the gate, and
+soon disappeared, bearing the two new travellers. As Miss Booum
+had said, it did not take more than half an hour to reach the
+camp, the cobs went so quickly.
+
+On the way Mother Etienne met many acquaintances to whom she waved
+a simple but cordial greeting. In most cases the carriage was
+already out of sight before they recovered sufficiently from their
+astonishment to wave back.
+
+It was a nine days' wonder.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+
+SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS
+
+
+Our travellers came in sight of the circus. Imagine, children, a
+huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets,
+houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels
+enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the
+centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up
+and down.
+
+There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men,
+little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with
+goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in
+fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit
+every possible taste.
+
+All the most curious specimens were represented. Besides these
+there was a colossal menagerie. In it there were more than twenty
+elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, zebras,
+dromedaries, camels, and the rarest kinds of antelopes. Then came
+the reptiles,--from the boa constrictor, who was ten yards long,
+to the smallest blind-worm, amongst them some of the most
+dangerous kinds. Crocodiles twenty feet long, monstrous toads,
+tortoises as big as donkeys. Then there were the wild beasts too.
+Lions from Abyssinia, from Atlas, tigers from Bengal, from Persia,
+jaguars, panthers, leopards, all the big cat family, lynx, onca,
+tiger cat. Bears of all kinds, grizzly, grey, black, and white.
+Then came wolves, foxes, coyotes, in fact the whole series of the
+dog tribe with every possible domestic variety.
+
+In little barred cages was a collection of smaller carnivorous
+animals and rodents. In a huge room all the monkeys from the big
+gorilla to the minute ouistiti or witsit, were installed; they
+squabbled, pulled one another's tails, bit one another, uttered
+piercing cries. There were constant battles going on in that
+corner.
+
+Then in an immense aviary were all the birds of creation, divided
+into classes, from the humming-bird, the size of a hornet, to the
+ostrich. This was, to tell the truth, the part that interested
+Mother Etienne most of all. She was more used to creatures of this
+kind, they reminded her of her beloved poultry-yard. In spite of
+the signs put up everywhere, "Do not feed the animals," the good
+woman who had purposely filled her basket with cakes threw them in
+indiscriminately. There were enough for all the animals she
+passed. First she threw some to the lions. The lions took no
+notice, at which she was most surprised. Her idea in offering the
+cakes was to see if the animals were hungry and to find out that
+way how they were treated.
+
+Miss Booum, who was acting as her guide, was much amused at her
+astonishment and could not resist saying:
+
+"Madame, to offer a cream bun to a tiger is like offering a
+beef-steak to an elephant. Just keep your cakes for the ostriches,
+they are so greedy that they will eat stones. If they were to keep
+a hardware store they would be certain to eat up their stock."
+
+Pleased at this permission, when she came to the ostriches, Mother
+Etienne offered them a cake, but they looked down at it very
+haughtily and suspiciously. From this she concluded that even
+those birds were so well-fed that they were not hungry and felt
+quite satisfied about Yollande.
+
+After half an hour's walk through the circus, having visited every
+corner of it, they went towards the manager's house. There five
+o'clock tea was served. Mother Etienne, quite at ease, did honour
+to the lunch so graciously provided, and after thanking Miss Booum
+gratefully, she kissed Yollande very tenderly and prepared to
+return to the farm.
+
+At a sign from the young American girl, a stout piebald pony,
+harnessed to a trap, was led forward by a groom.
+
+"That is my own carriage and my horse Charlie, which you can drive
+yourself, Madame, if you like. He is quick and safe, you may be
+sure of that. You will be at home again in less time than it took
+to come here with four horses. Farewell, dear Madame, a pleasant
+drive. Remember that we expect you tomorrow for the afternoon
+performance, and that nice little maid of yours too. Your seats
+will be reserved."
+
+The two women shook hands cordially, Mother Etienne got into the
+carriage, and took the reins. The pony feeling a hand used to
+driving, set off at a quick trot, then warming to his work flew
+over the ground. He had the paces of a big horse and had to be
+kept well in hand.
+
+Mother Etienne soon reached home delighted with her adventure. She
+was assailed by questions from Germaine and Petit-Jacques. They
+sat there drinking in her words. Mother Etienne told them as best
+she could all that had happened and all that she had seen in the
+most secret wings of the gigantic circus. Germaine in her
+excitement was forgetful enough to let the soup boil over and the
+roast burn, but all the same they dined gaily. There were still
+plenty of questions to be asked. Mother Etienne had to go over
+every detail and even to tell some stories over again. They went
+on talking far into the night--so charmed were the listeners at
+the recital.
+
+Nobody thought of going to bed. Germaine was longing for the
+morrow, she was so anxious to see for herself this fairyland.
+
+At last, midnight striking, reminded Mother Etienne that it was
+time for sleep. Then they all went to bed, each head full of the
+wonders of tomorrow's performance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S DREAM
+
+
+Mother Etienne was very restless again that night, haunted, not by
+a dreadful nightmare as before, but by a troublesome dream.
+Everything she had just seen at Sir Booum's appeared before her,
+the tiniest incidents, the least important details.
+
+All the explanations, concerning the creatures in the menagerie
+given her by the trainer, came back to her, like an object lesson
+in a curious dream.
+
+The principal person in it was Yollande. Yollande as Barnum,
+Yollande as trainer, Yollande holding in one hairy wing a stout
+whip, in the other the pitchfork as a protection against claws and
+teeth.
+
+"You see here," said Yollande in a loud voice, "you see here the
+wild ox from Madagascar, which takes the place of the horse. In
+that country he is harnessed to small, light vehicles which he
+draws along rapidly. This other is a buffalo from Caffraria. He is
+a Jack-of-all-trades, sometimes ridden, sometimes driven,
+sometimes laden, sometimes yoked to the plough. Those big striped
+animals you see yonder are giraffes. Their long necks permit them,
+without having recourse to a ladder, to eat the young shoots of
+the mimosa, of which they are very fond, as well as the fresh
+dates which usually grow at the tops of the palm-trees."
+
+In this kind of dream a strange idea was at work in the brain of
+the sleeper. With these object lessons were mingled strange,
+quaint asides.
+
+"If children had long necks like that, one couldn't keep the
+jam-pots out of their way by putting them on the top shelves of
+the cupboard."
+
+"There," went on Yollande, "are the elephants. They are used for
+all sorts of tasks. Their trunks, a continuation of their
+nostrils, serve both for breathing and holding. It is, as it were,
+an extremely sensitive and powerful hand."
+
+"Great goodness me," cried Mother Etienne; "imagine having a hand
+at the end of your nose! Would it have a glove on it and rings on
+its fingers?"
+
+All sorts of ridiculous ideas like that came into her head. The
+little beaver, who builds his houses all along the Canadian
+streams, appeared trowel in hand, mortar-board on his head, and
+Mother Etienne felt most anxious to have his valuable assistance
+in repairing her barns and mills. Dear little marabout, how useful
+you would be in the village, sweeping the streets, cleaning up the
+refuse, advance-guard of the street-cleaner with his, "Now then,
+everything into the gutter."
+
+"The antelopes are very silly, coquettish creatures to wear such
+long boas round their necks in this warm country. But, after all,
+perhaps they are wise enough, for they have chosen a kind which,
+unlike our make of furs, is cold to the touch."
+
+Yollande, in her rôle of trainer, went on and on like a brook.
+
+"Here, now, is a dromedary. He has a hump on his back, a fatty
+exerescence which enables him to bear much fatigue, without eating
+or drinking for several days. It is owing to this fat, rather like
+a box of provisions on his back, that he can traverse hot and
+sandy deserts where it would be difficult to find a single blade
+of grass to eat."
+
+Then through the farm bedroom passed long caravans of camels, led
+by carnival Arabs, their humps changed into gigantic larders in
+which rattled all sorts of canned things. Canned salmon, Russian
+caviare, dried biscuits, smoked meats, tongues, sardines, canned
+peas, foies-gras, lobsters, and fruits, in fact all those things
+which Mother Etienne had seen piled up in many-coloured pyramids
+at the best grocery stores. Really it was too ridiculous.--Miss
+Booum must have been making fun of her visitor.--That couldn't
+really be the best food for camels.
+
+It was still worse when it came to the turn of the hippopotami. A
+thousand ill-digested memories from the illustrated papers were in
+her mind, all mixed up. Where did the Nile and the Zanzibar flow?
+Which was it that separated Egypt from Senegal? And the gigantic
+hippopotamus, looking perfectly huge and out-of-place in a gondola
+fit for a sultana, appeared to her, floating down the calm stream,
+a red fez with a golden star on his head, puffing away at a
+peculiar double-bowled pipe, the pride of the collection of a
+retired police-officer in the village, who had it from the real
+cousin of a sea-captain from Marseilles.
+
+"Do you see those little lumps there enclosed between four boards?
+It is a nest of land-tortoises. The largest, called the Giant
+tortoise, easily supports on its back a weight of two hundred
+pounds. This shell which weighs so heavily is its house. At the
+least alarm, it retreats into its house and stays there, till all
+danger is past." This plan of walking about with your house on
+your back seemed rather a good one to Mother Etienne. You could go
+out on rainy days without getting wet, and on cold days it would
+keep your back nice and warm.
+
+"Near at hand is a collection of mammals, the kangaroo family. The
+kangaroo is the largest mammal of Australia. It is generally a
+peace-loving animal, but bites, scratches, and claws if it is
+teased. Its best defence however is flight." All these technical
+details left the good woman cold. What she remembered best were
+the practical qualities of the creatures. The kangaroo has one
+very great peculiarity, the female has a pouch, a sort of bag, in
+which she hides her young if danger appears, just as the soldier
+has his knapsack.
+
+For the first time in her life Mother Etienne was much struck
+By certain resemblances between animals and human beings,
+finding in them actions, looks, and habits which reminded her
+irresistibly of many of her acquaintances. It was amongst the
+monkeys that it was the most marked. Two chimpanzees, with pensive
+faces garbed in black, seemed to be mourning some beloved
+relative. It was as though their sad but shining eyes, gazing at
+the straw which half-covered them, were seeking something hidden,
+intangible.
+
+A family of big African monkeys, by their challenging, crafty air,
+reminded her unpleasantly of a band of good-for-nothings who for
+months had spread terror and desolation throughout the country.
+The chief--or the one who appeared to be the chief--the biggest
+and strongest, hurled himself at the bars and shook them in his
+clenched hands. He would certainly have enjoyed strangling Mother
+Etienne, had he been able to do so. Since he was not able to, he
+displayed in a huge yawn, a terrifying set of teeth, worthy of a
+wild beast. They were horrid animals, I assure you, not the kind
+you would like to meet loose on a lonely road.
+
+Fortunately some pretty little witsits, with black faces, no
+bigger than your fist, and white and grey ruffles, whistling like
+blackbirds, by their pretty tricks did away with the bad
+impression made by these sinister neighbours.
+
+[Illustration: Cake Walk; Mother Etienne's dream.]
+
+This one was a regular little mother, that one had just been
+sweeping out the yard, another was the living image of the Count's
+servant when he followed his master on his walks, carrying under
+his arm a shawl or a sunshade. An orang-outang, an elderly
+peasant, whose four big hands were clasped, suggested to her how
+useful it would be to have a helper like that to milk the cows. It
+would go twice as fast with four hands. What a lot of precious
+time it would save.
+
+And many other queer things came into her head. That yowling dog,
+that sharp-faced rabbit, are the type who come on fair-days to cry
+their papers, sell their toys, etc.--a noisy, rough crew. Goodness
+gracious! Where was Mother Etienne's absurd dream leading her?
+She, whose life was always so calm, and who, to tell the truth,
+with Germaine, were rather like the two little monkeys at the
+corner of the fire-place, hands clasped under their aprons, feet
+on foot-warmers, and little pointed handkerchiefs on their heads.
+
+At this personal picture everything turned as though by
+enchantment into one huge, vast medley, which ended in a general
+cake-walk of the whole menagerie, passing before the tired eyes of
+Mother Etienne, roaring, bellowing, mewing, whistling, howling,
+whinnying, and braying. Poor Mother Etienne was thoroughly
+exhausted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S FORTUNE
+
+
+When she woke up the good woman thought of her small fortune. She
+gave it for safe keeping into the hands of her lawyer, M. La
+Plume, while she was making up her mind how she should dispose of
+it. She wanted plenty of time to think it over. She had already
+decided to give Germaine a dowry, for the whole thing was largely
+owing to her. She knew that she and Petit-Jacques were in love.
+
+"They will make a fine couple," she thought, "and later on how
+pleased I shall be to have a nice family around me--with dear
+children who will love and care for me."
+
+Then she thought of Père Gusson--the good old man could have no
+idea of all that had happened at the farm. He was going his
+rounds, selling his wares as best he could. It was three months
+since he had appeared, he would be back again before long--he had
+already been away longer than usual.
+
+And, sure enough, two days later Neddy announced his entrance into
+the courtyard with a loud bray. If his master was glad to see
+Mother Etienne who always received him so cordially, and who
+bought so much from him, the donkey fully appreciated the hours of
+rest and the good food he found in the paddock with the cows.
+
+Mother Etienne went forward to meet the old man and gaily told him
+the whole story.
+
+He, utterly astounded, could not at first believe it. He made her
+repeat the wonder over and over again. It certainly was a very
+curious thing. He had always known his ointment was effective,
+but--as to making hair grow on a hen--that was quite another
+thing. He was just petrified by it.
+
+Mother Etienne told Germaine to serve some good cider, and all
+three drank to one another's healths.
+
+"That is not all," said Mother Etienne, "I want you to have a
+share in my good fortune. That's only fair. You have worked all
+your life, you must think of taking a rest. You have certainly
+earned it. Here is a check for $2,000 which my lawyer, M. La
+Plume, will cash for you. This sum, together with what you have
+saved, will be enough to buy a little house and garden and to keep
+you from want. If one is wise and knows how to manage, one can
+live here for very little."
+
+Father Gusson, quite upset and touched, could not find words to
+thank dear, kind Mother Etienne. It was as though he had
+unexpectedly won the big prize in the lottery. He could hardly
+believe his eyes and ears.
+
+Soon he pulled himself together and began to calculate.
+
+"I have a few savings, it is true, but I think it would be wise to
+take advantage of the fame of the ointment and double my small
+fortune. I hope that, thanks to the already widespread fame of
+Yollande, if (with your kind permission) I were to call my
+ointment, 'Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen' I should have
+considerable success."
+
+"Not only am I quite willing, but I thoroughly approve of your
+idea and strongly advise you to carry it out," replied Mother
+Etienne warmly.
+
+No sooner said than done.
+
+Father Gusson withdrew from the notary the sum, so fairly
+But generously given him, and spent his time henceforth in
+manufacturing (according to the recipe of his ancestors) the
+wonderful ointment. He filled a great quantity of jars of all
+sizes, and like the good business man he was, having adorned them
+with magnificent labels he doubled the price of the ointment and
+put on a trade mark so as to prohibit imitations. Then he bought a
+cart like Mother Etienne's and harnessed Neddy to it. On the hood
+of the cart was a huge picture of a Curly-Haired Hen, and under it
+was the inscription, "Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen." Now the
+peddler could go his rounds, selling only this specialty, without
+need of further advertisement. The effect was magic. Doors,
+hitherto too often closed against him, opened wide at his coming
+and there was not a soul who did not buy quite a lot of it.
+
+In a month and without effort, Father Gusson took in ten times
+more money than he had earned in all his long and hardworking life
+before.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+
+TRIUMPH OF THE OINTMENT
+
+
+The craze of the public for this new preparation was
+extraordinary. A china factory, about to close its doors, made a
+fortune out of manufacturing jars for it. Of course all the bald
+people bought it. Everyone expected it to work miracles. The women
+with tow-coloured rat-tails expected to grow luxuriant black
+tresses and others with coarse scrubby black hair dreamed of
+having fine soft golden braids.
+
+A very rich land-owner, who did not care how much he spent, rubbed
+with it the back of his mangy dog, and his horse's tail, which was
+growing somewhat thin.
+
+The mayor even, they tell me, put a thick layer of it onto his
+wig, which was beginning to wear out. The district was steeped in
+it, the air seemed to smell of musk.
+
+Alas! everything has its bad side. The good side of this was for
+the merchant alone, who, though he guaranteed his wares for human
+beings, refused any further responsibility. The bad side was
+for the hens and ducks. (I believe even the geese suffered
+occasionally.) I can't tell you how many people, knowing all about
+the effect it had had on Yollande and the resultant fortune, tried
+to duplicate the famous Curly-Haired Hen, bought by Sir Booum.
