BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Erk's Work, 1 February 1941, Page 27

BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

(A “Part Annual” Episode).

It was Saturday night, and the agricultural show was proceeding in fine style, with its merry round of activities, when two airmen walked into the grounds somewhat dejectedly, in search of, shall we say, for the purpose of the narrative, a certain specie of hen. After patting a bulldog or two without even so much as the slightest glimpse of a pretty girl, there came from the far corner of the exhibition building into which they had passed, a loud but unmistakable “packy-eck, packy-eck!” of a love-sick hen. The boys pricked up their ears, looked at each other in mild surprise, then with minds made up, hastily went in search of the poor forlorn hen. They found her with head cocked rather pitifully on one side in a small wire cage, and their hearts went out to her. However, before they could introduce themselves the hen became suddenly perk, and, jauntily tossing her head in the air, let go a beautiful cackle, “packy-eck! packy-eck!” that even the shyest rooster would have difficulty in resisting. The airmen turned to each other in astonishment, then facing again the expectant hen they both cried out in reply to her brief overture, “packy-eck, packy-eck!” The hen was delighted, and looking at the boys with a knowing eye, immediately laid an egg. The airmen again looked at each other, this time with growing alarm, then without stopping to offer congratulations, made a desperate, effort to reach the exit. An attendant having watched with interest this extraordinary phenomenon, followed in hot pursuit, waving his arms in the air and yelling in a voice that seemed to echo throughout the entire building, “Air Force! Air Force! Here’s your egg. Take it back to camp and have it for breakfast.”