tomers at twenty-one cents per dozen above the price of eggs at our local 

 stores. Our trade stood by us the year around, and was cash every thirty 

 days. We thought we had the "best ever" in our line of customers, but, 

 will yeu believe it, there came a time when we threw it up because we had 

 something in the poultry line that paid many times better! But of that I 

 will tell you later. 



Our poultry business at this time had grown to become quite an ex- 

 tensive proposition, and my wife and I worked hard before and after 

 "regular hours." Our city customers were eager for broilers, and we of 

 course, were as eager to supply them. I made a trip to the city, to get 

 prices at the most exclusive shops, and ^en I examined the broilers they 

 offered for sale, I raised our price; for, after knowing what a dainty mor- 

 sel a fancy broiler is, I would not eat the inferior carcasses exhibited in 

 the best city markets. 



Our broilers went as fast as we could dress them. We took great pains 

 to send only fancy birds, and our Ancona cockerels had the yellow skin 

 and legs that made them winners when our customers saw them. We 

 cleaned them thoroughly, and they certainly did look appetizing. For 

 the early ones we got $1.75 per pair; they dressed about one and one-fourth 

 pounds. 



About this time it began to dawn upon our minds that there was bet- 

 ter money in the chicken business than there was in working by the week 

 on a salary. However, we did not feel that we could afford to give up the 

 pay check as yet, but began to plan on doing so just as soon as we could 

 figure out an income that would be adequate for our own resources, and 

 not be dependent on a "job" for our "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." 



We finally concluded that we could "run our own shanty." I was 

 like a boy out of school the first week away from the office. I felt like 

 wandering about the house and yard exploring my new domain. I fixed 

 up the screen doors; helped my wife clean house; settled my den that had 

 been in a state of chaos for two years; wrote long friendly letters to a dozen 

 people I should have written months before; planned work ahead, and 

 studied up "buried resources." Now that I had leisure time, I must em- 

 ploy it profitably, and we were surprised at the resources lying latent 

 ready for developement. 



I wrote to several daily papers proffering my services as their local 

 correspondent. Two of them (in different cities) were glad to have me 

 represent them, and for this service I received from one four dollars per 

 column and from the other two dollars per column for all the news they 

 accepted from my pen. I soon got familiar with their style and the class 

 of matter they wanted, and found it very pleasant and profitable em- 

 ployment. 



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