+
+In the poultry-yards around, the hens for several months had a
+pretty bad time. They were nearly all plucked and rubbed with the
+ointment. It was a craze, a rage with the farmers, and those hens
+who could retain a vestige of their plumage esteemed themselves
+fortunate.
+
+It was a sad sight to see all the feathered creatures fly at the
+sight of a human being. They knew by bitter experience what to
+expect. Alas! with all these attempts with roosters, chickens,
+ducks, and turkeys, none had the desired effect. They long
+remained scented and devoid of plumage, that was all. We must take
+it that no subject as good as Yollande presented itself. Nature
+makes these queer incomprehensible distinctions, you know, which
+we just can't understand. There was _one_ Curly-Haired Hen,
+there was to be no other! For, since her metamorphosis, for a
+reason unknown to this day, the Curly-Haired Hen absolutely
+refused to lay eggs. This was, I must confess, a great
+disappointment to Sir Booum. Like the good American he was, he
+would have liked to continue the race.
+
+He had perforce to content himself with portraits of her from the
+pen of M. Vimar. One of these was sent, affectionately dedicated
+by Yollande, to her good Mother Etienne, who regards it as her
+greatest treasure, and keeps it, elegantly framed, above the
+mantelpiece in her bedroom. Never a day passes but the good woman
+looks at it with tender, motherly affection.
+
+Father Gusson is now the owner of a pretty little house and
+cultivates his own garden, in which is a corner reserved for
+Neddy, for he too has earned his rest.
+
+Germaine, to whom her mistress and adopted mother gave a good
+dowry, has just married Petit-Jacques, quartermaster, lately
+returned from his military service.
+
+It is hard to tell which is the happiest. The wedding was
+performed with much ceremony. The whole village was present, and
+amongst the various healths drunk they did not omit that of the
+"Curly-Haired Hen."
+
+Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, you
+will certainly have your reward.
+
+
+
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Curly-Haired Hen, by Auguste Vimar
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+  <title>The Curly-Haired Hen</title>
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Curly-Haired Hen, by Auguste Vimar
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Curly-Haired Hen
+
+Author: Auguste Vimar
+
+Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13302]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Hagen von Eitzen and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
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+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/cover.jpg"><img src="images/cover-tn.jpg"
+ alt="Cover: THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN" />
+</a>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/i001.png"><img src="images/i001-tn.png"
+ alt="Yollande appears emerging from her shroud." />
+</a>
+<p>Yollande appears emerging from her shroud.</p>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<h1><span class="pgnum">i</span><a id="Pagei" name="Pagei"/>THE<br/>
+CURLY-HAIRED HEN</h1>
+<p class="front"><big>TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS</big><br/>
+BY<br/>
+<big><big>A. VIMAR</big></big></p>
+<p class="front">TRANSLATED BY<br/>
+<big>NORA K. HILLS</big></p>
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/i002.png"><img src="images/i002-tn.png"
+ alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<p><span class="pgnum">ii</span><a id="Pageii" name="Pageii"/></p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">iii</span><a id="Pageiii" name="Pageiii"/><a href="images/i004.png"><img
+ src="images/i004-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page001">CHAPTER I<br/>
+Mother Etienne's Farm</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page010">CHAPTER II<br/>
+A Mother's Devotion</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page022">CHAPTER III<br/>
+Yollande's Trousseau</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page037">CHAPTER IV<br/>
+Father Gusson's Secret</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page047">CHAPTER V<br/>
+Sir Booum Calls upon Mother Etienne</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page054">CHAPTER VI<br/>
+The Separation</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page062">CHAPTER VII<br/>
+Sir Booum's Circus</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><span class="pgnum">iv</span><a id="Pageiv" name="Pageiv"/><a href="#Page071">CHAPTER
+VIII<br/>
+Mother Etienne's Dream</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page085">CHAPTER IX<br/>
+Mother Etienne's Fortune</a></p>
+<p class="cont"><a href="#Page090">CHAPTER X<br/>
+Triumph of the Ointment</a></p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="front"/>
+<div class="figureL"><span class="pgnum">1</span><a id="Page001" name="Page001"/>
+<a href="images/i006.png"><img src="images/i006-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S FARM</h3>
+<p>"Oh Grandfather, tell us a story, do. You know, the one you began
+the other evening about Mother Etienne's big farm. You remember.
+The weather is so bad and we can't go out. Go on, Grandfather,
+please."</p>
+<p>Coaxingly the three children clung round their grandfather,
+looking at him beseechingly. He adoring the children as he did,
+loved to hear them plead.
+</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">2</span><a id="Page002" name="Page002"/>At last he began:</p>
+<p>Since you have been very good, and you want it so much, I will
+tell you the wonderful story of Mother Etienne's farm and the
+still more wonderful story of what happened to one of its
+occupants.</p>
+<p>Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, and you
+will surely have your reward.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne was a good stout woman with a very kind heart.
+While still young she was so unfortunate as to lose her husband
+and her son of whom she was very fond. This made her, as you can
+imagine, very, very sad. She wouldn't listen to any new offers of
+marriage though she had plenty of them. Instead, she devoted her
+life, her whole existence, to the attentive, nay I ought to say,
+the maternal care, of the animals on her farm, making them as
+comfortable as could be.</p>
+<p>She had, as I said before, a most excellent heart, the good Mother
+Etienne. You shall see that presently.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i007.png"><img src="images/i007-tn.png"
+ alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>This good woman then lived on
+her big farm, very spacious and
+admirably situated. A slate roof covered the large house; the
+granaries,<span class="pgnum">3</span><a id="Page003" name="Page003"/>
+stables and outhouses were sheltered by old thatching upon which
+grew moss and lichen.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i008.png"><img src="images/i008-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Let me tell you now, dear children, who were the chief occupants
+of the farm. First there was big "Coco"&#8212;a fine Normandy
+horse&#8212;bay-coloured and very fat, whose silky coat had a purple sheen;
+he
+had a star on his forehead and a pink mark between his eyes. He
+was very gentle and answered to the voice of his mistress. If
+Mother Etienne passed by his stable he never failed to scent her
+and whinnied at once. That was his way of showing his friendliness
+and saying</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">4</span><a id="Page004" name="Page004"/>"Good morning."</p>
+<p>His good mistress spoiled him with all sorts of dainties.
+Sometimes a crust of bread, sometimes a handful of carrots, but
+what he loved best of all was sugar. If you had given him a whole
+loaf he would soon have eaten it up.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i009.png"><img src="images/i009-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Coco had for stable companions three fine Swiss cows. Their names
+were La Blonde, Blanchotte, and Nera. You know what the colours
+were for the names, don't you?</p>
+<p>Petit-Jacques, the stable boy, took care of them. On fine<span
+ class="pgnum">5</span>
+days he led them to pasture into a bog paddock near the farm up
+against a pretty wood of silver beeches. A large pond of clear
+water covered one corner of the meadow and lost itself in the
+reeds and iris. There the fine big cows went to quench their
+thirst; quantities of frogs went there, too, to play leap-frog. It
+was a veritable earthly Paradise.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i010.png"><img src="images/i010-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">6</span><a id="Page006" name="Page006"/>
+<a href="images/i011a.png"><img src="images/i011a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>From the farm Mother Etienne caught the sound of the large bronze
+bells each with its different low note, which hung round the necks
+of the cows; thus she could superintend their comings and goings
+without interrupting her various occupations. For the farm was
+very big, as I told you, and had many animals on it.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i011b.png"><img src="images/i011b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>After the stables and coachhouses came the piggery, the rabbit
+hutches, and finally an immense poultry-yard divided into a
+thousand compartments, and sheltering a whole horde of poultry of
+all sorts; fowls of all kinds and of all breeds, geese,
+guineafowl, pigeons, ducks, and what all besides. What wasn't
+there in that prodigious poultry-yard? <span class="pgnum">7</span><a id="Page007" name="Page007"/>
+</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne spent most of her time there, for the smaller and
+more delicate the creatures the more interest and care she gave
+them.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i012.png"><img src="images/i012-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"The weak need so much protection," this excellent woman would
+say, and she was right.</p>
+<p>So for the baby ducks her tenderness was limitless. What dangers
+had to be avoided to raise successfully all these tiny folks!</p>
+<p>Did a pig escape? Immediately danger threatened the
+<span class="pgnum">8</span><a id="Page008" name="Page008"/>
+poultry-yard. For a pig has terrible teeth and he doesn't care
+what he eats&#8212;he would as soon crunch a little duckling as a
+carrot. So she had to watch every minute, every second even. For
+besides, in spite of the vigilance of "Labrie," the faithful
+watchdog, sometimes rats would suck the blood of the young
+pigeons. Once even a whole litter of rabbits was destroyed that
+way.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i013a.png"><img src="images/i013a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>To dispose of the products of her farm, Mother Etienne drove twice
+a week to market in her market-cart drawn by Coco.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i013b.png"><img src="images/i013b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>She was famed for the best vegetables, the purest and creamiest
+milk; in short, the eggs she sold were the freshest, the poultry
+and rabbits the tenderest and most juicy to be had.
+<span class="pgnum">9</span><a id="Page009" name="Page009"/>
+As soon as she and Coco came trotting into the market there was a
+rush to get to her first.</p>
+<p>There, as everywhere, everyone loved Mother Etienne.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i014.png"><img src="images/i014-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">10</span><a id="Page010" name="Page010"/>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>A MOTHER'S DEVOTION</h3>
+<p>Thus time passed peacefully at the big farm.</p>
+<p>One day, however, the quiet was disturbed by a little drama which
+convulsed the calm but busy spot.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne had given to a Cochin-China hen, which she had
+christened Yollande, some white duck's eggs to sit on. The batch
+of fifteen eggs had all come out. It was really wonderful to see
+these fifteen baby ducks, yellow as canaries, beaks and webbed
+feet pink, swarming around the big patient sitting mother, ducking
+under her wings, to come out presently and clamber helter-skelter
+onto her broad back. As often happens with nurses, Yollande loved
+the ducklings as her own children, and without worrying about
+their shape or plumage, so different from her own, she showered
+upon them proofs of the tenderest affection. Did a fly pass within
+their reach, all these little ones jumped at it&#8212;tumbling in their
+efforts to catch it. The little yellow balls with their wide-awake
+air never took a second's rest.</p>
+<p>Well cared for and well fed, they grew so rapidly that soon they
+had to have more space. Mother Etienne housed them then on the
+edge of the pond in a latticed coop opening onto a sloping board
+which led down to the water. It was, as it were, a big swimming
+bath, which grew gradually deeper and deeper. The ducks and geese
+loved to plunge in and hardly left the water except to take their
+meals.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">11</span><a id="Page011" name="Page011"/>Yollande felt very
+out of place in this new dwelling. The
+ducklings on the contrary, urged on by their instinct, madly
+enjoyed it and rushed pell-mell into the water.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i016.png"><img src="images/i016-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>This inexplicable impulse terrified their mama. She was, in fact,
+"as mad as a wet hen."</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">12</span><a id="Page012" name="Page012"/><a href="images/i017a.png"><img src="images/i017a-tn.png"
+ alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i017b.png"><img src="images/i017b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>She ran up and down, her feathers on end, her face swollen, her
+crest red, clucking away, trying to persuade her babies not to
+venture into the water. For hens, like cats, hate the water. It
+was unspeakable torture to her. The children would not listen;
+deaf to her prayers, her cries, these rascally babies ventured
+farther and farther out. They were at last and for the first time
+in their favourite element, lighter than little corks, they<span
+ class="pgnum">13</span>
+floated, dived, plunged, raced, fought, playing all sorts of
+tricks.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i018.png"><img src="images/i018-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Meanwhile, Yollande was eating her heart out. She rushed to and
+fro, keeping her eyes glued on the disobedient ones. Suddenly she
+saw a mother-duck chasing her darlings. This was more than she
+could bear,&#8212;driven by her maternal instinct she leapt like a fury
+to the aid of her family.</p>
+<p>A flap or two of her wings and she was above the water into which
+she fell at the deepest part.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">14</span><a id="Page014" name="Page014"/>Splashing,&#8212;struggling
+madly in the midst of her frightened
+brood,&#8212;she was soon exhausted and succumbing to syncope, she sank
+to the bottom.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i019.png"><img src="images/i019-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The surface of the water closed above her. The little ones did not
+realize what had happened&#8212;very quickly recovering from their
+momentary fright, they went on with their games&#8212;splashing the
+water with their beaks and amusing themselves as though nothing
+were the matter.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne, busy giving green apples to the pigs, bran to the
+rabbits, and corn to the pigeons, came back presently,
+<span class="pgnum">15</span><a id="Page015" name="Page015"/>
+and could not see the big Yollande beside the pond, only her
+children floating far, far away on the water. Surprised she drew
+nearer, called, but in vain. The mother-hen had disappeared. Then
+only did she understand the tragedy that had occurred. She called
+for help. Petit-Jacques immediately opened the big sluice and the
+water ran out, but much too slowly for their impatience. At last
+they began to see the bottom, and soon the body of poor Yollande
+was discovered stiff and motionless.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i020.png"><img src="images/i020-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>There was general consternation at the farm. Petit-Jacques, by
+means of a long pole, seized her and drew her to land at Mother
+Etienne's feet. Labrie came up and sniffed sadly at the
+<span class="pgnum">16</span><a id="Page016" name="Page016"/>
+body of the unhappy hen. In vain they dried her and rubbed her,&#8212;nothing
+did any good.</p>
+<p>"She's quite dead, alas," said Mother Etienne with tears in her
+eyes, "but it was my own fault. I ought to have closed down the
+lattice and this misfortune would not have happened. It really is
+a great pity&#8212;such a fine hen. She weighs at least eight pounds.
+There, Germaine, take her and weigh her."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i021.png"><img src="images/i021-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Germaine was the maid and also the cousin of Petit-Jacques&#8212;of
+whom she was very fond. She was a fine buxom girl of eighteen,
+strong and well-grown. She loved animals, too, but her feeling for
+them could not be compared to Mother Etienne's.</p>
+<p>"Germaine, take away poor Yollande, I am quite upset
+<span class="pgnum">17</span><a id="Page017" name="Page017"/>by this trouble. You
+will bury her this evening, in a corner of
+the kitchen-garden&#8212;deep enough to prevent any animal digging her
+up. I leave it to you&#8212;do it carefully."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i022.png"><img src="images/i022-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p><span class="pgnum">18</span><a id="Page018" name="Page018"/>The girl bore away the fine hen in her
+apron. "How heavy she is&#8212;it
+is a shame," and blowing apart the feathers, she saw the skin
+underneath as yellow and plump as you could wish. Mechanically she
+plucked a few feathers.</p>
+<p>"After all," she said, "it isn't as though she had died&#8212;she was
+drowned, quite a clean death; she's firm and healthy, only an hour
+ago she was as strong and well as could be. Why shouldn't we eat
+her?&#8212;We'll stew her because, though she is not old, she is not
+exactly in her first youth&#8212;but there's a lot on her&#8212;with a
+dressing of carrots and nutmeg, a bunch of herbs and a tomato,
+with a calf's foot to make a good jelly, I believe she'd make a
+lovely dinner."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i023.png"><img src="images/i023-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Saying this she went on plucking Yollande. All the feathers, large
+and small, gone, a little down was left, so to get rid of this she
+lit an old newspaper and held her over it.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">19</span><a id="Page019" name="Page019"/>
+<a href="images/i024.png"><img src="images/i024-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Madame won't know anything and will enjoy her as much as we
+shall. There's enough on her for two good meals."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">20</span><a id="Page020" name="Page020"/>
+Quite decided, instead of burying her, she wrapped the future stew
+carefully in a perfectly clean cloth and put it on a shelf in the
+kitchen out of the way of flies or accident.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i025.png"><img src="images/i025-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>During this time Mother Etienne was busy making as warm a home as
+she could for the fifteen little orphans. Poor darlings. In a
+wicker-basket she covered a layer of straw with another of wadding
+and fine down. Upon this she put the ducklings one by one, and
+covered the whole with feathers; then closing the lid, she carried
+the basket to the stable where the air was always
+<span class="pgnum">21</span><a id="Page021" name="Page021"/>
+nice and warm. All this took time; it was about six o'clock in the
+evening, the sun was going down, throwing a last oblique smile
+into the kitchen, gleaming here and there on the shining copper
+which hung on the walls.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i026.png"><img src="images/i026-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">22</span><a id="Page022" name="Page022"/>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>YOLLANDE'S TROUSSEAU</h3>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i027.png"><img src="images/i027-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>As for Germaine, she, with Petit-Jacques to help her, had gone to
+milk the cows. Mother Etienne soon joined them, and the two women
+came back to the house together.</p>
+<p>Horror of horrors! What a terrible sight. Pale with fear they
+stood on the threshold of the kitchen not daring to move&#8212;to
+enter. Their hearts were in their mouths. A ghost stood there in
+front of them&#8212;Yollande&#8212;and Germaine fell at Mother Etienne's
+feet in utter consternation. Yollande? Yes, Yollande, but what a
+Yollande! Heavens! Yollande plucked, literally plucked! Yollande
+emerging from her shroud like Lazarus from his tomb! Yollande
+risen from the dead! A cry of anguish burst from the heart of kind
+Mother Etienne.</p>
+<p>"Yollande, oh, Yollande!"</p>
+<p>The Cochin-China replied by a long shudder.</p>
+<p>This is what had happened.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">23</span><a id="Page023" name="Page023"/>
+<a href="images/i028.png"><img src="images/i028-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>On falling into the water, Yollande after struggling fiercely
+succumbed to syncope, and her lungs ceasing to act she had ceased
+to breathe, so the water had not entered her lungs. That is why
+she was not drowned. Life was, so to speak, suspended. The syncope
+lasted some time. The considerable heat to which she was subjected
+when Germaine held her above the flaming newspaper had brought
+about a healthy reaction and in the solitude of the kitchen she
+had recovered consciousness.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">24</span><a id="Page024" name="Page024"/>After the first
+moment of terror was over, Germaine confessed her
+plan to Mother Etienne, who, glad to find Yollande still alive,
+forgave Germaine the disobedience which had saved her.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i029.png"><img src="images/i029-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>But the hen was still shivering, shaking in every limb, her skin
+all goose-flesh. Dragging after her her travesty of a tail, she
+jumped onto the kitchen-table which she shook with her shivering.</p>
+<p>"We can't leave her like that any longer," said Mother Etienne,
+"we must cover her up somehow," and straightway she wrapped her up
+in all the cloths she could lay her hands on. Germaine prepared some
+hot wine with sugar in it, and the two women fed her with it
+in spoonfuls,&#8212;then they took a good
+<span class="pgnum">25</span><a id="Page025" name="Page025"/>
+drink of it themselves. All three at once felt the better for it.
