THE HEN FEVER. 17 



my residence in Roxbury, where it arrived two hours after 

 dark. 



I had long been looking for the coming of these Celestial 

 strangers, and the "fever," which I had originally taken 

 in a very kindly way, had by this time afiFected me rather 

 seriously. I imagined I had a fortune on board that 

 steamer. I looked forward with excited ideas to beholding 

 something that this part of the world had never yet seen, 

 and which would surely astound "the people," when I 

 could have the opportunity to show up my rare prize, — all 

 the way from the yards or walks of royalty itself! I 

 waited and watched, with anxious solicitude, — and, at last, 

 the box arrived at my house. It was a curiously-built box 

 — the fashion of it was unique, and substantial, and foreign 

 in its exterior. I supposed, naturally,' that its contents 

 must be similar in character. That box contained my 

 " Cochin-Chinas," — bred from the Queen's stock, — about 

 which, for many weeks, I had been so seriously disturbed. 



I am now well satisfied that the " Cochin-China " variety 

 of fowl is a gross fable. If such a breed exist, in reality, 

 we have never had them in this country. Anything (and 

 everything) has been called by this name among ua, in the 

 last five years ; but the engraving on the following page, 

 in my estimation (and I have been there !), is the nearest 

 thing possible to a likeness of this long petted bird ; and 

 will be recognized, I think, by more than one victim, as an 

 2* 



