THE HEN FEVER. 288 



"Arriving at the lijtel, the youngster found the landlord, 

 and said, 



" 'Here 's a pair of rousing big chickens Mr. M s haa 



sent up ; and he says he '11 be here to dine with you at four 

 o'clock.' 



"The landlord supposed that his friend knew a hawk from 

 a handsaw, as well as a canvass-back from a broiled owl ; 

 and believed that he had 'sent up' something a little extra 

 for the proposed dinner. He therefore ordered the two birds 

 to be placed in the hands of the cook, and gave directions 

 also to have these ' model Shanghaes ' killed and dressed 

 at once, for the proposed dinner, to come off at four o'clock 

 p. M. ! 



" This order was promptly obeyed : and at the hour ap- 

 pointed the chicken-fancier made his appearance, in com- 

 pany with a few of the 'boys,' and the dinner was served 

 up with due accompaniments. After indulging in sundry 

 wine bitters, as a sharpener to their appetites, the snug 

 party sat down to table, and the liberal owner of the forty- 

 dollar Shanghaes was politely invited to carve. While in 

 the act of dissecting those enormous ' members of the late 

 hen convention,' the amateur remarked, 



" ' 'Pon my word, Major, you 've a noble pair of chickens 

 heie, to be sure.' 



"'Yes, yes,' responded the Major. 'I think they are 

 an indifferently good-sized pair of birds. They were sent 



