16 ESSEX SOCIETY. 



tribes, which has sprung up of late years, promises the most 

 satisfactory results. This interest is most strongly manifested 

 when men are so far carried away by their enthusiasm as not 

 only to cackle and crow with delight over their choice young 

 broods, but so far identify themselves with the feathered race 

 as actually to lay eggs — on editors' tables ; and when even our 

 grave legislators are contented to sit so much longer than the 

 most patient of the poultry tribes. People are beginning to ap- 

 preciate the value of these once neglected races. They see 

 that they not only yield good pecuniary returns, but that in 

 other respects they are the friends and benefactors of our race. 

 Without their aid, what a gloom would be cast over our 

 Thankgiving festival, and what an absurd mockery would it 

 be to congratulate each other on a merry Christmas. Suppose 

 the female fowls to be animated by some patriotic impulse, — 

 such, for instance, as was once felt by our Revolutionary 

 mothers in their refusal of tea, — and that they should unani- 

 mously refuse to lay eggs, what a revolution would take place 

 in our kitchens and larders, and of what possible use would be 

 books of cookery and housewifery ! Sensibility shudders at 

 the solidity of fruit cakes, and humanity mourns over the spe- 

 cific gravity of batter puddings ! 



We gladly turn from this sad picture to witness the quiet 

 enjoyment of the feathered families as they range their little 

 domain. With what joyful exultation is the advent of each 

 new laid egg announced by the merry cackling of the whole 

 domestic assemblage. How carefully and tenderly the matron- 

 ly hen attends her young chicks until their arrival to the full 

 maturity of pullethood. How proudly and with what majestic 

 mein and dainty step does Chanticleer walk the barn-yard, and 

 with what courteous dignity and chivalrous courage does he 

 watch over his feathered realm. No wonder that Socrates, the 

 wisest of ancient philosophers, thought this noble bird the most 

 acceptable sacrifice to the immortal gods, and that our Puritan 

 sires placed his effigy on the spires of their houses of worship. 

 He IS the herald of the morning, and the clear and ringing tones 

 of his warning voice are first heard to awaken slothful man to 

 the duties of the day. As saith the quaint old legend — 



