THE HEN FEVER. 35 



Sir, then/ 'm round!" (Shouts of "Good ! good ! good !" 

 the respectable old gentleman in the bob-wig creating a 

 cloud of dust about him with his stamping and excited 

 gestures.) 



" Mr. President, I have a'most done " (" No, no ! 



Go on, go on ! " from all parts of the house.) 



"No, sir; as I've said afore, I'm no speaker, an' I 

 make no pretenshuns to oraterry. I 'm a plain man, sir ; 

 but I feel deeply interested in this subject." (Nobody had 

 yet ascertained what the " subject " was, because the gen- 

 tleman had n't alluded to any.) " And, sir, I feel that I 

 should be unjust to myself and to this ordinance ef I did 

 not say what I have, sir. I go in for the poultry-breedin', 

 sir, all over ! Sir, » 



I love 'em, I love 'em, — an' who shall dar' 

 To chide me for loYin' and praisin' them 'eft? 



" I love 'em, sir, — chickens or poultry, — dead or alive. 

 My father afore me loved 'em, sir ; and I 'm rejoiced to see 

 the feelin's that 's exhibited here to-night. And, 'less any- 

 body should suspect that I have ventured upon these few 

 remarks with mercenary motives, Mr. President (though 

 perhaps no such suppersishun would animate no man's 

 bosom), I will state, sir, that I have no fowls to sell, sir, — 

 none whatever. No, sir ! not a fowl ! I 'm a buyer, sir, 

 — I want to Swy," shouted the excited man, — and he sat 



