They soon discovered the reason for Henrietta's unusually pompous manner.
For she began to make calls on all her friends. And she invited everybody
to come to her latest nest high up in the haymow.

"I've something there to show you," she said with an air of mystery.
"You'll be surprised to see it."

Most of Henrietta's neighbors did not show any great curiosity to see the
surprise. They smiled at one another. "She's laid another egg--that's
all!" they whispered.

But there are always some that can't rest until they know everybody
else's business. And it was lucky that Henrietta Hen hurried home to
receive her callers, because she had a good many. They came even earlier
in the afternoon than was strictly fashionable. And they came in a crowd,
too. That, however, didn't bother Henrietta Hen. Nor could they have
arrived too soon to suit her.

"Look!" she cried, when they reached her nest high up in the haymow. "Did
you ever see anything to beat that?"




X

THE BIG, WHITE EGG


When Henrietta Hen's callers crowded about her nest in the haymow they