THE HEN FEVER. 219 



of those who have not yet availed themselves of the splendid 

 promise that awaits the men who are yet to come after us, 

 to do as we have done ! And, to those who are now about 

 to undertake the commendable occupation of attempting to 

 breed ' fancy poultry,' I will only say, ' Go on, gentlemen ! 

 Forward, in your delightfully pleasing and profit-promising 

 ambition ! Purchase none but the best stock, without 

 regard to price; and fo-eec? it (if you can !) Everybody 

 wants to buy, — everybody toi/Z buy, — and the hens that 

 lay the golden eggs are still for sale, within the sound of my 

 voice (unless they have all been bought up since I entered 

 this hall). But there are still a few more left, I have no 

 doubt, gentlemen ; and, I charge you, seize them while you 

 may ! ' " 



A general stampede followed my speech. I sedUred my 

 clothes, and, for three hours afterwards, I found it impossi- 

 ble to get within fifty feet of my show-cages, in consequence 

 of the throng of purchasers that crowded around them ! 



There must have been some charm about those magical 

 coops of mine. They were filled and refilled, twenty times 

 over ; but they were as often emptied, and at singularly 

 gratifying prices, both to buyer and seller. - 



