The Best About the Indian Runner 



CHAPTER VI 



I cannot, of course, vouch for the accuracy of the statements,, 

 any more than I can vouch to you my own accuracy and truth- 

 fulness. You must judge from your knowledge of human nature 

 and the probabilities. Most of these letters have come to me in 

 the regular line of acquaintanceship or of business ; some of them 

 because I was the author of the book. I know no reason to doubt 

 any one of them, other than that it is human to question that 

 which exceeds the normal, or that which we have believed nor- 

 mal. But there is so much of this "Best" testimony, and it is so 

 strong, that I can only defend you from getting over-enthusiastic 

 by urging that you read "the best" and "the worst" always at the 

 same sitting! 



We might beg^n with the personal testimony of the editor 

 of "Gleanings" before referred to. I do not think there is a 

 man in the United States whose unsupported word would be 

 taken quicker and by more people than "Brother Root's" In 

 one issue, Mr. Root says: "Today is April 6, and my one In- 

 dian Runner duck I have several times mentioned is still laying 

 her egg a day, and she has done this now for almost if not 

 quite 100 days without a break. I have read stories like this, 

 but I fear I shall have to confess I never expected to own a fowl 

 of any sort that could give a big, white egg (or perhaps I should 

 say, rather, a bluish-green egg) for over three months, without a 

 skip." In the next issue, appearing two weeks later, Mr. Root 

 refers to "that Indian Runner duck that laid over 100 eggs with- 

 out a miss." The following issue contained a story of another 



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