50 THE HISTORY OP 



what I did for " the cause," and how liberally I was 

 rewarded for my candor, my honesty of purpose, and my 

 disingenuousness, — tears of gratitude and wonder rush to 

 my eyes, and my overcharged heart only finds its solace by 

 turning to my ledger and reading over, again and again, the 

 list of prices that were then paid me by " the people," week 

 after week, and month after month, for my " magnificent 

 samples " of " pure-bred " Cochin-China chickens, the 

 original of which I had imported, and which were said to 

 have been bred from the stock of the Queen of Great 

 Britain. 



But, the Mutual Admiration 1 mean, the " Soci- 

 ety " whose name was like 



" Lengthened sweetness, long drawn out," 

 was about to hold its second annual exhibition ; and, as the 

 number of its members had largely increased, and as each 

 and all of those who pulled the wires of this_ concern (while 

 at the same time they were pulling the wool over the eyes 

 of " the people ") had plans of their own in reference to 

 details, I made up my mind, although I felt big enough to 

 stand up even in this huge hornet's nest of competition, to 

 have things to suit my " notions." 



I now had fowls to sell ! I had raised a large quantity 

 of chickens ; winter was. approaching, corn was high, they 

 required shelter, the roup had destroyed scores of fowls for 

 my neighbors, and I did n't care to winter over three oi 