+Yollande spent the night in these hastily-made swaddling clothes
+between two foot-warmers which threw out a gentle and continuous
+heat and kept away the catarrh with which the poor Cochin-China
+was threatened. The great question which arose now was how they
+were to protect her from the cold in future. Both of them
+cogitated over it.</p>
+<p>Several times during the night, Mother Etienne and the maid came
+to look at the hen, who, worn out by such a long day of fatigue
+and suffering, at last closed her eyes, relaxed, and slept till
+morning.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i030.png"><img src="images/i020-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Nevertheless she was the first in the house to wake up, and at
+dawn began to cackle vigorously. Germaine hastened to her,
+bringing a quantity of corn which the hen, doubtless owing to her
+fast of the day before, ate greedily.
+<span class="pgnum">26</span><a id="Page026" name="Page026"/>
+</p>
+<p>Now the important thing was to find her a practical costume. The
+weather was mild but there was great danger in allowing her to
+wander about in a garb as light as it was primitive. The mornings
+and evenings were cool and might bring on a cold, inflammation or
+congestion of the lungs, rheumatism, or what not.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i031.png"><img src="images/i031-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>At all costs a new misfortune must be avoided. At last they
+dressed her in silk cunningly fashioned and lined with wadding.
+Thus garbed her entry into the poultry-yard was a subject<span
+ class="pgnum">27</span>
+of astonishment to some, fear to others, and excitement to most of
+the birds she met on her way.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i032a.png"><img src="images/i032a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i032b.png"><img src="images/i032b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>In vain Mother Etienne strove to tone down the colours of
+<span class="pgnum">28</span><a id="Page028" name="Page028"/>
+the stuffs, to modify the cut of the garments, but Yollande long
+remained an object of surprise and antipathy to the majority of
+the poultry.</p>
+<p>The scandal soon reached its climax.</p>
+<p>"That hen must be mad," said an old duck to his wife.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i033.png"><img src="images/i033-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Just imagine dressing up like that; she'll come along one of
+these days in a bathing suit," cried a young rooster who prided
+himself on his wit.</p>
+<p>A young turkey tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them
+<span class="pgnum">29</span><a id="Page029" name="Page029"/>
+off, and all the others looked on laughing and hurling insults....
+They vied with one another in sarcastic speeches. At last, after a
+time, as the saying goes, "Familiarity bred contempt." The fear
+which her companions had felt at first soon changed into a
+familiarity often too great for the unhappy Cochin-China. They
+tried to see who could play her the shabbiest trick. Hens are
+often as cruel as men, which is saying a great deal.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i034.png"><img src="images/i034-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Poor Yollande, in spite of her size, her solidity, and strength,
+nearly always emerged half-dressed. Her companions could not stand
+her dressed like that, the sight of her irritated them. Not
+content with tearing her clothes they often pecked at the poor
+creature as well.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne did her best to improve these costumes in every
+way&#8212;but it was as impossible to find perfection as the
+philosopher's stone.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">30</span><a id="Page030" name="Page030"/>They hoped at the
+farm that in time the feathers would grow again.
+Meanwhile it was hard on the hen.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i035.png"><img src="images/i035-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Nothing of the sort happened; one, two, three months
+<span class="pgnum">31</span><a id="Page031" name="Page031"/>
+passed and not the least vestige of down appeared on the hen, who
+had to be protected like a human being from the changes of climate
+and so forth. Like a well-to-do farmer's wife Yollande had her
+linen-chest and a complete outfit.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i036.png"><img src="images/i036-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>It was, I assure you, my dear children, kept up most carefully.
+There was always a button to sew on, a buttonhole to remake, or a
+tear to be mended. Thus constantly in touch with the household
+Madame Hen soon thought she belonged to it. Indeed, worn out by
+the teasing of her companions, by the constant arguments she had
+with them, and touched on the other hand by the affectionate care
+of her mistresses, Yollande
+<span class="pgnum">32</span><a id="Page032" name="Page032"/>
+stayed more and more in the house. Coddled and swathed in her
+fantastic costumes, she sat in the chimney corner like a little
+Cinderella changed into a hen; from this corner she quietly
+watched; nothing escaped her notice.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i037.png"><img src="images/i037-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Meanwhile her reputation had grown, not only amongst her comrades,
+but amongst all the animals of the neighbourhood, who, hearing her
+discussed, were anxious to see her.</p>
+<p>Woe to the cat or dog who dared venture too far into the room!
+Very annoyed at this impertinent curiosity, she would leap upon
+the importunate stranger and punish him terribly with her sharp
+beak. Of course he would run off howling and frightened to death.
+It was very funny to watch.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">33</span><a id="Page033" name="Page033"/>
+<a href="images/i038a.png"><img src="images/i038a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i038b.png"><img src="images/i038b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Mother Etienne and Germaine were much amused at these little
+comedies, and whenever visitors came to the farm<span class="pgnum">34</span><a id="Page034" name="Page034"/>
+they would try to provoke one. Everyone enjoyed them hugely.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i039.png"><img src="images/i039-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Germaine treated Yollande like a doll. She made her all sorts of
+fashionable clothes. The Cochin-China would be dressed sometimes
+like a man, sometimes like a woman. She had made her quite a
+collection of little trousers and vests, which had style, I can
+tell you. She had copied, too, from a circus she had seen, an
+English clown's costume which was most becoming. Nothing could be
+funnier than to watch this tiny dwarf, to see her strut, jump,
+dance, coming and going, skipping
+<span class="pgnum">35</span><a id="Page035" name="Page035"/>around suddenly,&#8212;one moment skittish, the next very important.</p>
+<p>Petit-Jacques loved to tease her, but not roughly; he would push
+her with his foot, and make her jump at him impatiently, looking
+perfectly ridiculous in her quaint dress. You could have sworn she
+was a miniature clown. Add to all this, the queer inarticulate
+sounds she made when she was angry, and even then you can have no
+idea how very amusing these pantomimes were.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i040.png"><img src="images/i040-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p><span class="pgnum">36</span><a id="Page036" name="Page036"/>Soon the fame of Yollande spread far
+and wide. She became
+celebrated throughout the district. Instead of asking Mother
+Etienne how <i>she</i> was, people asked:</p>
+<p>"How's your hen today, Mother Etienne?"</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i041.png"><img src="images/i041-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">37</span><a id="Page037" name="Page037"/>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>FATHER GUSSON'S SECRET</h3>
+<p>One day a peddler, such as often come round to villages, laden
+like a mule, and leading by the bridle an ass still more laden,
+appeared at the farm. Both looked well but tired and dusty&#8212;they
+seemed to have had a long journey.</p>
+<p>Father Gusson, such was the good man's name, sold all sorts of
+things, from tooth-brushes to shoes,&#8212;including hardware,
+glassware, notions, drugs, and even patent medicines.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne received him kindly and after letting him show her
+the things in which she was interested, she offered him
+refreshment and suggested that he should take a little rest at the
+farm. This he accepted without needing any pressing.</p>
+<p>The donkey, relieved straightway from his load, was led into the
+paddock, where he wallowed in the tall grass, rolling on his back,
+his feet in the air. He enjoyed cleaning himself up like this
+after his dusty journey, then, rested&#8212;he took his luncheon,
+choosing here and there the daintiest morsels; after which he lay
+down and philosophised at length.</p>
+<p>All this time, Mother Etienne and Germaine were buying, tempted by
+one thing after another, silks, laces, stuffs for dresses, and a
+number of toilet articles, for both were, though you would not
+have suspected it, rather coquettish.
+<span class="pgnum">38</span><a id="Page038" name="Page038"/>
+Father Gusson&#8212;delighted with his visit to the farm and the
+business he had done there&#8212;was anxious to leave Mother Etienne a
+little remembrance.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i043.png"><img src="images/i043-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i044.png"><img src="images/i044-tn.png"
+ alt="Father Gusson the peddler comes to the farm." /></a><p>Father
+Gusson the peddler comes to the farm.</p>
+</div>
+<p>"Madame," he said, holding out a small china jar carefully sealed
+with parchment, "assuredly you do not need this just now, but if I
+should never come back, and if it should happen that one day your
+beautiful hair should grow thin, turn grey, or fall out, you have
+only to rub your head with this sweet-scented ointment and at once
+your hair will grow again thick
+<span class="pgnum">39</span><a id="Page039" name="Page039"/>
+and of its original colour. I cannot, alas! give you the recipe,
+it is a secret left me by my parents."
+</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i045.png"><img src="images/i045-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Then Father Gusson bade farewell to the two women and went on his
+way with "Neddy," both much refreshed by their pleasant rest.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne handed Germaine the precious pot of ointment
+<span class="pgnum">40</span><a id="Page040" name="Page040"/>
+to put with their other purchases into the big cupboard, and they
+thought no more about it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i046.png"><img src="images/i046-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>One day as she sat by the fire with Yollande, watching the dinner,
+a bright and whimsical idea occurred to the maid. "Supposing I
+were to try the ointment on the hen? But&#8212;it might be good for
+feathers too&#8212;anyhow, it could not do any harm."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">41</span><a id="Page041" name="Page041"/>Saying this she went, found the
+ointment, and delicately rubbed a
+little onto Yollande's head. Yollande did not appear to mind at
+all. Germaine did this three days running.</p>
+<p>Two weeks later Mother Etienne while dressing her hen, as she did
+each day, found a thick reddish down sprouting round her head like
+a little flat wig. She showed it to Germaine, who paid no
+attention, having quite forgotten her childish trick.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i047.png"><img src="images/i047-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>But during the next few days the wig prospered; the hair was two
+finger-breadths long, very thick and curly. Mother Etienne could
+not understand it at all. Germaine could not, at first, make up
+her mind to confess to her mistress what she had done.
+<span class="pgnum">42</span><a id="Page042" name="Page042"/>
+</p>
+<p>At last one evening, Mother Etienne being in a particularly good
+humour, the young girl took courage and told her all about it. Far
+from scolding her, her mistress was delighted, and so pleased at
+the news that she there and then undressed Yollande and rubbed her
+from head to foot with Father Gusson's marvellous ointment. She
+did the thing thoroughly&#8212;rubbing it into every pore. Then they
+made a good fire so that the poor little model, thus exposed,
+should not take cold.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i048.png"><img src="images/i048-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>After that they watched her every instant; they were for ever
+undressing her to see if the cure was working&#8212;they could hardly
+bear to wait. Just think&#8212;if it were to succeed.<span class="pgnum">43</span><a id="Page043" name="Page043"/>
+It would be the end and aim of all their care. Yollande could once
+again take her proper place in the world.</p>
+<p>At last what had happened to the head, happened to the body too.
+Before a week had gone by a thick down completely covered the big
+hen. The good women, much wondering, imagined that as it grew
+stronger the hair would change into feathers. Anxiously they
+awaited the change. Nothing of the sort happened. The hair
+remained hair&#8212;red, Titian red&#8212;fine and soft, curling round your
+fingers, admirable in quality and colour.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i049.png"><img src="images/i049-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The hair on the head, older than that on the rest of the body, was
+much longer, which suggested to the mischievous Germaine the idea
+of making her an elaborate headdress.</p>
+<p>Nothing like it had ever been seen before.</p>
+<p>Soon Yollande was able to discard some of her clothes. Her
+<span class="pgnum">44</span><a id="Page044" name="Page044"/>
+breast and back required for a time yet a little covering, but
+this grew gradually less and less.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i050a.png"><img src="images/i050a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i050b.png"><img src="images/i050b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Naturally the phenomenon was much discussed in the neighbourhood,
+and it attracted many and delightful visitors to the farm, all of
+whom Mother Etienne welcomed cordially. Yollande was less pleased
+with this desire to inspect her. Generally some unbeliever would
+tug at her hair, a painful experience for her. So, except towards
+her mistress and Germaine, she had become exceedingly
+<span class="pgnum">45</span><a id="Page045" name="Page045"/>
+vindictive and watchful. Every time she had the chance she pecked
+with her short, stout beak at the person indiscreet enough to take
+such liberties. One little visitor, more daring than the rest,
+nearly lost his finger over it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i051.png"><img src="images/i051-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The fame of the curly-haired hen was tremendous, it spread even
+beyond the limits of the district. It was really worth a journey
+to see her. They wrote of it in the newspapers. The
+<span class="pgnum">46</span><a id="Page046" name="Page046"/>
+"Daily Mirror," I think it was, had a fine long article about her.</p>
+<p>But in certain quarters, the whole thing was looked upon as a
+"fish story."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i052.png"><img src="images/i052-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">47</span><a id="Page047" name="Page047"/>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>SIR BOOUM CALLS UPON MOTHER ETIENNE</h3>
+<p>Just about this time placards were posted about the whole village,
+announcing the arrival of a Great American Circus, bringing in its
+train the most wonderful spectacles. Menageries,&#8212;curiosities of
+all kinds, such as had not been seen since the time of the
+Caesars.</p>
+<p>Incredible things were on show. Nobody, however small their purse,
+could resist the pleasure of witnessing these sights. Nobody, that
+is, except the people in and around this village.</p>
+<p>The menagerie prepared for its performance by splendid
+processions. Caparisoned in gold the elephants marched around.
+There were horses of all colours and of all sizes, dromedaries,
+rhinoceroses, black men and white monkeys, bands of musicians,
+fairy chariots.</p>
+<p>The inhabitants saw the gorgeous procession pass with
+indifference, with a superior kind of air and without the least
+enthusiasm.</p>
+<p>On the evening of the first performance, in spite of the placards,
+processions, bands, notices, and illuminations, nobody appeared at
+the ticket-office of the theatre and they played to an empty
+house.</p>
+<p>"What," cried the impresario, tearing his hair. "Crowds flocked to
+me in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York.
