CHAPTER XVII. 



RUNNING IT INTO THE GROUND. 



Therk now seemed to be no limit whatever to the prices 

 that fanciers -vrould pay for what were deemed the best sam- 

 ples of fowls. For my own part, from the very commence- 

 ment I had been considerate and merciful in tny charges. 

 True, I had been taken down handsomely by a Briton (in 

 my original purchase of Cochin-Chinas), but I did not 

 retaliate. I was content with a fair remuneration ; my 

 object, principally, was to disseminate good stock among 

 " the people," for I was a democrat, and loved the dear 

 people. 



So I charged lightly for my "magnificent" samples, 

 while other persons were selling second and third rate stock 

 for five or even six and eight dollars a pair. The ' ' Grey 

 Shanghaes" had got to be a "fixed fact" in England, as 

 well as in this country, and still I was flooded with orders 

 continually. 



I obtained $25, $50, $100 a pair, for mine ; and one 

 gentleman, who ordered four greys, soon after the Queen's 



