"You ought to be very proud, ma'am," said Uncle Henry, who was
astonished to hear a hen talk so sensibly.

"Oh, I am," she replied. "I've the loveliest pearl necklace you ever
saw. Come in the house and I'll show it to you. And I've nine leg
bracelets and a diamond pin for each wing. But I only wear them on
state occasions."

They followed the Yellow Hen into the house, which Aunt Em declared
was neat as a pin. They could not sit down, because all Billina's
chairs were roosting-poles made of silver; so they had to stand while
the hen fussily showed them her treasures.

Then they had to go into the back rooms occupied by Billina's nine
Dorothys and two Daniels, who were all plump yellow chickens and
greeted the visitors very politely. It was easy to see that they were
well bred and that Billina had looked after their education.

In the yards were all the children and grandchildren of these eleven
elders and they were of all sizes, from well-grown hens to tiny
chickens just out of the shell. About fifty fluffy yellow youngsters
were at school, being taught good manners and good grammar by a young
hen who wore spectacles. They sang in chorus a patriotic song of the
Land of Oz, in honor of their visitors, and Aunt Em was much impressed
by these talking chickens.

Dorothy wanted to stay and play with the young chickens for awhile,
but Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had not seen the palace grounds and
gardens yet and were eager to get better acquainted with the marvelous