THE SOLILOQUY OF A RATIONALISTIC CHICKEN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 464, 19 April 1890, Page 8

THE SOLILOQUY OF A RATIONALISTIC CHICKEN.

Most strangs, most queer, although most excellent a change! Shades of the prison-house ye disappear ! My fettered thoughts have won a wider range, And like my legs are free ; No longer huddled up so pitiably. Free now to pry and probe and peep and peer, And make these mysteries out. Shad a freeth inking chicken live in doubt? For now in doubt undoubtedly I am, And I’m not one to either shirk or sham ; I won't be blinded and £ won’t be blind. New let me see ! First, I would know how did I get in there ? Then, where was I of yore ? Besides, why didn't I get out before ? Dear me! Hereare three puzzlesfoutof plenty more), Enough to give me pip upon the brain. But let me think again ! How do I know I ever was inside ? Now, I reflect, it is, I do maintain, Less than my reason and beneath my pride To think that I could dwell In such a paltry miserable cell As that old shell. OE course I couldn’t! How could I have lain. Body and besk and feathers, legs and wings, And my deep heart’s sublime imaginings, In there? I meet the notion witli profound disdain ; It’s quite incredible ; since I declare (And I’m a chicken that you can’t deceive) What I can't understand I wont believe. "Where did I come from then ? Ah ! where indeed ? This is a riddle monstrous hard to read. I have it! Why, of course, All things are moulded by some plastic force Out of some atoms somewhere up in space, Fortuitously concurrent anyhow. There, now! That’s plain us is the beak upon my face. What’s that I hear? My mother cackling at me. Just her way; So prejudiced and ignorant I say, So far behind the wisdom of the day. Whut’s old I can’t revere. Hark at her! ‘‘You’re a silly chick, tuy dear, That’s quite as plain alack ! As is the piece of shell upon j T our bac.,.” How bigotted ! Upon my back, indeed ! I don’t believe it’s there ; For I don’t see it—and I do declare, For all her fond decision, W hat I can't see, I never will believe in !