Harper's Young People, October 12, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly

In a sun‑bright June morning the narrator arrives at Featherdale, drawn by Bessie Rathbun’s eager letters about a plump, yellowish‑brown hen named Coachy. The little girl’s devotion is palpable, as she cradles the feathered friend, feeds her corn, and shares stories of the hen’s hard past—an orphaned chick who lost two toes in a winter accident. The scene is painted with simple rural charm, from blue slippers to the scent of garden earth, inviting listeners into a world of innocent companionship.

As the afternoon drifts on, Bessie confides that Coachy’s loneliness grows; without other hens she may soon have to be sent to a distant farm for her own health. The narrator feels a tug of sympathy, while the household buzzes with ordinary chores and a mysterious letter left on a door‑mat. This gentle tale balances warmth and quiet melancholy, offering a snapshot of childhood devotion and the difficult choices that sometimes accompany caring for a beloved creature.