+<span class="pgnum">48</span><a id="Page048" name="Page048"/>
+I have been congratulated by the Shah of Persia, invited to lunch
+by the Grand Turk, and this little hole despises me, mocks at me,
+considers me a failure."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i054.png"><img src="images/i054-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The lights out, Sir Booum spent a terrible night, wondering what
+evil genius could thus attack his laurels. At dawn, worn
+<span class="pgnum">49</span><a id="Page049" name="Page049"/>
+out by his sleepless night, he set out, eager to learn the cause
+of his failure.</p>
+<p>All those whom he met winked knowingly, laughing in their
+sleeves, and courtesied to him without giving him any
+information. At last one, touched by his despair, answered:</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i055.png"><img src="images/i055-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Why should we come to you? We have here in this very place, where
+we can see it for nothing, a marvel beside which yours are
+commonplace. Have you in your menagerie a curly-haired hen?"</p>
+<p>"A curly-haired hen!" cried Sir Booum. "Gracious, goodness me!
+What are you talking about? Three times have I been round the
+world and have never heard of such a thing."</p>
+<p>"Go to the big farm down yonder and you can see the
+<span class="pgnum">50</span><a id="Page050" name="Page050"/>
+one I am telling you about. You will be ashamed to think how
+uninteresting in comparison are the things you show."</p>
+<p>A few minutes later, a magnificent equipage, driven by an elegant
+gentleman and drawn by two light bays, entered the courtyard of
+the big farm.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i056.png"><img src="images/i056-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Does Madame Etienne live here, please?" he asked Petit-Jacques,
+who was busy grooming Coco.</p>
+<p>"Yes, sir."</p>
+<p>"Will you kindly give her this card and ask if she will see me?"</p>
+<p>"Certainly, sir, at once."
+<span class="pgnum">51</span><a id="Page051" name="Page051"/>
+</p>
+<p>Petit-Jacques returned a few minutes later with Mother Etienne.</p>
+<p>The gentleman got down from his seat, handing the reins to his
+groom.</p>
+<p>"Excuse me, Madame. I am Sir Booum. It was my circus which gave
+its first performance here yesterday as announced on the placards
+posted on the walls throughout the village.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i057.png"><img src="images/i057-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>I have heard, Madame, that you have a most extraordinary hen, and
+I have come to beg you to show it to me. If it is really such as
+it was described to me, I will buy it at once."</p>
+<p>"Sir," said Mother Etienne, "I am very pleased to meet you; I will
+show you Yollande as you ask, but sell her to you?&#8212;never. I love
+the dear thing far too well to part with her."</p>
+<p>"But, Madame, if I give you a large sum? How much do you ask? Name
+your figure."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">52</span><a id="Page052" name="Page052"/>
+Mother Etienne, without answering a word, went off to fetch the
+Cochin-China hen to show to her visitor.</p>
+<p>American as he was, he was astounded and was soon convinced that
+there had been no exaggeration. This was indeed the curly-haired
+hen.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i058.png"><img src="images/i058-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Well, Madame, how much is it to be?&#8212;$1,000, $2,000, $4,000?
+Can't you make up your mind?"</p>
+<p>"No, sir, please don't insist. I do not want to part with dear
+Yollande," and Mother Etienne, distressed and trembling, covered
+her hen with caresses.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">53</span><a id="Page053" name="Page053"/>
+In vain the American urged. His eyes shone with the desire to
+include this marvel in his collection. He could do nothing, and
+was finally obliged to retreat.
+</p>
+<p>"Night brings counsel, Madame. I will return tomorrow to visit
+you, and I hope you will then decide in my favour. Until tomorrow,
+then, Madame."</p>
+<p>The gentleman bowed politely and got into his carriage. The
+equipage left the courtyard, turned onto the high road, and was
+lost in the distance in a cloud of golden dust.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">54</span><a id="Page054" name="Page054"/>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>THE SEPARATION</h3>
+<p>Mother Etienne was much distressed. The unexpected appearance of
+this personage, the offer of this huge sum of money, were enough
+to excite a woman more worldly-wise than she. Germaine strove to
+persuade her mistress to accept the offer.</p>
+<p>"But, my dear mistress, think of it&#8212;$4,000. It is a fortune.
+Don't let it escape you. It is a chance which will never come
+again. Think how well Yollande will be cared for. He does not mean
+to eat her at that price. Think of a stew costing $4,000. No
+indeed, the gentleman will try to keep her well as long as
+possible. It will be to his interest not to hurt her. Be sure of
+it, she will be as well cared for as she is here, if not better."</p>
+<p>Thus they talked all evening.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne, feverishly affectionate, looked at the hen lying
+as usual asleep in the chimney corner. She could not make up her
+mind to sell her sweet Cinderella. Her affection for Yollande had
+increased with the constant care she had needed during so many
+long months. Besides, the silky tresses curling like corkscrews,
+which Germaine had kept so smooth, had been a source of amusement,
+not only to the farm but to the whole neighbourhood.</p>
+<p>That night Mother Etienne was much agitated in spite of the hot
+drink Germaine had given her. She was haunted by
+<span class="pgnum">55</span><a id="Page055" name="Page055"/>
+a horrible nightmare. She seemed to be lying on a bed of
+banknotes, whilst the Cochin-China, sitting heavily on her chest,
+reproached her bitterly for having handed her over to a stranger
+in exchange for a little filthy lucre. Mother Etienne, bathed in
+perspiration, seemed to suffocate under her sheets.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i061.png"><img src="images/i061-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>At last dawn came, the good woman rose, her heart still terribly
+oppressed. Germaine calmed her as best she could with reassuring
+words and also with a foaming bowl of hot coffee.</p>
+<p>All morning Mother Etienne endured torments.</p>
+<p>It was three o'clock in the afternoon when suddenly the sound of a
+heavy carriage drawn by four horses was heard in the courtyard.
+Labric barked with all his might, Coco whinnied loudly, the three
+cows all mooed at the same time, and the entire poultry-yard in an
+uproar added its piercing <span class="pgnum">56</span><a id="Page056" name="Page056"/>
+and varied tones to the general tumult. The pigs especially made a
+great noise.</p>
+<p>It was the American's four-in-hand.</p>
+<p>He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty
+woman, exquisitely dressed in white.</p>
+<p>The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which
+served also as a reception room. On the hearth burned a small
+bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with
+fragrance. Yollande was sitting in her usual place.</p>
+<p>"Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the
+curly-haired hen?"</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i062.png"><img src="images/i062-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000," and so
+saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums
+he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the
+astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">57</span><a id="Page057" name="Page057"/>Germaine, driven wild by this sight,
+began to exclaim: "Yes,
+sir,&#8212;yes, Madame. Yes, sir,&#8212;yes, Madame," and threw herself into the
+arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who still
+remained obdurate.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i063.png"><img src="images/i063-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne's hand, said coaxingly: "You can
+safely trust her to me. I will take care of her myself, Madame.
+With us she will become famous throughout the world. All the
+newspapers will speak of her. From your poultry-yard she will come
+into contact with the greatest courts of the world. She will be
+petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive
+<span class="pgnum">58</span><a id="Page058" name="Page058"/>
+hands. Besides all this she will be in good
+company and will have plenty to amuse her."</p>
+<p>This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the
+longed-for "Yes," which, though stifled by emotion, was seized
+upon by the American.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i064.png"><img src="images/i064-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>The good woman had said "Yes," she had conquered the selfishness
+of a mother for two reasons. She did not want to prevent Yollande
+from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine
+share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had
+become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her
+of the benefit.</p>
+
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i065.png"><img src="images/i065-tn.png"
+ alt="Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus tent." /></a>
+<p>Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus
+tent.</p>
+</div>
+<p>"That's all settled, then. Here's the contract," said the
+<span class="pgnum">59</span><a id="Page059" name="Page059"/>
+American, "you have only to sign it." And a receipt duly prepared
+was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her
+signature and a flourish. I don't know that she did not even
+embellish it with a huge blot of ink.</p>
+<p>Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande,
+who oddly enough made no resistance.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i066.png"><img src="images/i066-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>"Oh please, please let me kiss her again," and, tears in her eyes,
+Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.</p>
+<p>"You will take great care of Yollande, won't you? You will send me
+news of her? Where is she to sleep to-night?"</p>
+<p>"Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared
+for her? Come with us. There is room in the carriage and I promise
+to have you brought back again at once. The
+<span class="pgnum">60</span><a id="Page060" name="Page060"/>
+camp is not far from here, the road is good, the horses fast, and
+in half an hour at most you will be perfectly reassured and can
+return with your mind at rest."</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne, without further thought, still guided by her
+tender maternal heart, needed no urging, but followed by the two
+Americans, walked with a brisk, firm step towards the carriage.
+Suddenly changing her mind, she said:</p>
+<p>"Will you just let me change my dress? I can't very well go out
+like this."</p>
+<p>She went to her room, an idea having entered her head, and soon
+returned very neatly dressed with a little basket in her hand.</p>
+<p>The steps were adjusted and the three people took their places on
+top, whilst Yollande, wrapped in soft woollen covers, was
+carefully placed inside, in a basket provided for that very
+purpose.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i067.png"><img src="images/i067-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>When Germaine saw her mistress start off she would have liked to
+go with her, but the farm needed her attention. Besides,
+Miss Booum's promise of seats for the next performance quite
+consoled her.</p>
+<p>The carriage made a curve in the yard, went through the gate, and
+soon disappeared, bearing the two new travellers.
+<span class="pgnum">61</span><a id="Page061" name="Page061"/>
+As Miss Booum had said, it did not take more than half an hour to
+reach the camp, the cobs went so quickly.</p>
+<p>On the way Mother Etienne met many acquaintances to whom she waved
+a simple but cordial greeting. In most cases the carriage was
+already out of sight before they recovered sufficiently from their
+astonishment to wave back.</p>
+<p>It was a nine days' wonder.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">62</span><a id="Page062" name="Page062"/>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS</h3>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i069.png"><img src="images/i069-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Our travellers came in sight of the circus. Imagine, children, a
+huge encampment like a small town,&#8212;with sections, and streets,
+houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans
+<span class="pgnum">63</span><a id="Page063" name="Page063"/>
+on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls,
+and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes,
+walking up and down.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i070.png"><img src="images/i070-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men,
+little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with
+goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,&#8212;in
+fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,&#8212;men to suit
+every possible taste.</p>
+<p>All the most curious specimens were represented. Besides these
+there was a colossal menagerie. In it there were more
+<span class="pgnum">64</span><a id="Page064" name="Page064"/>
+than twenty elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, rhinoceroses,
+zebras, dromedaries, camels, and the rarest kinds of antelopes.
+Then came the reptiles,&#8212;from the boa constrictor, who was ten
+yards long, to the smallest blind-worm, amongst them some of the
+most dangerous kinds. Crocodiles twenty feet long, monstrous
+toads, tortoises as big as donkeys. Then there were the wild
+beasts too. Lions from Abyssinia, from Atlas, tigers from Bengal,
+from Persia, jaguars, panthers, leopards, all the big cat family,
+lynx, onca, tiger cat. Bears of all kinds, grizzly, grey, black,
+and white. Then came wolves, foxes, coyotes, in fact the whole
+series of the dog tribe with every possible domestic variety.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i071.png"><img src="images/i071-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In little barred cages was a collection of smaller carnivorous
+animals and rodents. In a huge room all the monkeys from the big
+gorilla to the minute ouistiti or witsit, were installed; they
+squabbled, pulled one another's tails, bit one another, uttered
+piercing cries. There were constant battles going on in that
+corner.</p>
+
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">65</span><a id="Page065" name="Page065"/>
+<a href="images/i072.png"><img src="images/i072-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Then in an immense aviary were all the birds of creation, divided
+into classes, from the humming-bird, the size of a hornet, to the
+ostrich. This was, to tell the truth, the part that interested
+Mother Etienne most of all. She was more used to creatures of this
+kind, they reminded her of her beloved poultry-yard. In spite of
+the signs put up everywhere, "Do not feed the animals," the good
+woman who had purposely filled her basket with cakes threw them in
+indiscriminately. There were enough for all the animals she
+passed. First she threw some to the lions. The lions took no
+notice, at which she was most surprised. Her idea in offering the
+cakes was to see if the animals
+<span class="pgnum">66</span><a id="Page066" name="Page066"/>
+were hungry and to find out that way how they were treated.</p>
+<p>Miss Booum, who was acting as her guide, was much amused at her
+astonishment and could not resist saying:</p>
+<p>"Madame, to offer a cream bun to a tiger is like offering a
+beef-steak to an elephant. Just keep your cakes for the ostriches, they
+are so greedy that they will eat stones. If they were to keep a
+hardware store they would be certain to eat up their stock."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i073.png"><img src="images/i073-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Pleased at this permission, when she came to the ostriches, Mother
+Etienne offered them a cake, but they looked down at it very
+haughtily and suspiciously. From this she concluded that even
+those birds were so well-fed that they were not hungry and felt
+quite satisfied about Yollande.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">67</span><a id="Page067" name="Page067"/>After half an hour's walk through the
+circus, having visited every
+corner of it, they went towards the manager's house. There five
+o'clock tea was served. Mother Etienne, quite at ease, did honour
+to the lunch so graciously provided, and after thanking Miss Booum
+gratefully, she kissed Yollande very tenderly and prepared to
+return to the farm.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i074.png"><img src="images/i074-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>At a sign from the young American girl, a stout piebald pony,
+harnessed to a trap, was led forward by a groom.</p>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">68</span><a id="Page068" name="Page068"/>
+<a href="images/i075.png"><img src="images/i075-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"That is my own carriage and my horse Charlie, which you can drive
+yourself, Madame, if you like. He is quick and safe,
+<span class="pgnum">69</span><a id="Page069" name="Page069"/>
+you may be sure of that. You will be at home again in less time
+than it took to come here with four horses. Farewell, dear Madame,
+a pleasant drive. Remember that we expect you tomorrow for the
+afternoon performance, and that nice little maid of yours too.
+Your seats will be reserved."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i076.png"><img src="images/i076-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>The two women shook hands cordially, Mother Etienne got into the
+carriage, and took the reins. The pony feeling a hand used to
+driving, set off at a quick trot, then warming to his work flew
+over the ground. He had the paces of a big horse and had to be
+kept well in hand.</p>
+<p>Mother Etienne soon reached home delighted with her adventure. She
+was assailed by questions from Germaine and
+<span class="pgnum">70</span><a id="Page070" name="Page070"/>
+Petit-Jacques. They sat there drinking in her words. Mother
+Etienne told them as best she could all that had happened and all
+that she had seen in the most secret wings of the gigantic circus.
+Germaine in her excitement was forgetful enough to let the soup
+boil over and the roast burn, but all the same they dined gaily.
+There were still plenty of questions to be asked. Mother Etienne
+had to go over every detail and even to tell some stories over
+again. They went on talking far into the night&#8212;so charmed were
+the listeners at the recital.</p>
+<p>Nobody thought of going to bed. Germaine was longing for the
+morrow, she was so anxious to see for herself this fairyland.</p>
+<p>At last, midnight striking, reminded Mother Etienne that it was
+time for sleep. Then they all went to bed, each head full of the
+wonders of tomorrow's performance.</p>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">71</span><a id="Page071" name="Page071"/>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S DREAM</h3>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i078.png"><img src="images/i078-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Mother Etienne was very restless again that night, haunted, not by
+a dreadful nightmare as before, but by a troublesome
+<span class="pgnum">72</span><a id="Page072" name="Page072"/>
+dream. Everything she had just seen at Sir Booum's appeared before
+her, the tiniest incidents, the least important details.</p>
+<p>All the explanations, concerning the creatures in the menagerie
+given her by the trainer, came back to her, like an object lesson
+in a curious dream.</p>
+<p>The principal person in it was Yollande. Yollande as Barnum,
+Yollande as trainer, Yollande holding in one hairy wing a stout
+whip, in the other the pitchfork as a protection against claws and
+teeth.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i079.png"><img src="images/i079-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"You see here," said Yollande in a loud voice, "you see here the
+wild ox from Madagascar, which takes the place of
+<span class="pgnum">73</span><a id="Page073" name="Page073"/>
+the horse. In that country he is harnessed to small, light
+vehicles which he draws along rapidly. This other is a buffalo
+from Caffraria. He is a Jack-of-all-trades, sometimes ridden,
+sometimes driven, sometimes laden, sometimes yoked to the plough.
