THE HEN FEVER. 89 



Similar documents were often received bj me, from 

 friends and customers who knew how to appreciate good 

 stock ; and I have now hundreds of letters on file, of the 

 most flattering character, — from every State in the Union, 

 from England, Ireland, France, Bavaria, etc., where my 

 stock was sent, and was roundly paid for, — all of which 

 letters (with their enclosures, from time to time) served 

 amply to "balance accounts" against the few received of 

 an opposite character, and aided materially, also, to keep 

 " the subscriber " from caving in ! 



Among the most friendly customers I ever had, and those 

 who bought the most liberally, — while they were the most 

 kindly in all their intercourse with me, — I must mention 

 my patrons of the South generally, but especially the buy- 

 ers in New Orleans and its vicinity. I never met witli a 

 trickster amongst them, ^and they paid me thousands upon 

 thousands of dollars, without a word of cavil or complaint, 

 from first to last. These fanciers had long purses, and 

 are live men, with hearts "as big as a bam," so far as 

 my experience goes. 

 8* 



