142 FARMING IT 



time, of no particular value, I also eliminate from 

 the estimate. 



" What else did they cost ? 



" First, the love and affection of my wife ; and 

 really an unprejudiced person could not fail to 

 be immensely impressed with the size and variety 

 of her repertoire on the hen question. 



" Second, the lining of several coats, caused by 

 carelessly putting new laid eggs into my pockets 

 and forgetting them until I sat down on them. 



"Third, the regard of kind neighbors, whose 

 flower and vegetable-gardens have been ruined 

 by some other person's hens masquerading as 

 mine. 



"Fourth, the necessity of repainting at great 

 expense a democrat wagon and a concord, which 

 had, without my knowledge or consent, served 

 as roosts during the winter for several vagrant 

 biddies which eschewed the comforts of the hen- 

 house. 



" Fifth, public disgrace of the entire family in 

 serving to distinguished guests breakfast bacon 

 and addled and explosive eggs, taken by mistake 

 from under a setter. 



" Sixth, a permanent scar on my face, received 

 in taking a setter off her nest. 



" Seventh, my arm in a sling for ten days as a 

 result of separating two fighting cocks, and re- 

 ceiving a prodigious thump and a deep spur- 



