40 THE HISTORY OF THE HEN TEVER. 



five dollars. This paid me, because I sent off a great 

 many. 



But they didn't hatch well after having been transported 

 away and shaken over in the hands of careless and igno- 

 rant or reckless express agents. Thus the buyers came 

 again. Many of the early fanciers tried this experiment 

 over and over again, but with similar ill-success ; and when 

 they had expended ten, twenty, or thirty dollars, perhaps, for 

 eggs, they would begin at the beginning aright, and pur- 

 chase a few chickens to rear, from which they could finally 

 procure their own eggs, and go forward more successfully. 

 But all this took time to bring it about. . • 



And meanwhile somebody (I don't say who) was 

 " feathering a certain nest " as rapidly as a course of high- 

 minded and honorable dealing with his fellow-men would 

 permit. 



