156 THE HISTORY OF 



iiisisted, and his manner was peculiarly urgent and deter- 

 mined. 



"My carriage is at the door," he said; "and I will 

 bring you back here in twenty minutes. I have some pure- 

 blood stock I desire to dispose of." 



" What is it, doctor ?" I asked. 



" Chickens, chickens !" replied the doctor, briefly. 



I assured the gentleman that I had near a thousand fowls 

 on hand at this time, and had no possible wish to increase 

 the number. 



" They are pure-bred — cost me high," he continued; 

 " are very fine, but I must part with them — come ! " 



I joined him, and we rode a mile or more, when he halted 

 before a fine, large house ; his servant in waiting took his 

 horse, and he ushered me into his well-appointed poultry- 

 house, at the rear of his dwelling. 



The buildings were glazed in front and upon the roofs ; 

 the yards were spacious and cleanly, and appropriately 

 divided; the laying and hatching rooms were roomy and 

 convenient ; the roosting-house was airy and pleasant, and 

 everything was, seemingly, in excellent order, and arranged 

 with good taste throughout. 



"That cock cost me twenty dollars," said the doctor, 

 calmly. " Those two hens I paid eighteen dollars for. 

 That bird, yonder, twelve dollars. These five pullets stand 

 me in about forly-five dollar*. I have never yet been able 



