140 THE HISTOKT OJ 



But this was not so bad as was the case of one of hi^j 

 neighbors, however, who paid a round price for half a dozen, 

 choice eggs, queer-looking speckled eggs — small,, round, 

 " outlandish " eggs — which he felt certain wraild. produce 

 rare chicks, and which he was very cautious in setting; 

 under his very best hen. • . 



At the end of a few days he was startled, at the break- 

 fast-table, to hear his favorite hen screaming "bloody mur- 

 der " from within the coop ! He rushed to the rescue, 

 raised the box-Jid, and found her still on the nest, but in a 

 frightful perturbation — struggling, yelling and cackling, 

 most iVOciferously. 



He spoke to her kindly and softly.; he would fain,; 

 appease and quiet her ; for there was great danger, lest, in 

 her excitement and struggles, she would destroy the favorite^ 

 eggs — those rare eggs, which had cost him so much money 

 and trouble. But, soft words were vain. His "best" 

 hen continued to scream lustily, and he raised her from the. 

 nest to look into the cause of the trouble more critically. 

 His astonishment was instantaneous, but immense ; and his j 

 surprise found vent in the brief but expressive exclamation, 

 " Turkles — by thmider !" 



Such was the fact. This poor, innocent poultry-,: 

 " fancier " was the victim of misplaced confidence. The 

 party who sold him them eggs had sold the buyer shock- 

 ingly! And instead of a brood of pure Cochin- Chinas, 



