THEIR OEIGDf IN BKITADf. 



with the appearance of the Cochin-China visiters, and he re- 

 Bolved to have a pair. He had to pay a large price — some- 

 thing like twenty guineas — ^but the purchase was, not with- 

 out some difficulty, at last made, and the precious treasures 

 conveyed to his residence in a large wicker-hasket. The next 

 day the fowl-house was erected by the carpenter, and taken 

 possession of by the two ungainly birds. Prior to this arrange- 

 ment, however, there was a very animated discussion about the 

 propriety of putting them into a fowl-house at all. One mem- 

 ber of the family suggested that perhaps it was a house-bird, 

 and ought to have a cage like a starling or canary ; another 

 small branch thought they were to run about the house as the 

 cat or dog, and what a " lark," said he, " it wiU be with them 

 and ' Tim ' " — a favourite canine friend of his. Papa's decisions 

 ultimately ruled all opposition ; there was no doubt they were 

 fowls, and should be treated accordingly. Such was the last 

 bulletin received by the servants ; and forthwith a carpenter 

 was engaged to erect the birds a domicile. The next thing to 

 be decided was, who was going to look after them. This was 

 quite as mucb a subject of discussion in the kitchen as in the 

 parlour; indeed, to such a pitch did they arrive in the latter 

 quarter, that the servants, one and all, protested against 

 having anything to do with the " narsety farrin creatures ! " 

 and uttered hurried threats of at once leaving the house if they 

 were requested to so demean themselves. My friend says, that 

 just at this critical time, the subject of engaging an extra 

 hand in the capacity of page, was mooted at the breakfast- 

 table one morning, and was, after some little discussion, agreed 

 to. There seemed to be a tacit understanding between his 

 aunt and uncle about this arrangement ; it was not so much 

 that a page was required as some one to look after the 

 "Coclrins." Forthwith, a respectable youth was engaged, and 

 the secret of his employment imparted to him. Prom the very 

 first morning of his arrival, a visible change took place in the 

 birds ; — ^whether the livery of their keeper (bright blue, with 

 yellow lice and gold buttons,) was offensive to the Cochins, or 

 the behcviour of the page was not of the most amiable kind, 

 my friend says he cannot determine. They grew morose, 

 snUen, and even spiteful; pecked at his hands while giving 

 them their food, and one morning fairly knocked him on his 

 back while engaged in cleaning out their house. At last, 

 things grew so bad, that he was obliged to arm himself with 

 a broom whenever he went near them. They would chase him 



