THE HEN FEVER. 158 



"Tanny" couldn't be bought, and 30 my competitors 

 olanned together to destroy her. The old fogies did n't like 

 this breed, and they resolved to annihilate all chance of its 

 perpetuation. I placed her in better quarters, where she 

 would be more secure from intrusion or surprise. I' told 

 her of my fears, — and didvJt she crow ? She flapped her 

 bright black wings, and crowed all over. " Cock-a-doodle- 

 doo — 00 — 00!" shouted "Faimy," while her sharp 

 eyes twinkled, her fair throat trembled, and the exhilarating 

 tone of defiance seemed to reach to the very tips of her 

 shining toe-nails. " Cock-a-too — roo — 00!^' she shrieked; 

 " let 'em come, too ! See what they '11 do — 00 ! I '11 take 

 care of you — 00 ! Don' t get in a s^oo — 00 ! Pooh — pooh 

 — poo — poo! " 



Maybe "Fanny" didn't crow! And I learned to 

 crow. It was beautiful ! She crowed, and I crowed. We 

 crowed together. She in her way, — -'I in mine. The duet 

 was mellifluous, cheering, soul-stirring, life-invigorating, 

 profitable. 



" Fanny" went into New York State, crowing when she 

 left, crowing as she went, and continuirg to crow until she 

 crowed the community there clear through the next fourth 

 o' July, out into the fabled millenium. She crowed MessfS. 

 Derby & Miller into a handsome fortune, and Mason & 

 Brothers into ditto. She crowed one Hyacinth into the 

 shreds of a cocked hat and battered knee-buckles. She 



