Ozark Mountain Freak

Here is another story from my file entitled: “Ozark Animal Adventures & Oddities.”

A chicken- within a chicken is, according- to the St. Louis Republic, the remarkable freak of nature witnessed by Attorney Alexander Young during his recent sojourn in the Ozark mountains.

If Judge Young were not rooted for his veracity, affidavits would be required.

As it is his remarkable reputation for truthfulness puts the stamp of credibility upon the story which he told the other day upon his return.

While hunting; in the Ozarks one day, Judge Young come to a lonely cottage tenanted by John Brown and family. He stopped there three days, fishing, and on the day of his departure the good family offered to kill the biggest chicken on the place for dinner. A big yellow leg, the largest chicken for its age ever seen on the place, was singled out for the ax. Mrs. Brown informed her guest that it had been hatched from, the biggest egg ever laid in the place during 25 years. She "allowed'' that the chicken which came from it would be a whopper. It more than exceeded her expectations. On occasions, however, it seemed to droop and pine.

After a long chase yellow leg was brought to a stump where wood was split. The whole family and their guests went out to see the killing. The negro woman chopped off the head and threw the jumping, flopping body on the ground. When it lay still she picked the feathers and split open the breast. The negro's screams attracted Judge Young and Mr. Brown, who had retired to the houses to discuss politics. Mrs. Brown, who was in the kitchen superintending dinner, witnessed the freak and explained what had happened. Mr. Brown guessed his wife and the negro cook "had 'em.' Judge Young regained his appetite for chicken and theorized that the freak of nature must have been hatched from an egg within an egg. The negro revived and "declared fo' God de debil'" had sent his message to her. It was finally agreed that the judge was right in his theory.

The inside chicken staggered about blindly. It had no eyes. Close observation revealed that its growth had been stunted.

"You ugly monster! That explains it," said Mrs. Brown, as she glanced at the freak in horror.

"Explains what?" asked the judge. "Why, old yellow legs always ate enough for two chickens, and I said so repeatedly."

There was chicken for dinner.

Works Cited:
“Ozark Mountain Freak.” Daily Republican 25.144 (21Sept.1897) 5. Access Newspaper Archive. Baxter County Library, Mountain Home, AR. 25 Dec. 2009 http://www.access.newspaperarchive.com/.
“Ozark Mountain Freak.” Naugatuck Daily News 2.382 (30 Sept. 1897) 3. Access Newspaper Archive. Baxter County Library, Mountain Home, AR. 25 Dec. 2009 http://www.access.newspaperarchive.com/.
“Ozark Mountain Freak.” San Antonio Light 27.243 (20Sept. 1897) 2. Access Newspaper Archive. Baxter County Library, Mountain Home, AR. 25 Dec. 2009 http://www.access.newspaperarchive.com/.