Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-07-31
Selling Chickens to the Legislature.

While the Legislature of Missouri was in
session a few years ago, a green fellow from
the country came to Jefferson to sell some
chickens. He had about two dozen, all of
which he lad tied by the legs to string, and
this, 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 Il promiscuous pile
of out-stretched wings and rufflcd feathers
After several Intellectual efforts to dispose of his
load, Il Wag, to whom he made an offer of sale,
| told him that he did not want chickens himself,
but that perhaps he could sell them at that
| large stone house over there, 0he capitol) that
there was man over there buying on specula-
ton for the St Louis market, and no doubt he
could find 4 ready sale.
The delighted countryman started, when his
inlormer stopped him.
'Look here,' says he, ''when you get over
The man stops in that large room, and is now
engaged with number of fellows, buying
chickens. If man at the door should stop
you, don't mind him. He has got chickens for
sale, and tries to prevent other people from
selling theirs. Don't mind him, but 60 right
ahead"
Following the directions, our friend soon
found himself at the door of the Hall of Rep
resentatives. 10 open it and enter was the
work Of 4 moment. Taking from his shoulder
the string OF chickens, and giving them shake,
to freshcn them. he commenced his journey to-
wards the speakers chair, the fowls in the
meantime loudly expressing, from the half
formed croac to their harsh quarh, their bodily
presence and their sense of bodily pain.
Il say, sr,"--here he had advanced about
half way down the aisle. when he was seized
by Major Jackson, the door-keeper, who hap
pened to be returning from the clerks desk.
'What the devil are you doing here with
these chickena Get out, sir, get out" whis-
pered the doorkeeper.
"No you don't, though you can't come that
game over me. You've got chickens yourself
for sale. Get out yourself, and let me sell
mine. | say, sir, Gin a louder tone to the
speaker) are you buying chickens here to-day!
Eve got some prime ones here
And he held up his string and shook his
fowls until their music made the walls echo.
Let me go, sir, (tc the doorkeeper0 let me
90, say Fine large chickens, Co the speak,
er,) only six bits Dozen"
"Wheres the sergeant -at-armsF' roared the
speaker" take that man out
"Now don't, will you; amt hard to trade
Will. lou i0I Alo Sos Wv tHe "ooi .NPNi1 |
you've sold your chickens, now let me have |
chance l say, sir, Ito the speaker in louder
tone,) are you buying chickens to-
"Go-a-head," sat him again. "that's right" |
whispered some of the opposition members,
who could command gravity enougb to speak,
"at him again" "He'll buy them" 'He only |
wants you to take less--at him again"
Il say, sir, Gin louder tone to the speaker) |
Gus your pictures let me go-fair play--two
men to one amt fair, (to the speaker and SER
geant-at-arms,) let me go: say, sir, you up
there, Ito the speaker,) you can have 'em for
six bits. won't take a cent less. Take 'cm
home and eat 'em myself before I'll take---
Drat your hides, don't shove so hard, will you;
you'll hurt them chickens, and they have had
travel of it to-day, any how. say; you, sir,
Here the voice was lost by the closing of the
door. An ad djournment was moved and carried,
and the members, almost frantic with mirth,
rushed out to find our friend in high alteration
with the doorkeeper about the meanness OF
selling his own chickens, and letting nobody
else sell theirs, adding, that if he could just
see that man up there by himself, he'll 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 a poney
purse, and our friend left the capitol, saying, as
he went down the stairs
swell, this is the darndest toughest place for
selling chickens that ever came across, sure"
Spirit Of The Times.