+Those big striped animals you see yonder are giraffes. Their long
+necks permit them, without having recourse to a ladder, to eat the
+young shoots of the mimosa, of which they are very fond, as well
+as the fresh dates which usually grow at the tops of the palm-trees."</p>
+<div class="figureR">
+<a href="images/i080.png"><img src="images/i080-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In this kind of dream a strange idea was at work in the brain of
+the sleeper. With these object lessons were mingled strange,
+quaint asides.</p>
+<p>"If children had long necks like that, one couldn't keep the
+jam-pots out of their way by putting them on the top shelves of the
+cupboard."</p>
+<p>"There," went on Yollande, "are the elephants. They are
+<span class="pgnum">74</span><a id="Page074" name="Page074"/>
+used for all sorts of tasks. Their trunks, a continuation of their
+nostrils, serve both for breathing and holding. It is, as it were,
+an extremely sensitive and powerful hand."</p>
+<p>"Great goodness me," cried Mother Etienne; "imagine having a hand
+at the end of your nose! Would it have a glove on it and rings on
+its fingers?"</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i081.png"><img src="images/i081-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>All sorts of ridiculous ideas like that came into her head. The
+little beaver, who builds his houses all along the Canadian
+streams, appeared trowel in hand, mortar-board on his head, and
+Mother Etienne felt most anxious to have his valuable assistance
+in repairing her barns and mills. Dear little marabout, how useful
+you would be in the village, sweeping the streets, cleaning up the
+refuse, advance-guard of the street-cleaner with his, "Now then,
+everything into the gutter."</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">75</span><a id="Page075" name="Page075"/>"The antelopes are
+very silly, coquettish creatures to wear such
+long boas round their necks in this warm country. But, after all,
+perhaps they are wise enough, for they have chosen a kind which,
+unlike our make of furs, is cold to the touch."</p>
+<p>Yollande, in her r&ocirc;le of trainer, went on and on like a brook.</p>
+<p>"Here, now, is a dromedary. He has a hump on his back, a fatty
+exerescence which enables him to bear much fatigue, without eating
+or drinking for several days. It is owing to this fat, rather like
+a box of provisions on his back, that he can traverse hot and
+sandy deserts where it would be difficult to find a single blade
+of grass to eat."</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i082.png"><img src="images/i082-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Then through the farm bedroom passed long caravans of camels, led
+by carnival Arabs, their humps changed into gigantic
+<span class="pgnum">76</span><a id="Page076" name="Page076"/>
+larders in which rattled all sorts of canned things. Canned
+salmon, Russian caviare, dried biscuits, smoked meats, tongues,
+sardines, canned peas, foies-gras, lobsters, and fruits, in fact
+all those things which Mother Etienne had seen piled up in
+many-coloured pyramids at the best grocery stores. Really it was too
+ridiculous.&#8212;Miss Booum must have been making fun of her visitor.&#8212;That
+couldn't really be the best food for camels.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i083.png"><img src="images/i083-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">77</span><a id="Page077" name="Page077"/>
+<a href="images/i084.png"><img src="images/i084-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>It was still worse when it came to the turn of the hippopotami. A
+thousand ill-digested memories from the illustrated papers were in
+her mind, all mixed up. Where did the Nile and the Zanzibar flow?
+Which was it that separated Egypt from Senegal? And the gigantic
+hippopotamus, looking perfectly huge and out-of-place in a gondola
+fit for a sultana, appeared to her, floating down the calm stream,
+a red
+<span class="pgnum">78</span><a id="Page078" name="Page078"/>
+fez with a golden star on his head, puffing away at a peculiar
+double-bowled pipe, the pride of the collection of a retired
+police-officer in the village, who had it from the real cousin of
+a sea-captain from Marseilles.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i085.png"><img src="images/i085-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"Do you see those little lumps there enclosed between four boards?
+It is a nest of land-tortoises. The largest, called the Giant
+tortoise, easily supports on its back a weight of two hundred
+pounds. This shell which weighs so heavily is its house. At the
+least alarm, it retreats into its house and stays there, till
+<span class="pgnum">79</span><a id="Page079" name="Page079"/>
+all danger is past." This plan of walking about with your house on
+your back seemed rather a good one to Mother Etienne. You could go
+out on rainy days without getting wet, and on cold days it would
+keep your back nice and warm.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i086.png"><img src="images/i086-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>"Near at hand is a collection of mammals, the kangaroo family. The
+kangaroo is the largest mammal of Australia. It is generally a
+peace-loving animal, but bites, scratches, and claws if it is
+teased. Its best defence however is flight." All these technical
+details left the good woman cold. What she remembered best were
+the practical qualities of the creatures. The kangaroo has one
+very great peculiarity, the female has a pouch, a sort of bag, in
+which she hides her young if danger appears, just as the soldier
+has his knapsack.</p>
+
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">80</span><a id="Page080" name="Page080"/>
+<a href="images/i087a.png"><img src="images/i087a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i087b.png"><img src="images/i087b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>For the first time in her life Mother Etienne was much struck by
+certain resemblances between animals and human beings,
+<span class="pgnum">81</span><a id="Page081" name="Page081"/>
+finding in them actions, looks, and habits which reminded her
+irresistibly of many of her acquaintances. It was amongst the
+monkeys that it was the most marked. Two chimpanzees, with pensive
+faces garbed in black, seemed to be mourning some beloved
+relative. It was as though their sad but shining eyes, gazing at
+the straw which half-covered them, were seeking something hidden,
+intangible.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i088.png"><img src="images/i088-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>A family of big African monkeys, by their challenging,
+<span class="pgnum">82</span><a id="Page082" name="Page082"/>
+crafty air, reminded her unpleasantly of a band of good-for-nothings
+who for months had spread terror and desolation
+throughout the country. The chief&#8212;or the one who appeared to be
+the chief&#8212;the biggest and strongest, hurled himself at the bars
+and shook them in his clenched hands. He would certainly have
+enjoyed strangling Mother Etienne, had he been able to do so.
+Since he was not able to, he displayed in a huge yawn, a
+terrifying set of teeth, worthy of a wild beast. They were horrid
+animals, I assure you, not the kind you would like to meet loose
+on a lonely road.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i089.png"><img src="images/i089-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Fortunately some pretty little witsits, with black faces, no
+bigger than your fist, and white and grey ruffles, whistling like
+blackbirds, by their pretty tricks did away with the bad
+impression made by these sinister neighbours.</p>
+
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i090.png"><img src="images/i090-tn.png" alt="Cake Walk; Mother Etienne's dream." /></a>
+<p>Mother Etienne's dream.</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pgnum">83</span><a id="Page083" name="Page083"/>
+This one was a regular little mother, that one had just been
+sweeping out the yard, another was the living image of the Count's
+servant when he followed his master on his walks, carrying under
+his arm a shawl or a sunshade. An orang-outang, an elderly
+peasant, whose four big hands were clasped, suggested to her how
+useful it would be to have a helper like that to milk the cows. It
+would go twice as fast with four hands. What a lot of precious
+time it would save.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i091.png"><img src="images/i091-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>And many other queer things came into her head. That yowling dog,
+that sharp-faced rabbit, are the type who come on fair-days to cry
+their papers, sell their toys, etc.&#8212;a noisy, rough crew.
+<span class="pgnum">84</span><a id="Page084" name="Page084"/>
+Goodness gracious! Where was Mother Etienne's absurd dream leading
+her? She, whose life was always so calm, and who, to tell the
+truth, with Germaine, were rather like the two little monkeys at
+the corner of the fire-place, hands clasped under their aprons,
+feet on foot-warmers, and little pointed handkerchiefs on their
+heads.</p>
+<div class="figureL">
+<a href="images/i092a.png"><img src="images/i092a-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>At this personal picture everything turned as though by
+enchantment into one huge, vast medley, which ended in a general
+cake-walk of the whole menagerie, passing before
+the tired eyes of Mother Etienne, roaring, bellowing, mewing,
+whistling, howling, whinnying, and braying. Poor Mother Etienne
+was thoroughly exhausted.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i092b.png"><img src="images/i092b-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">85</span><a id="Page085" name="Page085"/>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>MOTHER ETIENNE'S FORTUNE</h3>
+<p>When she woke up the good woman thought of her small fortune. She
+gave it for safe keeping into the hands of her lawyer, M. La
+Plume, while she was making up her mind how she should dispose of
+it. She wanted plenty of time to think it over. She had already
+decided to give Germaine a dowry, for the whole thing was largely
+owing to her. She knew that she and Petit-Jacques were in love.</p>
+<p>"They will make a fine couple," she thought, "and later on how
+pleased I shall be to have a nice family around me&#8212;with dear
+children who will love and care for me."</p>
+<p>Then she thought of P&amp;egrav;re Gusson&#8212;the good old man could
+have no
+idea of all that had happened at the farm. He was going his
+rounds, selling his wares as best he could. It was three months
+since he had appeared, he would be back again before long&#8212;he had
+already been away longer than usual.</p>
+<p>And, sure enough, two days later Neddy announced his entrance into
+the courtyard with a loud bray. If his master was glad to see
+Mother Etienne who always received him so cordially, and who
+bought so much from him, the donkey fully appreciated the hours of
+rest and the good food he found in the paddock with the cows.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">86</span><a id="Page086" name="Page086"/>
+Mother Etienne went forward to meet the old man and gaily told him
+the whole story.
+</p>
+<p>He, utterly astounded, could not at first believe it. He made her
+repeat the wonder over and over again. It certainly was a very
+curious thing. He had always known his ointment was effective,
+but&#8212;as to making hair grow on a hen&#8212;that was quite another
+thing. He was just petrified by it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i094.png"><img src="images/i094-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>Mother Etienne told Germaine to serve some good cider, and all
+three drank to one another's healths.</p>
+<p>"That is not all," said Mother Etienne, "I want you to have a
+share in my good fortune. That's only fair. You have worked all
+your life, you must think of taking a rest. You have certainly
+earned it. Here is a check for $2,000 which
+<span class="pgnum">87</span><a id="Page087" name="Page087"/>
+my lawyer, M. La Plume, will cash for you. This sum, together with
+what you have saved, will be enough to buy a little house and
+garden and to keep you from want. If one is wise and knows how to
+manage, one can live here for very little."</p>
+<p>Father Gusson, quite upset and touched, could not find words to
+thank dear, kind Mother Etienne. It was as though he had
+unexpectedly won the big prize in the lottery. He could hardly
+believe his eyes and ears.</p>
+<p>Soon he pulled himself together and began to calculate.</p>
+<p>"I have a few savings, it is true, but I think it would be wise to
+take advantage of the fame of the ointment and double my small
+fortune. I hope that, thanks to the already widespread fame of
+Yollande, if (with your kind permission) I were to call my
+ointment, 'Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen' I should have
+considerable success."</p>
+<p>"Not only am I quite willing, but I thoroughly approve of your
+idea and strongly advise you to carry it out," replied Mother
+Etienne warmly.</p>
+<p>No sooner said than done.</p>
+<p>Father Gusson withdrew from the notary the sum, so fairly but
+generously given him, and spent his time henceforth in
+manufacturing (according to the recipe of his ancestors) the
+wonderful ointment. He filled a great quantity of jars of all
+sizes, and like the good business man he was, having adorned them
+with magnificent labels he doubled the price of the ointment and
+put on a trade mark so as to prohibit imitations. Then he bought a
+cart like Mother Etienne's and harnessed Neddy to it. On the hood
+of the cart was a huge picture of
+<span class="pgnum">88</span><a id="Page088" name="Page088"/>
+a Curly-Haired Hen, and under it was the inscription, "Ointment of
+the Curly-Haired Hen." Now the peddler could go his rounds,
+selling only this specialty, without need of further
+advertisement. The effect was magic. Doors, hitherto too
+<span class="pgnum">89</span><a id="Page089" name="Page089"/>
+often closed against him, opened wide at his coming and there was
+not a soul who did not buy quite a lot of it.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i096.png"><img src="images/i096-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In a month and without effort, Father Gusson took in ten times
+more money than he had earned in all his long and hardworking life
+before.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i097.png"><img src="images/i097-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pgnum">90</span><a id="Page090" name="Page090"/>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>TRIUMPH OF THE OINTMENT</h3>
+<p>The craze of the public for this new preparation was
+extraordinary. A china factory, about to close its doors, made a
+fortune out of manufacturing jars for it. Of course all the bald
+people bought it. Everyone expected it to work miracles. The women
+with tow-coloured rat-tails expected to grow luxuriant black
+tresses and others with coarse scrubby black hair dreamed of
+having fine soft golden braids.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i098.png"><img src="images/i098-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>A very rich land-owner, who did not care how much he spent, rubbed
+with it the back of his mangy dog, and his horse's tail, which was
+growing somewhat thin.</p>
+<p>The mayor even, they tell me, put a thick layer of it onto his
+wig, which was beginning to wear out. The district was steeped in
+it, the air seemed to smell of musk.</p>
+<p><span class="pgnum">91</span><a id="Page091" name="Page091"/>Alas! everything has
+its bad side. The good side of this was for
+the merchant alone, who, though he guaranteed his wares for human
+beings, refused any further responsibility. The bad side was for
+the hens and ducks. (I believe even the geese suffered
+occasionally.) I can't tell you how many people, knowing all about
+the effect it had had on Yollande and the resultant fortune, tried
+to duplicate the famous Curly-Haired Hen, bought by Sir Booum.</p>
+<div class="figure">
+<a href="images/i099.png"><img src="images/i099-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a>
+</div>
+<p>In the poultry-yards around, the hens for several months had a
+pretty bad time. They were nearly all plucked and rubbed with the
+ointment. It was a craze, a rage with the farmers, and those hens
+who could retain a vestige of their plumage esteemed themselves
+fortunate.</p>
+<p>It was a sad sight to see all the feathered creatures fly at the
+<span class="pgnum">92</span><a id="Page092" name="Page092"/>
+sight of a human being. They knew by bitter experience what to
+expect. Alas! with all these attempts with roosters, chickens,
+ducks, and turkeys, none had the desired effect. They long
+remained scented and devoid of plumage, that was all. We must take
+it that no subject as good as Yollande presented itself. Nature
+makes these queer incomprehensible distinctions, you know, which
+we just can't understand. There was <i>one</i> Curly-Haired Hen,
+there was to be no other! For, since her metamorphosis, for a
+reason unknown to this day, the Curly-Haired Hen absolutely
+refused to lay eggs. This was, I must confess, a great
+disappointment to Sir Booum. Like the good American he was, he
+would have liked to continue the race.</p>
+<div class="figure"><a href="images/i100.png"><img src="images/i100-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">93</span><a id="Page093" name="Page093"/><a href="images/i101.png"><img src="images/i101-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<div class="figure"><span class="pgnum">94</span><a id="Page094" name="Page094"/><a href="images/i102.png"><img src="images/i102-tn.png" alt="Illustration" /></a></div>
+<p>He had perforce to content himself with portraits of her from the
+pen of M. Vimar. One of these was sent, affectionately dedicated
+by Yollande, to her good Mother Etienne, who regards
+<span class="pgnum">95</span><a id="Page095" name="Page095"/>
+it as her greatest treasure, and keeps it, elegantly framed, above
+the mantelpiece in her bedroom. Never a day passes but the good
+woman looks at it with tender, motherly affection.</p>
+<p>Father Gusson is now the owner of a pretty little house and
+cultivates his own garden, in which is a corner reserved for
+Neddy, for he too has earned his rest.</p>
+<p>Germaine, to whom her mistress and adopted mother gave a good
+dowry, has just married Petit-Jacques, quartermaster, lately
+returned from his military service.</p>
+<p>It is hard to tell which is the happiest. The wedding was
+performed with much ceremony. The whole village was present, and
+amongst the various healths drunk they did not omit that of the
+"Curly-Haired Hen."</p>
+<p>Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, you
+will certainly have your reward.</p>
+<p class="front">&nbsp;</p>
+<p class="front">
+FINIS</p>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Curly-Haired Hen, by Auguste Vimar
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Curly-Haired Hen
+
+Author: Auguste Vimar
+
+Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #13302]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Hagen von Eitzen and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Yollande appears emerging from her shroud.]
+
+
+
+
+THE CURLY-HAIRED HEN
+
+
+TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+BY
+
+A. VIMAR
+
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+NORA K. HILLS
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+Mother Etienne's Farm
+
+CHAPTER II
+A Mother's Devotion
+
+CHAPTER III
+Yollande's Trousseau
+
+CHAPTER IV
+Father Gusson's Secret
+
+CHAPTER V
+Sir Booum Calls upon Mother Etienne
+
+CHAPTER VI
+The Separation
+
+CHAPTER VII
+Sir Booum's Circus
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+Mother Etienne's Dream
+
+CHAPTER IX
+Mother Etienne's Fortune
+
+CHAPTER X
+Triumph of the Ointment
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S FARM
+
+
+"Oh Grandfather, tell us a story, do. You know, the one you began
+the other evening about Mother Etienne's big farm. You remember.
