8 CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA.

A mania had spread over the country. It was called the
“hen fever.” It reached at last our village. Several people
became the possessors of Cochin China and Shanghai
hens, and Ye among them was a brisk young farmer
by the name of Campbell.

Just. after Thanksgiving

  
  
  

this young man summoned
Parson Pool to marry him.
He paid the old man two
dollars in money, and
promised to make him a
present of a Christmas
dinner, which he assured
him should be ‘“a_ sur-
prise.”

~ On the day before Christ-
mas young Campbell called

 

at the parsonage, and ful-

eS ar — “filled his promise. It was

a surprise indeed, —a

  

Shanghai chicken of aston-

ishing weight, and seemingly fabulous length of neck and legs.

“Here, parson,” said he, setting the pullet down on the
kitchen floor, “I’ve brought you something for your Christmas
dinner. Big as a turkey, ain’t it? Legs almost as long as
yours, parson, and a neck like as it was going to peek over the
meetin’ hus’ into the graveyard. Did you ever see the like of
that?”

The chicken ruffled its feathers, and walked about the kitchen
very calmly, lifting high its feet in a very dignified way.

““« When this you see, remember me,’ parson,” said the lively