THE HEN FBVJJR. 299 



They were purchased by a Mr. Samuel Long, a house builder 

 and contractor, who fancied he had by the transaction 

 secured an immense fortune. 



Now, Mr. Long had acquired the sheep fever precisely 

 as thousands of others (in later days) have taken the ,hen 

 fever. And, in this case, the victim was rfelly rabid with 

 the Merino mania. In proof of this, the following authentic 

 anecdote will be amply sufficient and convincing. 



There resided, at this time, in Lexington, Ky., and but a 

 short distance from Mr. Clay's villa of Ashland, a wealthy 

 gentleman, named Samuel Trotter, who was, in fact, the 

 money-king of Kentucky, and who, to a very great extent, 

 at that time, controlled the branch of the Bank of the 

 United States. He had two sheep, — a buck and an ewe, — 

 and Mr. Long was very anxious to possess them. 



Mr. Long repeatedly bantered and importuned Mr. Trot- 

 ter to obtain this pair of sheep from him, but without suc- 

 cess; but, one day, the latter said to the former, " If you 

 will build me -such a house, on a certain lot of land, as I 

 shall describe, you shall have the Merinos." 



"Draw your plans for the buildings," replied Long, 

 instantly, " and let me see them; I will then decide." 



The plans were soon after submitted to him, and Long 

 eagerly accepted the proposal, and forthwith engaged in the 

 enterprise. He built for Trotter a four-story brick house, 

 about fifty feet by seventy, on the middle of an acre of 



