The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-08-06
UMBER %.
lFrOm the NY. Spirit of the Timeu.l
CHICKENS TO THE LEG1sLA-

When the Legislature Of Missouri was in
session, a few years ago, green fellow from
the country came to Jefferson to sell some
chickens. He had about two dozen, all Of
which he had tied by the legs to string, and
TINS being divided equally, and thrown across
his horse or his shoulder, formed his mode of
conveyance, leaving the fowls with their heads
hanging down, with little else OF them visible
except their naked legs, and a promiscuous
pue OF out-stretched wings and ruffled feath-
els. Alter several Intellectual efforts to dispose
OI ms load, Wag, to whom he made an offer
OF sale, told him that perhaps he could sell them
at that large stone house over there (the Capt.
toll that there was a man over there buying
on speculation, for the st. Louis market and
no doubt he could find ready sale.
The delighted cOuntryman started, when his
intormer stopped him.
Look here," says he, "when you get over
there, 60 up stairs and then turn to the left
The man stops in that large room. You will
find him sitting up at the other end Of the
room, and is now engaged with a number Of
fellows buying chickens, Ii a man at the door
should stop you, don't mind him. He has
got chickens himself for sale, and tries to
prevent other people from selling theirs
Don mind him, but go right ahead"
Following the directions, our friend soon
found himself at the door OF the Hall Of Rep
resentatives To open it and enter was the
work of a moment Taking from his shoulder
the string OF chickens, and giving them a
shake to freshen them, he commenced his
Journey toward the Speaker S chair, the fowls,
IN the meantime, loudly expressing, from the
halt-tOrmed cr01 to the harsh gHGGrk, their
bodily presence, and their sense OF bodily pain.
'lsay sir, Here he had advanced about
hall way down the AISLE when he was seized by
Major jackson, the door keeper, who happen
ed TO be returning from the clerk desk.
'What the devil are you doing here with
these chlckensj get out, sir, get out, whisper
cd the door-keeper.
mo you don I, though, you can come that
| over me. You've got chickens yourself for
sale, get out yourself, and let me sell mine. l
| say SIR lu louder tone to the Speaker) are
i you buying chickens here today I've got
| sumo prime ones here
! And he held up his string and shook his
fowls until their music made the walls echo.
Let me go, sir, Ito the door -keeper) let me
go | say. Fine large chickens Ito the Speak
cr,) only six bits dozen.
| Where's the Sergeant at ARMS, rOared
| the Speaker" take that man out"
''Now don Z Will you, l amt hard to trade
+ with. You let me 60 Ito the oOr-keeper,)
you ve sold your chickens, now let me have a
chance. l say, sir, Ito the Speaker in a louder
tone) are you buying chickens to day.
60 ahead, 'at hlm again, ''that right, -
whispered some Of the opposition members,
who could command gravity enough to speak
-,.'at him again" Hell buy them t'He
only wants you to take less--at him again. -
'Isay, sir, (in louder tone to the Speakerl
-Cuss yompictures let me go-fair play-two
to one ain lair ito the Speaker and Sergeant
at-Arms) let me go; | say, sir, you up there
Ito the Speaker) you can have EN- for six bits!
won t take a cent less. Take EN- home and
eat EN- myself before I'll take Drat your
hides, don't shove SO hard, will you'll you'll
hurt them chickens, and they have had travel
of it day, anyhow. Isay you up there
Here the voice was lost by the closing of the
door. An adjournment was moved, and car
ried, and the members, almost frantic with
mirth, rushed out to find our friend in high
alteration with the dOOr-keeper about the
meanness OF selling his own chickens and let
ting nobody else sell theirs, adding that ''if
he could just sec that man up there by himself
he d be bound they could make trade, and
that no man could afford to raise chickens for
less than six bits. -
The members bought his fowls by pony
purse, and our friend left the Capitol, saying
as he went down the stairs.
! ''Well, this is the darndest toughest place
for selling chickens that ever come across
| sure"
JEFFERSON CRY, Mo. PHIL.