THE HISTORY OF THE HEN FEVER. 177 



and they 're eating mo up, alive. What '11 we do with 

 them ? Do you want them ? Will you buy them — any- 

 how ? And give what you like for them. 



"They are a better lot than you ever owned, — every- 

 body says so, — Greys, Cochins {pure) and Shanghaes. 

 D — ^n the business ! I 'm sick of it. My fowls and fixin's 

 cost me over twelve hundred dollars. What do you think 

 of an auction ? Has the bottom fallen out, entirely ? Could 

 I get back two or three dollars apiece for this lot, do you 

 think, at public sale ? 



" B is stuck with about five hundred of the gorman- 



disers. I 'm glad of it — glad — glad ! An't you ? He 

 always lammed you, as well as me ; and though I think 

 yoii can swinge the green 'uns as cutely as 'most any of 

 'em, he has been an eye-sore for three* years, that ought 

 to be put down. He got his stock of you, he says, — but 



(no offence to you, friend B ), it an't worth a cuss. All 



of it 's sick and lousy, and he shan't sell no more fowls, if 

 I can help it. 



"Have you seen W 's stock, lately? Isn't lie a 



beauty ! I told him, last week, he 'd ought to be ashamed 

 of himself ever to gone into this trade, at all. He 's well 

 enough off, without stealing the bread out of the mouths of 

 them that 's a long way honester than he ever was. I '11 

 have a lick at him, yet. 



"Gome and see my stock, — and buy it. I don't want 



