IT was things like this that made Alice ask herself with ever greater frequency, "Why do husbands complicate life so?" There was also a heresy that tormented her. It was, "Do children bring husbands and wives closer together?" Certainly the question of the chickens did not. Why did Tom think that chickens would suddenly make Robert responsible?
It is the theory held by all mothers that the care of animals is a developing thing for children, but every practical mother knows that even the most well-beloved animals will have to be fed by older people half the time. There is not a mother in her senses who believes that one can give a child a garden, or even a kitten, and not have to help along with interest and attention; and there is scarcely a father in the world who does not believe that by the giving of a plot of ground or a brood of chickens, responsibility will magically blossom, without any cultivating on his part.
Ever since there had been chickens enough so that Sara and Robert had to walk with a preserving kettle, to get table scraps for them at a neighbor's, life, it seemed to Alice, had been one long controversy. Even now she heard Tom proclaiming:
"Garbage shall not be carried in Jamie's cart! I bought this cart for Jamie."
To this Sara was heard pleading:
"Chicken scraps isn't garbage, Father. Chicken scraps isn't swill!"
Tom's mother turned an accusing eye on Alice.
