28 THE BANTAM.

 "The old bantam left her chickens yesterday, Willie,"
she said. "You know the mother always leaves the
chickens as soon as they are able to take care of them-
selves."
 "Do they?" said Willie. "I am glad boys' mothers
don't. I am old enough, to be sure, to take care of my-
self; but I am not old enough to part with my mother."
 "Not quite old enough for either, Willie," said Mrs.
Bemis, smiling. "Boys at four years old can't take as
good care of themselves as chickens at four weeks. But,
Willie, I was going to tell you that I took two of the
chickens off the roost last evening, and put them in a
covered basket. One I mean for you, and the other for
your little Cousin George."
 "Oh, thank you, Mrs. Bemis. I like bantams, and I
like white bantams above all things-they look so cun-
ning."
 Well, here they are, Willie," said Mrs. Bemis, bring-
ing the basket from the door-step. "Carry them home,
deary, and take one out; and ask your father to carry the
other to Cousin George, when he goes to his office. Go
straight home, Willie, and don't take off the cover."
 "Oh yes, ma'am," said Willie; and he was so full of
delight, and so full of the surprise and pleasure that
George would have, that he ran off without thanking
Mrs. Bemis. But he soon recollected himself, and ran
back, saying, "Thank you, Mrs. Bemis, a thousand times,
for my bantam, and thank you for George's too. But
how shall I know which is George's?"
 Oh, it's no matter which. They look just alike."
 Away again Willie ran. When he was half way home
he met Russel Sloane.
 "Oh, Russel! he said, "guess what is in this basket."
 "Guess! I guess it's nothing."
 "Well, I guess, Master Russel, it is two of the com-
pletest little bantams you ever saw."
 "I don't believe it, Will."
 "Then you may just look for yourself," replied Willie,
and he pulled up the cover. There, ain't they bantams!