+The weather is so bad and we can't go out. Go on, Grandfather,
+please."
+
+Coaxingly the three children clung round their grandfather,
+looking at him beseechingly. He adoring the children as he did,
+loved to hear them plead.
+
+At last he began:
+
+Since you have been very good, and you want it so much, I will
+tell you the wonderful story of Mother Etienne's farm and the
+still more wonderful story of what happened to one of its
+occupants.
+
+Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, and you
+will surely have your reward.
+
+Mother Etienne was a good stout woman with a very kind heart.
+While still young she was so unfortunate as to lose her husband
+and her son of whom she was very fond. This made her, as you can
+imagine, very, very sad. She wouldn't listen to any new offers of
+marriage though she had plenty of them. Instead, she devoted her
+life, her whole existence, to the attentive, nay I ought to say,
+the maternal care, of the animals on her farm, making them as
+comfortable as could be.
+
+She had, as I said before, a most excellent heart, the good Mother
+Etienne. You shall see that presently.
+
+This good woman then lived on her big farm, very spacious and
+admirably situated. A slate roof covered the large house; the
+granaries, stables and outhouses were sheltered by old thatching
+upon which grew moss and lichen.
+
+Let me tell you now, dear children, who were the chief occupants
+of the farm. First there was big "Coco"--a fine Normandy
+horse--bay-coloured and very fat, whose silky coat had a purple sheen;
+he had a star on his forehead and a pink mark between his eyes. He
+was very gentle and answered to the voice of his mistress. If
+Mother Etienne passed by his stable he never failed to scent her
+and whinnied at once. That was his way of showing his friendliness
+and saying,
+
+"Good morning."
+
+His good mistress spoiled him with all sorts of dainties.
+Sometimes a crust of bread, sometimes a handful of carrots, but
+what he loved best of all was sugar. If you had given him a whole
+loaf he would soon have eaten it up.
+
+Coco had for stable companions three fine Swiss cows. Their names
+were La Blonde, Blanchotte, and Nera. You know what the colours
+were for the names, don't you?
+
+Petit-Jacques, the stable boy, took care of them. On fine days he
+led them to pasture into a bog paddock near the farm up against a
+pretty wood of silver beeches. A large pond of clear water covered
+one corner of the meadow and lost itself in the reeds and iris.
+There the fine big cows went to quench their thirst; quantities of
+frogs went there, too, to play leap-frog. It was a veritable
+earthly Paradise.
+
+From the farm Mother Etienne caught the sound of the large bronze
+bells each with its different low note, which hung round the necks
+of the cows; thus she could superintend their comings and goings
+without interrupting her various occupations. For the farm was
+very big, as I told you, and had many animals on it.
+
+After the stables and coachhouses came the piggery, the rabbit
+hutches, and finally an immense poultry-yard divided into a
+thousand compartments, and sheltering a whole horde of poultry of
+all sorts; fowls of all kinds and of all breeds, geese,
+guineafowl, pigeons, ducks, and what all besides. What wasn't
+there in that prodigious poultry-yard?
+
+Mother Etienne spent most of her time there, for the smaller and
+more delicate the creatures the more interest and care she gave
+them.
+
+"The weak need so much protection," this excellent woman would
+say, and she was right.
+
+So for the baby ducks her tenderness was limitless. What dangers
+had to be avoided to raise successfully all these tiny folks!
+
+Did a pig escape? Immediately danger threatened the poultry-yard.
+For a pig has terrible teeth and he doesn't care what he eats--he
+would as soon crunch a little duckling as a carrot. So she had to
+watch every minute, every second even. For besides, in spite of
+the vigilance of "Labrie," the faithful watchdog, sometimes rats
+would suck the blood of the young pigeons. Once even a whole
+litter of rabbits was destroyed that way.
+
+To dispose of the products of her farm, Mother Etienne drove twice
+a week to market in her market-cart drawn by Coco.
+
+She was famed for the best vegetables, the purest and creamiest
+milk; in short, the eggs she sold were the freshest, the poultry
+and rabbits the tenderest and most juicy to be had. As soon as she
+and Coco came trotting into the market there was a rush to get to
+her first.
+
+There, as everywhere, everyone loved Mother Etienne.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+
+A MOTHER'S DEVOTION
+
+
+Thus time passed peacefully at the big farm.
+
+One day, however, the quiet was disturbed by a little drama which
+convulsed the calm but busy spot.
+
+Mother Etienne had given to a Cochin-China hen, which she had
+christened Yollande, some white duck's eggs to sit on. The batch
+of fifteen eggs had all come out. It was really wonderful to see
+these fifteen baby ducks, yellow as canaries, beaks and webbed
+feet pink, swarming around the big patient sitting mother, ducking
+under her wings, to come out presently and clamber helter-skelter
+onto her broad back. As often happens with nurses, Yollande loved
+the ducklings as her own children, and without worrying about
+their shape or plumage, so different from her own, she showered
+upon them proofs of the tenderest affection. Did a fly pass within
+their reach, all these little ones jumped at it--tumbling in their
+efforts to catch it. The little yellow balls with their wide-awake
+air never took a second's rest.
+
+Well cared for and well fed, they grew so rapidly that soon they
+had to have more space. Mother Etienne housed them then on the
+edge of the pond in a latticed coop opening onto a sloping board
+which led down to the water. It was, as it were, a big swimming
+bath, which grew gradually deeper and deeper. The ducks and geese
+loved to plunge in and hardly left the water except to take their
+meals.
+
+Yollande felt very out of place in this new dwelling. The
+ducklings on the contrary, urged on by their instinct, madly
+enjoyed it and rushed pell-mell into the water.
+
+This inexplicable impulse terrified their mama. She was, in fact,
+"as mad as a wet hen."
+
+She ran up and down, her feathers on end, her face swollen, her
+crest red, clucking away, trying to persuade her babies not to
+venture into the water. For hens, like cats, hate the water. It
+was unspeakable torture to her. The children would not listen;
+deaf to her prayers, her cries, these rascally babies ventured
+farther and farther out. They were at last and for the first time
+in their favourite element, lighter than little corks, they
+floated, dived, plunged, raced, fought, playing all sorts of
+tricks.
+
+Meanwhile, Yollande was eating her heart out. She rushed to and
+fro, keeping her eyes glued on the disobedient ones. Suddenly she
+saw a mother-duck chasing her darlings. This was more than she
+could bear,--driven by her maternal instinct she leapt like a fury
+to the aid of her family.
+
+A flap or two of her wings and she was above the water into which
+she fell at the deepest part.
+
+Splashing,--struggling madly in the midst of her frightened
+brood,--she was soon exhausted and succumbing to syncope, she sank
+to the bottom.
+
+The surface of the water closed above her. The little ones did not
+realize what had happened--very quickly recovering from their
+momentary fright, they went on with their games--splashing the
+water with their beaks and amusing themselves as though nothing
+were the matter.
+
+Mother Etienne, busy giving green apples to the pigs, bran to the
+rabbits, and corn to the pigeons, came back presently, and could
+not see the big Yollande beside the pond, only her children
+floating far, far away on the water. Surprised she drew nearer,
+called, but in vain. The mother-hen had disappeared. Then only did
+she understand the tragedy that had occurred. She called for help.
+Petit-Jacques immediately opened the big sluice and the water ran
+out, but much too slowly for their impatience. At last they began
+to see the bottom, and soon the body of poor Yollande was
+discovered stiff and motionless.
+
+There was general consternation at the farm. Petit-Jacques, by
+means of a long pole, seized her and drew her to land at Mother
+Etienne's feet. Labrie came up and sniffed sadly at the body of
+the unhappy hen. In vain they dried her and rubbed her,--nothing
+did any good.
+
+"She's quite dead, alas," said Mother Etienne with tears in her
+eyes, "but it was my own fault. I ought to have closed down the
+lattice and this misfortune would not have happened. It really is
+a great pity--such a fine hen. She weighs at least eight pounds.
+There, Germaine, take her and weigh her."
+
+Germaine was the maid and also the cousin of Petit-Jacques--of
+whom she was very fond. She was a fine buxom girl of eighteen,
+strong and well-grown. She loved animals, too, but her feeling for
+them could not be compared to Mother Etienne's.
+
+"Germaine, take away poor Yollande, I am quite upset
+by this trouble. You will bury her this evening, in a corner of
+the kitchen-garden--deep enough to prevent any animal digging her
+up. I leave it to you--do it carefully."
+
+The girl bore away the fine hen in her apron. "How heavy she
+is--it is a shame," and blowing apart the feathers, she saw the skin
+underneath as yellow and plump as you could wish. Mechanically she
+plucked a few feathers.
+
+"After all," she said, "it isn't as though she had died--she was
+drowned, quite a clean death; she's firm and healthy, only an hour
+ago she was as strong and well as could be. Why shouldn't we eat
+her?--We'll stew her because, though she is not old, she is not
+exactly in her first youth--but there's a lot on her--with a
+dressing of carrots and nutmeg, a bunch of herbs and a tomato,
+with a calf's foot to make a good jelly, I believe she'd make a
+lovely dinner."
+
+Saying this she went on plucking Yollande. All the feathers, large
+and small, gone, a little down was left, so to get rid of this she
+lit an old newspaper and held her over it.
+
+"Madame won't know anything and will enjoy her as much as we
+shall. There's enough on her for two good meals."
+
+Quite decided, instead of burying her, she wrapped the future stew
+carefully in a perfectly clean cloth and put it on a shelf in the
+kitchen out of the way of flies or accident.
+
+During this time Mother Etienne was busy making as warm a home as
+she could for the fifteen little orphans. Poor darlings. In a
+wicker-basket she covered a layer of straw with another of wadding
+and fine down. Upon this she put the ducklings one by one, and
+covered the whole with feathers; then closing the lid, she carried
+the basket to the stable where the air was always nice and warm.
+All this took time; it was about six o'clock in the evening, the
+sun was going down, throwing a last oblique smile into the
+kitchen, gleaming here and there on the shining copper which hung
+on the walls.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+
+YOLLANDE'S TROUSSEAU
+
+
+As for Germaine, she, with Petit-Jacques to help her, had gone to
+milk the cows. Mother Etienne soon joined them, and the two women
+came back to the house together.
+
+Horror of horrors! What a terrible sight. Pale with fear they
+stood on the threshold of the kitchen not daring to move--to
+enter. Their hearts were in their mouths. A ghost stood there in
+front of them--Yollande--and Germaine fell at Mother Etienne's
+feet in utter consternation. Yollande? Yes, Yollande, but what a
+Yollande! Heavens! Yollande plucked, literally plucked! Yollande
+emerging from her shroud like Lazarus from his tomb! Yollande
+risen from the dead! A cry of anguish burst from the heart of kind
+Mother Etienne.
+
+"Yollande, oh, Yollande!"
+
+The Cochin-China replied by a long shudder.
+
+This is what had happened.
+
+On falling into the water, Yollande after struggling fiercely
+succumbed to syncope, and her lungs ceasing to act she had ceased
+to breathe, so the water had not entered her lungs. That is why
+she was not drowned. Life was, so to speak, suspended. The syncope
+lasted some time. The considerable heat to which she was subjected
+when Germaine held her above the flaming newspaper had brought
+about a healthy reaction and in the solitude of the kitchen she
+had recovered consciousness.
+
+After the first moment of terror was over, Germaine confessed her
+plan to Mother Etienne, who, glad to find Yollande still alive,
+forgave Germaine the disobedience which had saved her.
+
+But the hen was still shivering, shaking in every limb, her skin
+all goose-flesh. Dragging after her her travesty of a tail, she
+jumped onto the kitchen-table which she shook with her shivering.
+
+"We can't leave her like that any longer," said Mother Etienne,
+"we must cover her up somehow," and straightway she wrapped her up
+in all the cloths she could lay her hands on. Germaine prepared
+some hot wine with sugar in it, and the two women fed her with it
+in spoonfuls,--then they took a good drink of it themselves. All
+three at once felt the better for it. Yollande spent the night in
+these hastily-made swaddling clothes between two foot-warmers
+which threw out a gentle and continuous heat and kept away the
+catarrh with which the poor Cochin-China was threatened. The great
+question which arose now was how they were to protect her from the
+cold in future. Both of them cogitated over it.
+
+Several times during the night, Mother Etienne and the maid came
+to look at the hen, who, worn out by such a long day of fatigue
+and suffering, at last closed her eyes, relaxed, and slept till
+morning.
+
+Nevertheless she was the first in the house to wake up, and at
+dawn began to cackle vigorously. Germaine hastened to her,
+bringing a quantity of corn which the hen, doubtless owing to her
+fast of the day before, ate greedily.
+
+Now the important thing was to find her a practical costume. The
+weather was mild but there was great danger in allowing her to
+wander about in a garb as light as it was primitive. The mornings
+and evenings were cool and might bring on a cold, inflammation or
+congestion of the lungs, rheumatism, or what not.
+
+At all costs a new misfortune must be avoided. At last they
+dressed her in silk cunningly fashioned and lined with wadding.
+Thus garbed her entry into the poultry-yard was a subject of
+astonishment to some, fear to others, and excitement to most of
+the birds she met on her way.
+
+In vain Mother Etienne strove to tone down the colours of the
+stuffs, to modify the cut of the garments, but Yollande long
+remained an object of surprise and antipathy to the majority of
+the poultry.
+
+The scandal soon reached its climax.
+
+"That hen must be mad," said an old duck to his wife.
+
+"Just imagine dressing up like that; she'll come along one of
+these days in a bathing suit," cried a young rooster who prided
+himself on his wit.
+
+A young turkey tugged at her clothes, trying to pull them off, and
+all the others looked on laughing and hurling insults.... They
+vied with one another in sarcastic speeches. At last, after a
+time, as the saying goes, "Familiarity bred contempt." The fear
+which her companions had felt at first soon changed into a
+familiarity often too great for the unhappy Cochin-China. They
+tried to see who could play her the shabbiest trick. Hens are
+often as cruel as men, which is saying a great deal.
+
+Poor Yollande, in spite of her size, her solidity, and strength,
+nearly always emerged half-dressed. Her companions could not stand
+her dressed like that, the sight of her irritated them. Not
+content with tearing her clothes they often pecked at the poor
+creature as well.
+
+Mother Etienne did her best to improve these costumes in every
+way--but it was as impossible to find perfection as the
+philosopher's stone.
+
+They hoped at the farm that in time the feathers would grow again.
+Meanwhile it was hard on the hen.
+
+Nothing of the sort happened; one, two, three months passed and
+not the least vestige of down appeared on the hen, who had to be
+protected like a human being from the changes of climate and so
+forth. Like a well-to-do farmer's wife Yollande had her
+linen-chest and a complete outfit.
+
+It was, I assure you, my dear children, kept up most carefully.
+There was always a button to sew on, a buttonhole to remake, or a
+tear to be mended. Thus constantly in touch with the household
+Madame Hen soon thought she belonged to it. Indeed, worn out by
+the teasing of her companions, by the constant arguments she had
+with them, and touched on the other hand by the affectionate care
+of her mistresses, Yollande stayed more and more in the house.
+Coddled and swathed in her fantastic costumes, she sat in the
+chimney corner like a little Cinderella changed into a hen; from
+this corner she quietly watched; nothing escaped her notice.
+
+Meanwhile her reputation had grown, not only amongst her comrades,
+but amongst all the animals of the neighbourhood, who, hearing her
+discussed, were anxious to see her.
+
+Woe to the cat or dog who dared venture too far into the room!
+Very annoyed at this impertinent curiosity, she would leap upon
+the importunate stranger and punish him terribly with her sharp
+beak. Of course he would run off howling and frightened to death.
+It was very funny to watch.
+
+Mother Etienne and Germaine were much amused at these little
+comedies, and whenever visitors came to the farm they would try to
+provoke one. Everyone enjoyed them hugely.
+
+Germaine treated Yollande like a doll. She made her all sorts of
+fashionable clothes. The Cochin-China would be dressed sometimes
+like a man, sometimes like a woman. She had made her quite a
+collection of little trousers and vests, which had style, I can
+tell you. She had copied, too, from a circus she had seen, an
+English clown's costume which was most becoming. Nothing could be
+funnier than to watch this tiny dwarf, to see her strut, jump,
+dance, coming and going, skipping around suddenly,--one moment
+skittish, the next very important.
