contrasting so finely
with the deep red of the rest of his body! Well, sir, you are truly
too big for this table. As I cannot give you more room, I will set you
up higher. Move over a little, and I will set this chair on the table.
There! Upon the seat! That's right, but don't stop. There is the
back, which is higher yet! Up with you! Ha! There, he nearly upset
the chair, but I will hold it. See! He has turned around. Now, then,
look at him. See his wings as he flaps them! He could fly with such
wings. Look at him! See that swelling breast! Ha, ha! Listen! Did
you ever hear a crow like that? It fairly rings through the house.
Yes, I knew it! There is another!"

At this point the people in the house were in a state of wild
excitement. Nearly all of them were on their feet, and they were in
such a condition of frantic enthusiasm that Loring was afraid some of
them might make a run for the stage.

"Come, sir," cried Loring, now almost shouting, "that will do. You
have shown us the strength of your lungs. Jump down on the seat of the
chair; now on the table. There, I will take away the chair, and you
can stand for a moment on the table and let our friends look at you;
but only for a moment. Take that tap on your back. Now do you see any
difference? Perhaps you may not, but I do. Yes, I believe you all do.
He is not the big fellow he was a minute ago. He is really
smaller--only a fine cockerel. A nice tail that, but with none of the
noble sweep that it had a minute ago. No, don't try to get off the
table. You can't escape my wand. Another tap. Behold a half-grown
chicken, good to eat, but with not a crow in him. Hungry, are you?
But you need not pick at the table that way. You get no more grain,
but only this little tap. Ha, ha! What are you coming to? There is a
chicken barely feathered enough for us to tell what color he is going
to be.

"Another tap will take still more of the conceit out of him. Look at
him! There are his pin-feathers, and his bare spots. Don't try to get
away; I can easily tap you again. Now then. Here is a lovely little
chick, fluffy with yellow down. He is active enough, but I shall quiet
him. One tap, and now what do you see? A poor, feeble chicken,
scarcely able to stand, with his down all packed close to him as if he
had been out in the rain. Ah, little chick, I will take the two halves
of the egg-shell from which you came, and put them on each si