The Barn-Yard Convention

By Elizabeth M. Bruce ^[1]

Annotations by Jessica Abell

The fowls in the barnyard had a dispute about the amount of corn that each one ought to have at the feeding time.

The turkey said that he ought to have more than any of the others, as he was larger, and of course it would take more corn to keep him alive than it would a little fowl like a hen.

The hen replied that she had chickens to feed , and the turkey had none and of course she ought to have the larger portion.

The rooster said that he ought to have more than the hen as was the father of the family and that was a sufficient reason why he should have the largest share of everything.

The duck said that her feet were larger than the others and that was a sure sign that it was intended that she should be provided in other ways more bountifully than the others.

The dispute waxed hot, all the disputants talking at the same time and almost flying in each other’s faces, they were so eager to be heard. “Quack, quack,” said that duck: “Gobble, gobble,” said the turkey: and “cluck, cluck,” said the hen, and “peep! peep! peep,” cried the chickens who were near being run over in all the confusion.

Mooly cow was looking quietly out of the stable window while all this strife was going on, and she brought the whole foolish crowd to their senses finally by remarking:

“You may as well stop your noisy rout now, as there is nothing left for you to quarrel over. The dove has eaten up all the corn while you were trying each to get the largest share.”

Bruce, Elizabeth M. “The Barn-Yard Convention.” The Myrtle., vol. 33, no. 46, [J.M. Usher], 1884. Hathi Trust, https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/100432521.