180 THE HISTORY OF 



" Why don't you act like a man? Carnt you? Havn't 

 you got the pluck to own up that other people have done 

 for you -what you never had the gumption to do for your- 

 self? Why don't you act fair, — and tell where the genuine 

 fowls can be got, and of who ? You 're a doing the poultry 

 business more hurt than all the rest of the men in the 

 co'untry is doing, or ever did, or ever will, sir. 



" I don't mind a man's being sharp, and looking out for 

 himself. I do that. But I carn't humbug people as you 

 are doing, — and I won't, neither. You 're sticking it into 

 the people nicely, — don't you think you are ? And they 

 believe it, too ! The people believes what you tell them, 

 and sucks it all down, and wants more of it. And you 

 keep a giving it to them, too ! How long do you suppose 

 such infamous' things as these can last ? I hope thjs letter 

 will do you good. I havn't no ends to answer. I keep 

 but a few fowls, and I have never charged over twenty-fivo 

 dollars a pair for the best of them, — ^^as you know. You 

 get fifty or a hundred dollars a pair. So the noospapers 

 Bay, but I believe you lie when they say so. You carn't 

 come this over me ! You don't pull none of that wool 

 over my eyes ! No, sir ! 



" If you want to get an honest living, — get it ! I don't 

 say nothin against that ; you 've a rite to. But don't 

 cheat the people out of their eye-teeth, by telling these 



