第24部分 (第5/8页)

ds　won't　be　laying　anything　a…tall！”

“They　won't？”

“Well；　very　little。”

I　shook　my　head；　then　said；　“They　were　just　my　chicks　that　grew　into　chickens　and　started

laying　eggs。　I　never　really　thought　of　it　as　a　business。”

“Well；　my　runnin'　a　tab　has　probably　contributed　to　that；　and　I'm　sorry。　I'll　be　sure　and　get　you

the　whole　sum　this　week；　but　consider　buying

yourself　a　rooster　with　some　of　it。　I've　got　a　friend　down　on　Newb　Street　who　is　positively

green　over　my　deviled　eggs。　I　gave　her　my　recipe；　but

she　says　hers　just　don't　taste　the　same。”　She　winked　at　me。　“I'm　certain　she'd　pay

handsomely　for　a　supply　of　my　secret　ingredient　if　it　became

available。”　She　turned　to　go；　then　said；　“By…the…by；　Julianna；　you　have　done　a　mighty　fine　job

on　that　front　yard。　Most　impressive！”

“Thanks；　Mrs。　Stueby；”　I　called　as　she　slid　open　her　patio　door。　“Thanks　very　much。”

I　finished　scooping　up　the　piles　I'd　made　and　thought　about　what　Mrs。　Stueby　had　said。

Should　I　really　get　a　rooster？　I'd　heard　that　having　one

around　made　chickens　lay　more；　whether　they　were　in　contact　with　each　other　or　not。　I　could

even　breed　my　chickens　and　get　a　whole　new　set　of

layers。　But　did　I　really　want　to　go　through　all　of　that　again？

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Not　really。　I　didn't　want　to　be　the　neighborhood　rancher。　If　my　girls　quit　laying　altogether；　that

would　be　just　fine