Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-30
A Costv Dinner.

AT the last "H HN Convention" in Bos-
ton, some time sine, friend residing in
the suburbs, cnme to the city in the NOR
ming to attend the hen fair, where he pur-
chased very large and beautiful pair Of
Shanghai fowls, t. breed from and as he
was to remain il town till evening, he
sent the birds bya boy, with note, to a
friend of his, living at the Albion, reques-
ting that he would take care of the chick
ems until the afternoon, as he had some
matters of business that would detain him;
he also told the boy to say he would dine
with him at four o'clock. The boy deliv-
cred the fowls, but forgot the note, and
simply remarked
Here's pair of rousing big chickens
MIR, Ms sent you, and says he will
dine with you at o'clock"
The gentleman supposing his friend
who, by the way, knows hawk from a
handsaw, and canvass-back from boil
cd owl, had sent hien something extra,
ordered them to the cook, with directions
that they be killed and dressed at once,
as he had friend to dine with him at 4
p. M. The order was accordingly obey
ed, and at the appointed time the dinner
served. After imbibing sundry "wine
bitters," as sharpener to their appetites,
they sat down, and the Shanghai owner
WAS requested to carve and as he was
dissecting those enormous cute members
of the Hen Convention, he remarked to
his friend
You have an extraordinary fine pair
of chickens here
Yes," answered the other, "they are
~ infliAnrny,t1yy TrrnI e;unl oc H., ,
they were sent TO me by mutual friend
of ours"
"Indced. were they? A dcvilish Gle
ver fellow he must be, jim; a very pret-
ty present this, and l declare they are
the most delicious flavor l ever tasted,
and as juicy as a canvass-back."
And SO he continued praising the rich
flavor of the chickens until after they had
disposed of a couple of bottles of Schrie-
der and while chatting over their bot
tie of Sherry, and enjoying their regalias,
the owner of the Shanghais said
"By -the-by, Jim, what did you think
of my hen purchase, this morning ?"
"Why, Bill, l think they were most
delicious, and l wish you would dine with
me every day in the week, if you will
send me such chickens
"Such chickens !" screeched Bill, as
the thought flashed across his mind that
he might possibly have been eating his
own Shanghais. "What the devil do you
mean. Jim %
Mean" replied Jim, why, mean
to say that you have dined off those chick
ems you sent me this morning"
Bill instantly jumped up from the table
and rammed his hands up to his elbows
in his brceches pockets, and after striding
across the room some half dozen times,
without uttering word, but his eyes all
the while with " fine frenzy rolling, "
stopped short, and turning to his friend,
exclaimed with no little gesticulation-
" Good God, jim l paid thirty FIVE
dollars for that pair of fowls, this morn
ing Didn't that cursed boy give you a
note when he left the chickens ?"
"No," said Jim, "he gave me no note;
he simply handed me the Shanghais. and
said you would dine with me at 4. There
fore, had them roasted"
Bill instantly rushed for his horse and
wagon, and has not been in the city but
cnce since, and then he was closely muf-
fed up, and both cars stopped with cot
ton, for fear he would hear some one say
Shanghai