186 THE HISTORY OF 



like them four fowls. What.'s the lowest price you'll 

 name for them ? " 



" I never have but one price, sir," I replied. " These 

 fowls I keep here for show-birds. They are my 'sign,' 

 you perceive — my models. The younger stock, that you 

 have seen outside, are hred from these; and thus I am 

 enabled to show gentlemen, when they come here, what the 

 others will be " — (perhaps, I might have added ; but I 

 did n't). 



This gentleman remained half an hour at my house, and 

 we talked the whole subject over, at our leisure. I agreed 

 with him in every proposition that he advanced, and he 

 finally left me with the assurance that I had been traduced 

 villanously. He really expected to meet with a regular 

 sharper when he encountered me ; but he was satisfied, if 

 there was a gentleman and an honest poultry-breeder in 

 New England, / was that fortunate individual ! 



I did not dispute even this assurance on his part. And 

 when he left, I had one hundred dollars of his money, and 

 he took away with him four of my " splendid " pure-bred 

 Grey Shanghaes, which I sent to the cars with him when he 

 bade me good-day. 



This was but a single sample of the real humbugs that 

 presented themselves to us, from time to time, all of whom 

 were certain to inform us that they were "thoroughly 

 acquainted" with the entire details of the busine^;; .all of 



