第24部分(第4/7 頁)

　rooster？”

“Why；　certainly。　Those　hens　need　some　motivation　to　start　laying　more！”

It　was　true。　Bonnie　and　Clydette　and　the　others　were　only　laying　about　half　the　eggs　that　they

used　to；　but　a　rooster？　“I　don't　think　the

neighborhood　would　appreciate　my　getting　a　rooster；　Mrs。　Stueby。　Besides；　we'd　get　chicks

and　I　don't　think　we　can　handle　any　more　poultry　back

here。”

“Nonsense。　You've　spoiled　these　birds；　giving　them　the　whole　yard。　They　can　share　the

space。　Easily！　How　else　are　you　going　to　maintain　your

business？　Soon　those　birds　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　oth