A VISIT TO OUR LIVE STOCK. 39

bright idea occurs to me. Simmons’ wife
has been suffering from a low fever for some
time, and has no appetite Pve heard. I
will visit my own special fowls and see if
“there are any eges to be had, and if so I'll
take them to Simmons as an offering and
then make my request.

Accordingly, I branch off to the end of
the kitchen-garden, where our live stock,
which is plentiful but varied in style, is
kept.

My presence is duly acknowledged by a
loud cackling, and fluttering of wings, while
from the top of a beam to my right I hear a
deep voice saying, “ Maggie,” followed by a
hoarse cough.

I am quickly surrounded by animals of
all descriptions, rabbits, guinea-pigs, tame
rats, and kittens, while from a heap of straw
in the corner a litter of pups set up a
squeaky bark at me; finding, however, that I
have come with empty hands, they quickly
leave me again with grunts of dissatisfac-
tion.