THE HISTORY OF THE HEN FEVER. 15 



was thought a great deal of by its members, — especially 

 when the concern was short of funds, — in this case they 

 thought my proposed title was altogether too applicable ; 

 and the original name, above quoted, was adhered to. 



I was honored with the office of vice-president of the 

 society, for Massachusetts ; to which place I was reelected 

 annually, I believe, until the period of its death. For 

 which honor I was not ungrateful, and in consideration of 

 which, "as in duty bound, I have ever prayed" for the 

 association's prosperity and weal. 



The first name that was placed upon the list of sub- 

 scribers to the constitution of this society was that of His 

 Excellency Geo. N. Briggs, formerly Governor of this 

 commonwealth. He was followed by a long list of 

 "mourners," most of whom probably ascertained, within 

 five years from the hour when they subscribed to this roll, 

 that causing the cock's spur to grow between his eyes was 

 not quite so easy a thing to accomplish as one " experienced 

 poultry-breeder " at this meeting coolly asserted it to be ! 

 How many attempted this experiment (as well as numerous 

 others there suggested as feasible), I am not advised. But 

 I am inclined to think that those who did try it found it to 

 be "all in their eye." 



While these gentlemen were arranging the details of the 

 new " society," and were deciding upon what the duties of 

 the officers and committees should be, I quietly wrote oi(t 