+
+Petit-Jacques loved to tease her, but not roughly; he would push
+her with his foot, and make her jump at him impatiently, looking
+perfectly ridiculous in her quaint dress. You could have sworn she
+was a miniature clown. Add to all this, the queer inarticulate
+sounds she made when she was angry, and even then you can have no
+idea how very amusing these pantomimes were.
+
+Soon the fame of Yollande spread far and wide. She became
+celebrated throughout the district. Instead of asking Mother
+Etienne how _she_ was, people asked:
+
+"How's your hen today, Mother Etienne?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+
+FATHER GUSSON'S SECRET
+
+
+One day a peddler, such as often come round to villages, laden
+like a mule, and leading by the bridle an ass still more laden,
+appeared at the farm. Both looked well but tired and dusty--they
+seemed to have had a long journey.
+
+Father Gusson, such was the good man's name, sold all sorts of
+things, from tooth-brushes to shoes,--including hardware,
+glassware, notions, drugs, and even patent medicines.
+
+Mother Etienne received him kindly and after letting him show her
+the things in which she was interested, she offered him
+refreshment and suggested that he should take a little rest at the
+farm. This he accepted without needing any pressing.
+
+The donkey, relieved straightway from his load, was led into the
+paddock, where he wallowed in the tall grass, rolling on his back,
+his feet in the air. He enjoyed cleaning himself up like this
+after his dusty journey, then, rested--he took his luncheon,
+choosing here and there the daintiest morsels; after which he lay
+down and philosophised at length.
+
+All this time, Mother Etienne and Germaine were buying, tempted by
+one thing after another, silks, laces, stuffs for dresses, and a
+number of toilet articles, for both were, though you would not
+have suspected it, rather coquettish. Father Gusson--delighted
+with his visit to the farm and the business he had done there--was
+anxious to leave Mother Etienne a little remembrance.
+
+[Illustration: Father Gusson the peddler comes to the farm.]
+
+"Madame," he said, holding out a small china jar carefully sealed
+with parchment, "assuredly you do not need this just now, but if I
+should never come back, and if it should happen that one day your
+beautiful hair should grow thin, turn grey, or fall out, you have
+only to rub your head with this sweet-scented ointment and at once
+your hair will grow again thick and of its original colour. I
+cannot, alas! give you the recipe, it is a secret left me by my
+parents."
+
+Then Father Gusson bade farewell to the two women and went on his
+way with "Neddy," both much refreshed by their pleasant rest.
+
+Mother Etienne handed Germaine the precious pot of ointment to put
+with their other purchases into the big cupboard, and they thought
+no more about it.
+
+One day as she sat by the fire with Yollande, watching the dinner,
+a bright and whimsical idea occurred to the maid. "Supposing I
+were to try the ointment on the hen? But--it might be good for
+feathers too--anyhow, it could not do any harm."
+
+Saying this she went, found the ointment, and delicately rubbed a
+little onto Yollande's head. Yollande did not appear to mind at
+all. Germaine did this three days running.
+
+Two weeks later Mother Etienne while dressing her hen, as she did
+each day, found a thick reddish down sprouting round her head like
+a little flat wig. She showed it to Germaine, who paid no
+attention, having quite forgotten her childish trick.
+
+But during the next few days the wig prospered; the hair was two
+finger-breadths long, very thick and curly. Mother Etienne could
+not understand it at all. Germaine could not, at first, make up
+her mind to confess to her mistress what she had done.
+
+At last one evening, Mother Etienne being in a particularly good
+humour, the young girl took courage and told her all about it. Far
+from scolding her, her mistress was delighted, and so pleased at
+the news that she there and then undressed Yollande and rubbed her
+from head to foot with Father Gusson's marvellous ointment. She
+did the thing thoroughly--rubbing it into every pore. Then they
+made a good fire so that the poor little model, thus exposed,
+should not take cold.
+
+After that they watched her every instant; they were for ever
+undressing her to see if the cure was working--they could hardly
+bear to wait. Just think--if it were to succeed. It would be the
+end and aim of all their care. Yollande could once again take her
+proper place in the world.
+
+At last what had happened to the head, happened to the body too.
+Before a week had gone by a thick down completely covered the big
+hen. The good women, much wondering, imagined that as it grew
+stronger the hair would change into feathers. Anxiously they
+awaited the change. Nothing of the sort happened. The hair
+remained hair--red, Titian red--fine and soft, curling round your
+fingers, admirable in quality and colour.
+
+The hair on the head, older than that on the rest of the body, was
+much longer, which suggested to the mischievous Germaine the idea
+of making her an elaborate headdress.
+
+Nothing like it had ever been seen before.
+
+Soon Yollande was able to discard some of her clothes. Her breast
+and back required for a time yet a little covering, but this grew
+gradually less and less.
+
+Naturally the phenomenon was much discussed in the neighbourhood,
+and it attracted many and delightful visitors to the farm, all of
+whom Mother Etienne welcomed cordially. Yollande was less pleased
+with this desire to inspect her. Generally some unbeliever would
+tug at her hair, a painful experience for her. So, except towards
+her mistress and Germaine, she had become exceedingly vindictive
+and watchful. Every time she had the chance she pecked with her
+short, stout beak at the person indiscreet enough to take such
+liberties. One little visitor, more daring than the rest, nearly
+lost his finger over it.
+
+The fame of the curly-haired hen was tremendous, it spread even
+beyond the limits of the district. It was really worth a journey
+to see her. They wrote of it in the newspapers. The "Daily
+Mirror," I think it was, had a fine long article about her.
+
+But in certain quarters, the whole thing was looked upon as a
+"fish story."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+
+SIR BOOUM CALLS UPON MOTHER ETIENNE
+
+
+Just about this time placards were posted about the whole village,
+announcing the arrival of a Great American Circus, bringing in its
+train the most wonderful spectacles. Menageries,--curiosities of
+all kinds, such as had not been seen since the time of the
+Caesars.
+
+Incredible things were on show. Nobody, however small their purse,
+could resist the pleasure of witnessing these sights. Nobody, that
+is, except the people in and around this village.
+
+The menagerie prepared for its performance by splendid
+processions. Caparisoned in gold the elephants marched around.
+There were horses of all colours and of all sizes, dromedaries,
+rhinoceroses, black men and white monkeys, bands of musicians,
+fairy chariots.
+
+The inhabitants saw the gorgeous procession pass with
+indifference, with a superior kind of air and without the least
+enthusiasm.
+
+On the evening of the first performance, in spite of the placards,
+processions, bands, notices, and illuminations, nobody appeared at
+the ticket-office of the theatre and they played to an empty
+house.
+
+"What," cried the impresario, tearing his hair. "Crowds flocked to
+me in London, Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York. I have been
+congratulated by the Shah of Persia, invited to lunch by the Grand
+Turk, and this little hole despises me, mocks at me, considers me
+a failure."
+
+The lights out, Sir Booum spent a terrible night, wondering what
+evil genius could thus attack his laurels. At dawn, worn out by
+his sleepless night, he set out, eager to learn the cause of his
+failure.
+
+All those whom he met winked knowingly, laughing in their sleeves,
+and courtesied to him without giving him any information. At last
+one, touched by his despair, answered:
+
+"Why should we come to you? We have here in this very place, where
+we can see it for nothing, a marvel beside which yours are
+commonplace. Have you in your menagerie a curly-haired hen?"
+
+"A curly-haired hen!" cried Sir Booum. "Gracious, goodness me!
+What are you talking about? Three times have I been round the
+world and have never heard of such a thing."
+
+"Go to the big farm down yonder and you can see the one I am
+telling you about. You will be ashamed to think how uninteresting
+in comparison are the things you show."
+
+A few minutes later, a magnificent equipage, driven by an elegant
+gentleman and drawn by two light bays, entered the courtyard of
+the big farm.
+
+"Does Madame Etienne live here, please?" he asked Petit-Jacques,
+who was busy grooming Coco.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Will you kindly give her this card and ask if she will see me?"
+
+"Certainly, sir, at once."
+
+Petit-Jacques returned a few minutes later with Mother Etienne.
+
+The gentleman got down from his seat, handing the reins to his
+groom.
+
+"Excuse me, Madame. I am Sir Booum. It was my circus which gave
+its first performance here yesterday as announced on the placards
+posted on the walls throughout the village.
+
+I have heard, Madame, that you have a most extraordinary hen, and
+I have come to beg you to show it to me. If it is really such as
+it was described to me, I will buy it at once."
+
+"Sir," said Mother Etienne, "I am very pleased to meet you; I will
+show you Yollande as you ask, but sell her to you?--never. I love
+the dear thing far too well to part with her."
+
+"But, Madame, if I give you a large sum? How much do you ask? Name
+your figure."
+
+Mother Etienne, without answering a word, went off to fetch the
+Cochin-China hen to show to her visitor.
+
+American as he was, he was astounded and was soon convinced that
+there had been no exaggeration. This was indeed the curly-haired
+hen.
+
+"Well, Madame, how much is it to be?--$1,000, $2,000, $4,000?
+Can't you make up your mind?"
+
+"No, sir, please don't insist. I do not want to part with dear
+Yollande," and Mother Etienne, distressed and trembling, covered
+her hen with caresses.
+
+In vain the American urged. His eyes shone with the desire to
+include this marvel in his collection. He could do nothing, and
+was finally obliged to retreat.
+
+"Night brings counsel, Madame. I will return tomorrow to visit
+you, and I hope you will then decide in my favour. Until tomorrow,
+then, Madame."
+
+The gentleman bowed politely and got into his carriage. The
+equipage left the courtyard, turned onto the high road, and was
+lost in the distance in a cloud of golden dust.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+
+THE SEPARATION
+
+
+Mother Etienne was much distressed. The unexpected appearance of
+this personage, the offer of this huge sum of money, were enough
+to excite a woman more worldly-wise than she. Germaine strove to
+persuade her mistress to accept the offer.
+
+"But, my dear mistress, think of it--$4,000. It is a fortune.
+Don't let it escape you. It is a chance which will never come
+again. Think how well Yollande will be cared for. He does not mean
+to eat her at that price. Think of a stew costing $4,000. No
+indeed, the gentleman will try to keep her well as long as
+possible. It will be to his interest not to hurt her. Be sure of
+it, she will be as well cared for as she is here, if not better."
+
+Thus they talked all evening.
+
+Mother Etienne, feverishly affectionate, looked at the hen lying
+as usual asleep in the chimney corner. She could not make up her
+mind to sell her sweet Cinderella. Her affection for Yollande had
+increased with the constant care she had needed during so many
+long months. Besides, the silky tresses curling like corkscrews,
+which Germaine had kept so smooth, had been a source of amusement,
+not only to the farm but to the whole neighbourhood.
+
+That night Mother Etienne was much agitated in spite of the hot
+drink Germaine had given her. She was haunted by a horrible
+nightmare. She seemed to be lying on a bed of banknotes, whilst
+the Cochin-China, sitting heavily on her chest, reproached her
+bitterly for having handed her over to a stranger in exchange for
+a little filthy lucre. Mother Etienne, bathed in perspiration,
+seemed to suffocate under her sheets.
+
+At last dawn came, the good woman rose, her heart still terribly
+oppressed. Germaine calmed her as best she could with reassuring
+words and also with a foaming bowl of hot coffee.
+
+All morning Mother Etienne endured torments.
+
+It was three o'clock in the afternoon when suddenly the sound of a
+heavy carriage drawn by four horses was heard in the courtyard.
+Labric barked with all his might, Coco whinnied loudly, the three
+cows all mooed at the same time, and the entire poultry-yard in an
+uproar added its piercing and varied tones to the general tumult.
+The pigs especially made a great noise.
+
+It was the American's four-in-hand.
+
+He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty
+woman, exquisitely dressed in white.
+
+The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which
+served also as a reception room. On the hearth burned a small
+bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with
+fragrance. Yollande was sitting in her usual place.
+
+"Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the
+curly-haired hen?"
+
+Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.
+
+"See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000," and so
+saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums
+he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the
+astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.
+
+Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.
+
+Germaine, driven wild by this sight, began to exclaim: "Yes,
+sir,--yes, Madame. Yes, sir,--yes, Madame," and threw herself into
+the arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who
+still remained obdurate.
+
+Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne's hand, said coaxingly: "You can
+safely trust her to me. I will take care of her myself, Madame.
+With us she will become famous throughout the world. All the
+newspapers will speak of her. From your poultry-yard she will come
+into contact with the greatest courts of the world. She will be
+petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive hands. Besides all this she
+will be in good company and will have plenty to amuse her."
+
+This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the
+longed-for "Yes," which, though stifled by emotion, was seized
+upon by the American.
+
+The good woman had said "Yes," she had conquered the selfishness
+of a mother for two reasons. She did not want to prevent Yollande
+from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine
+share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had
+become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her
+of the benefit.
+
+[Illustration: Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus
+tent.]
+
+"That's all settled, then. Here's the contract," said the
+American, "you have only to sign it." And a receipt duly prepared
+was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her
+signature and a flourish. I don't know that she did not even
+embellish it with a huge blot of ink.
+
+Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande,
+who oddly enough made no resistance.
+
+"Oh please, please let me kiss her again," and, tears in her eyes,
+Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.
+
+"You will take great care of Yollande, won't you? You will send me
+news of her? Where is she to sleep to-night?"
+
+"Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared
+for her? Come with us. There is room in the carriage and I promise
+to have you brought back again at once. The camp is not far from
+here, the road is good, the horses fast, and in half an hour at
+most you will be perfectly reassured and can return with your mind
+at rest."
+
+Mother Etienne, without further thought, still guided by her
+tender maternal heart, needed no urging, but followed by the two
+Americans, walked with a brisk, firm step towards the carriage.
+Suddenly changing her mind, she said:
+
+"Will you just let me change my dress? I can't very well go out
+like this."
+
+She went to her room, an idea having entered her head, and soon
+returned very neatly dressed with a little basket in her hand.
+
+The steps were adjusted and the three people took their places on
+top, whilst Yollande, wrapped in soft woollen covers, was
+carefully placed inside, in a basket provided for that very
+purpose.
+
+When Germaine saw her mistress start off she would have liked to
+go with her, but the farm needed her attention. Besides, Miss
+Booum's promise of seats for the next performance quite consoled
+her.
+
+The carriage made a curve in the yard, went through the gate, and
+soon disappeared, bearing the two new travellers. As Miss Booum
+had said, it did not take more than half an hour to reach the
+camp, the cobs went so quickly.
+
+On the way Mother Etienne met many acquaintances to whom she waved
+a simple but cordial greeting. In most cases the carriage was
+already out of sight before they recovered sufficiently from their
+astonishment to wave back.
+
+It was a nine days' wonder.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+
+SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS
+
+
+Our travellers came in sight of the circus. Imagine, children, a
+huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets,
+houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels
+enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the
+centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up
+and down.
+
+There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men,
+little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with
+goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in
+fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit
+every possible taste.
+
+All the most curious specimens were represented. Besides these
+there was a colossal menagerie. In it there were more than twenty
+elephants, giraffes, hippopotami, rhinoceroses, zebras,
+dromedaries, camels, and the rarest kinds of antelopes. Then came
+the reptiles,--from the boa constrictor, who was ten yards long,
+to the smallest blind-worm, amongst them some of the most
+dangerous kinds. Crocodiles twenty feet long, monstrous toads,
+tortoises as big as donkeys. Then there were the wild beasts too.
+Lions from Abyssinia, from Atlas, tigers from Bengal, from Persia,
+jaguars, panthers, leopards, all the big cat family, lynx, onca,
+tiger cat. Bears of all kinds, grizzly, grey, black, and white.
+Then came wolves, foxes, coyotes, in fact the whole series of the
+dog tribe with every possible domestic variety.
+
+In little barred cages was a collection of smaller carnivorous
+animals and rodents. In a huge room all the monkeys from the big
+gorilla to the minute ouistiti or witsit, were installed; they
+squabbled, pulled one another's tails, bit one another, uttered
+piercing cries. There were constant battles going on in that
+corner.
+
+Then in an immense aviary were all the birds of creation, divided
+into classes, from the humming-bird, the size of a hornet, to the
+ostrich. This was, to tell the truth, the part that interested
+Mother Etienne most of all. She was more used to creatures of this
+kind, they reminded her of her beloved poultry-yard. In spite of
+the signs put up everywhere, "Do not feed the animals," the good
+woman who had purposely filled her basket with cakes threw them in
+indiscriminately. There were enough for all the animals she
+passed. First she threw some to the lions. The lions took no
+notice, at which she was most surprised. Her idea in offering the
+cakes was to see if the animals were hungry and to find out that
+way how they were treated.
+
+Miss Booum, who was acting as her guide, was much amused at her
+astonishment and could not resist saying:
+
+"Madame, to offer a cream bun to a tiger is like offering a
+beef-steak to an elephant. Just keep your cakes for the ostriches,
+they are so greedy that they will eat stones. If they were to keep
+a hardware store they would be certain to eat up their stock."
+
+Pleased at this permission, when she came to the ostriches, Mother
+Etienne offered them a cake, but they looked down at it very
+haughtily and suspiciously. From this she concluded that even
+those birds were so well-fed that they were not hungry and felt
+quite satisfied about Yollande.
+
+After half an hour's walk through the circus, having visited every
+corner of it, they went towards the manager's house. There five
+o'clock tea was served. Mother Etienne, quite at ease, did honour
+to the lunch so graciously provided, and after thanking Miss Booum
+gratefully, she kissed Yollande very tenderly and prepared to
+return to the farm.
+
+At a sign from the young American girl, a stout piebald pony,
+harnessed to a trap, was led forward by a groom.
+
+"That is my own carriage and my horse Charlie, which you can drive
+yourself, Madame, if you like. He is quick and safe, you may be
+sure of that. You will be at home again in less time than it took
+to come here with four horses. Farewell, dear Madame, a pleasant
+drive. Remember that we expect you tomorrow for the afternoon
+performance, and that nice little maid of yours too. Your seats
+will be reserved."
+
+The two women shook hands cordially, Mother Etienne got into the
+carriage, and took the reins. The pony feeling a hand used to
+driving, set off at a quick trot, then warming to his work flew
+over the ground. He had the paces of a big horse and had to be
+kept well in hand.
+
+Mother Etienne soon reached home delighted with her adventure. She
+was assailed by questions from Germaine and Petit-Jacques. They
+sat there drinking in her words. Mother Etienne told them as best
+she could all that had happened and all that she had seen in the
+most secret wings of the gigantic circus. Germaine in her
+excitement was forgetful enough to let the soup boil over and the
+roast burn, but all the same they dined gaily. There were still
+plenty of questions to be asked. Mother Etienne had to go over
+every detail and even to tell some stories over again. They went
+on talking far into the night--so charmed were the listeners at
+the recital.
+
+Nobody thought of going to bed. Germaine was longing for the
+morrow, she was so anxious to see for herself this fairyland.
+
+At last, midnight striking, reminded Mother Etienne that it was
+time for sleep. Then they all went to bed, each head full of the
+wonders of tomorrow's performance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S DREAM
+
+
+Mother Etienne was very restless again that night, haunted, not by
+a dreadful nightmare as before, but by a troublesome dream.
+Everything she had just seen at Sir Booum's appeared before her,
+the tiniest incidents, the least important details.
+
+All the explanations, concerning the creatures in the menagerie
+given her by the trainer, came back to her, like an object lesson
+in a curious dream.
+
+The principal person in it was Yollande. Yollande as Barnum,
+Yollande as trainer, Yollande holding in one hairy wing a stout
+whip, in the other the pitchfork as a protection against claws and
+teeth.
+
+"You see here," said Yollande in a loud voice, "you see here the
+wild ox from Madagascar, which takes the place of the horse. In
+that country he is harnessed to small, light vehicles which he
+draws along rapidly. This other is a buffalo from Caffraria. He is
+a Jack-of-all-trades, sometimes ridden, sometimes driven,
+sometimes laden, sometimes yoked to the plough. Those big striped
+animals you see yonder are giraffes. Their long necks permit them,
+without having recourse to a ladder, to eat the young shoots of
+the mimosa, of which they are very fond, as well as the fresh
+dates which usually grow at the tops of the palm-trees."
+
+In this kind of dream a strange idea was at work in the brain of
+the sleeper. With these object lessons were mingled strange,
+quaint asides.
+
+"If children had long necks like that, one couldn't keep the
+jam-pots out of their way by putting them on the top shelves of
+the cupboard."
+
+"There," went on Yollande, "are the elephants. They are used for
+all sorts of tasks. Their trunks, a continuation of their
+nostrils, serve both for breathing and holding. It is, as it were,
+an extremely sensitive and powerful hand."
+
+"Great goodness me," cried Mother Etienne; "imagine having a hand
+at the end of your nose! Would it have a glove on it and rings on
+its fingers?"
+
+All sorts of ridiculous ideas like that came into her head. The
+little beaver, who builds his houses all along the Canadian
+streams, appeared trowel in hand, mortar-board on his head, and
+Mother Etienne felt most anxious to have his valuable assistance
+in repairing her barns and mills. Dear little marabout, how useful
+you would be in the village, sweeping the streets, cleaning up the
+refuse, advance-guard of the street-cleaner with his, "Now then,
+everything into the gutter."
+
+"The antelopes are very silly, coquettish creatures to wear such
+long boas round their necks in this warm country. But, after all,
+perhaps they are wise enough, for they have chosen a kind which,
+unlike our make of furs, is cold to the touch."
+
+Yollande, in her role of trainer, went on and on like a brook.
+
+"Here, now, is a dromedary. He has a hump on his back, a fatty
+exerescence which enables him to bear much fatigue, without eating
+or drinking for several days. It is owing to this fat, rather like
+a box of provisions on his back, that he can traverse hot and
+sandy deserts where it would be difficult to find a single blade
+of grass to eat."
+
+Then through the farm bedroom passed long caravans of camels, led
+by carnival Arabs, their humps changed into gigantic larders in
+which rattled all sorts of canned things. Canned salmon, Russian
+caviare, dried biscuits, smoked meats, tongues, sardines, canned
+peas, foies-gras, lobsters, and fruits, in fact all those things
+which Mother Etienne had seen piled up in many-coloured pyramids
+at the best grocery stores. Really it was too ridiculous.--Miss
+Booum must have been making fun of her visitor.--That couldn't
+really be the best food for camels.
+
+It was still worse when it came to the turn of the hippopotami. A
+thousand ill-digested memories from the illustrated papers were in
+her mind, all mixed up. Where did the Nile and the Zanzibar flow?
+Which was it that separated Egypt from Senegal? And the gigantic
+hippopotamus, looking perfectly huge and out-of-place in a gondola
+fit for a sultana, appeared to her, floating down the calm stream,
+a red fez with a golden star on his head, puffing away at a
+peculiar double-bowled pipe, the pride of the collection of a
+retired police-officer in the village, who had it from the real
+cousin of a sea-captain from Marseilles.
+
+"Do you see those little lumps there enclosed between four boards?
+It is a nest of land-tortoises. The largest, called the Giant
+tortoise, easily supports on its back a weight of two hundred
+pounds. This shell which weighs so heavily is its house. At the
+least alarm, it retreats into its house and stays there, till all
+danger is past." This plan of walking about with your house on
+your back seemed rather a good one to Mother Etienne. You could go
+out on rainy days without getting wet, and on cold days it would
+keep your back nice and warm.
+
+"Near at hand is a collection of mammals, the kangaroo family. The
+kangaroo is the largest mammal of Australia. It is generally a
+peace-loving animal, but bites, scratches, and claws if it is
+teased. Its best defence however is flight." All these technical
+details left the good woman cold. What she remembered best were
+the practical qualities of the creatures. The kangaroo has one
+very great peculiarity, the female has a pouch, a sort of bag, in
+which she hides her young if danger appears, just as the soldier
+has his knapsack.
+
+For the first time in her life Mother Etienne was much struck
+By certain resemblances between animals and human beings,
+finding in them actions, looks, and habits which reminded her
+irresistibly of many of her acquaintances. It was amongst the
+monkeys that it was the most marked. Two chimpanzees, with pensive
+faces garbed in black, seemed to be mourning some beloved
+relative. It was as though their sad but shining eyes, gazing at
+the straw which half-covered them, were seeking something hidden,
+intangible.
+
+A family of big African monkeys, by their challenging, crafty air,
+reminded her unpleasantly of a band of good-for-nothings who for
+months had spread terror and desolation throughout the country.
+The chief--or the one who appeared to be the chief--the biggest
+and strongest, hurled himself at the bars and shook them in his
+clenched hands. He would certainly have enjoyed strangling Mother
+Etienne, had he been able to do so. Since he was not able to, he
+displayed in a huge yawn, a terrifying set of teeth, worthy of a
+wild beast. They were horrid animals, I assure you, not the kind
+you would like to meet loose on a lonely road.
+
+Fortunately some pretty little witsits, with black faces, no
+bigger than your fist, and white and grey ruffles, whistling like
+blackbirds, by their pretty tricks did away with the bad
+impression made by these sinister neighbours.
+
+[Illustration: Cake Walk; Mother Etienne's dream.]
+
+This one was a regular little mother, that one had just been
+sweeping out the yard, another was the living image of the Count's
+servant when he followed his master on his walks, carrying under
+his arm a shawl or a sunshade. An orang-outang, an elderly
+peasant, whose four big hands were clasped, suggested to her how
+useful it would be to have a helper like that to milk the cows. It
+would go twice as fast with four hands. What a lot of precious
+time it would save.
+
+And many other queer things came into her head. That yowling dog,
+that sharp-faced rabbit, are the type who come on fair-days to cry
+their papers, sell their toys, etc.--a noisy, rough crew. Goodness
+gracious! Where was Mother Etienne's absurd dream leading her?
+She, whose life was always so calm, and who, to tell the truth,
+with Germaine, were rather like the two little monkeys at the
+corner of the fire-place, hands clasped under their aprons, feet
+on foot-warmers, and little pointed handkerchiefs on their heads.
+
+At this personal picture everything turned as though by
+enchantment into one huge, vast medley, which ended in a general
+cake-walk of the whole menagerie, passing before the tired eyes of
+Mother Etienne, roaring, bellowing, mewing, whistling, howling,
+whinnying, and braying. Poor Mother Etienne was thoroughly
+exhausted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+
+MOTHER ETIENNE'S FORTUNE
+
+
+When she woke up the good woman thought of her small fortune. She
+gave it for safe keeping into the hands of her lawyer, M. La
+Plume, while she was making up her mind how she should dispose of
+it. She wanted plenty of time to think it over. She had already
+decided to give Germaine a dowry, for the whole thing was largely
+owing to her. She knew that she and Petit-Jacques were in love.
+
+"They will make a fine couple," she thought, "and later on how
+pleased I shall be to have a nice family around me--with dear
+children who will love and care for me."
+
+Then she thought of Pere Gusson--the good old man could have no
+idea of all that had happened at the farm. He was going his
+rounds, selling his wares as best he could. It was three months
+since he had appeared, he would be back again before long--he had
+already been away longer than usual.
+
+And, sure enough, two days later Neddy announced his entrance into
+the courtyard with a loud bray. If his master was glad to see
+Mother Etienne who always received him so cordially, and who
+bought so much from him, the donkey fully appreciated the hours of
+rest and the good food he found in the paddock with the cows.
+
+Mother Etienne went forward to meet the old man and gaily told him
+the whole story.
+
+He, utterly astounded, could not at first believe it. He made her
+repeat the wonder over and over again. It certainly was a very
+curious thing. He had always known his ointment was effective,
+but--as to making hair grow on a hen--that was quite another
+thing. He was just petrified by it.
+
+Mother Etienne told Germaine to serve some good cider, and all
+three drank to one another's healths.
+
+"That is not all," said Mother Etienne, "I want you to have a
+share in my good fortune. That's only fair. You have worked all
+your life, you must think of taking a rest. You have certainly
+earned it. Here is a check for $2,000 which my lawyer, M. La
+Plume, will cash for you. This sum, together with what you have
+saved, will be enough to buy a little house and garden and to keep
+you from want. If one is wise and knows how to manage, one can
+live here for very little."
+
+Father Gusson, quite upset and touched, could not find words to
+thank dear, kind Mother Etienne. It was as though he had
+unexpectedly won the big prize in the lottery. He could hardly
+believe his eyes and ears.
+
+Soon he pulled himself together and began to calculate.
+
+"I have a few savings, it is true, but I think it would be wise to
+take advantage of the fame of the ointment and double my small
+fortune. I hope that, thanks to the already widespread fame of
+Yollande, if (with your kind permission) I were to call my
+ointment, 'Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen' I should have
+considerable success."
+
+"Not only am I quite willing, but I thoroughly approve of your
+idea and strongly advise you to carry it out," replied Mother
+Etienne warmly.
+
+No sooner said than done.
+
+Father Gusson withdrew from the notary the sum, so fairly
+But generously given him, and spent his time henceforth in
+manufacturing (according to the recipe of his ancestors) the
+wonderful ointment. He filled a great quantity of jars of all
+sizes, and like the good business man he was, having adorned them
+with magnificent labels he doubled the price of the ointment and
+put on a trade mark so as to prohibit imitations. Then he bought a
+cart like Mother Etienne's and harnessed Neddy to it. On the hood
+of the cart was a huge picture of a Curly-Haired Hen, and under it
+was the inscription, "Ointment of the Curly-Haired Hen." Now the
+peddler could go his rounds, selling only this specialty, without
+need of further advertisement. The effect was magic. Doors,
+hitherto too often closed against him, opened wide at his coming
+and there was not a soul who did not buy quite a lot of it.
+
+In a month and without effort, Father Gusson took in ten times
+more money than he had earned in all his long and hardworking life
+before.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+
+TRIUMPH OF THE OINTMENT
+
+
+The craze of the public for this new preparation was
+extraordinary. A china factory, about to close its doors, made a
+fortune out of manufacturing jars for it. Of course all the bald
+people bought it. Everyone expected it to work miracles. The women
+with tow-coloured rat-tails expected to grow luxuriant black
+tresses and others with coarse scrubby black hair dreamed of
+having fine soft golden braids.
+
+A very rich land-owner, who did not care how much he spent, rubbed
+with it the back of his mangy dog, and his horse's tail, which was
+growing somewhat thin.
+
+The mayor even, they tell me, put a thick layer of it onto his
+wig, which was beginning to wear out. The district was steeped in
+it, the air seemed to smell of musk.
+
+Alas! everything has its bad side. The good side of this was for
+the merchant alone, who, though he guaranteed his wares for human
+beings, refused any further responsibility. The bad side was
+for the hens and ducks. (I believe even the geese suffered
+occasionally.) I can't tell you how many people, knowing all about
+the effect it had had on Yollande and the resultant fortune, tried
+to duplicate the famous Curly-Haired Hen, bought by Sir Booum.
+
+In the poultry-yards around, the hens for several months had a
+pretty bad time. They were nearly all plucked and rubbed with the
+ointment. It was a craze, a rage with the farmers, and those hens
+who could retain a vestige of their plumage esteemed themselves
+fortunate.
+
+It was a sad sight to see all the feathered creatures fly at the
+sight of a human being. They knew by bitter experience what to
+expect. Alas! with all these attempts with roosters, chickens,
+ducks, and turkeys, none had the desired effect. They long
+remained scented and devoid of plumage, that was all. We must take
+it that no subject as good as Yollande presented itself. Nature
+makes these queer incomprehensible distinctions, you know, which
+we just can't understand. There was _one_ Curly-Haired Hen,
+there was to be no other! For, since her metamorphosis, for a
+reason unknown to this day, the Curly-Haired Hen absolutely
+refused to lay eggs. This was, I must confess, a great
+disappointment to Sir Booum. Like the good American he was, he
+would have liked to continue the race.
+
+He had perforce to content himself with portraits of her from the
+pen of M. Vimar. One of these was sent, affectionately dedicated
+by Yollande, to her good Mother Etienne, who regards it as her
+greatest treasure, and keeps it, elegantly framed, above the
+mantelpiece in her bedroom. Never a day passes but the good woman
+looks at it with tender, motherly affection.
+
+Father Gusson is now the owner of a pretty little house and
+cultivates his own garden, in which is a corner reserved for
+Neddy, for he too has earned his rest.
+
+Germaine, to whom her mistress and adopted mother gave a good
+dowry, has just married Petit-Jacques, quartermaster, lately
+returned from his military service.
+
+It is hard to tell which is the happiest. The wedding was
+performed with much ceremony. The whole village was present, and
+amongst the various healths drunk they did not omit that of the
+"Curly-Haired Hen."
+
+Love animals, my children, be kind to them, care for them, you
+will certainly have your reward.
+
+
+
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Curly-Haired Hen, by Auguste Vimar
+
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