36. CHAPTER XXXVI.
A SMILE.
Mr. Augustus Mangil, the musical money-dealer, — why
should not such a man be musical? — approached Richard,
as he was “shutting down” the Mill, one day, in his lively
way; his little eyes pleasantly snapping, his left finger
playing about his ear, and his right knee crooking rather
antic-like. “An investment,” said he. “A little down,
but a good deal up. In plain words,” he continued, “I have
embarked in hens. Not deep, but high, — high, I call it;
so;” — he marked an altitude with his hand in the air.
“Flour-barrel high; — full-blood Shanghae; — eight dollars
a pair; — feathered to the heel; — an egg a day, and ask no
questions. I want a place to put them. If you will furnish
that, it shall be joint-stock. At Willow Croft is just
the spot, and your folks, women and children, are just the
men. We shall want a few boards and laths.”
They walked on together towards Willow Croft. Encountering
Munk, the Broker's scheme was opened to him.
Richard was ready, and Munk consented. The children
were delighted, and Roxy was to have plenty of fresh eggs.
They selected a place at the foot of the lot. Richard
ordered up the lumber, and Mangil superintended the structure.
In a few days they had a “house” well appointed,
and three or four families of the most notable Asiatic fowls.
Every morning one of the “Wild Olive” boys brought a
box of what was termed fresh meat for chickens, — beetles,
spiders, worms; and there was such a time feeding the
family, and Memmy and Bebby did busk and pudder so,
we cannot tell it all. There were eggs, and there were
chickens; — the marvel! Munk liked to eat eggs; Roxy liked
to cook eggs; Memmy liked to bring them in in a basket;
and Bebby liked to hold one in her hand, — just once, — just
a little, — so softly, — so shrinkingly; and Richard and
the Broker liked to count the profits. There were so many
questions, withal, about lime, sand, water, oats, barley, and
what not; and how to prevent a hen setting when she was
a mind to, and how to make her set when she was not a
mind to; and which was best, one large egg, or two small
ones; and about the value of the different importations;
and there were so many persons to see the hennery, and so
many inquiries to be answered, and so many suggestions to
be considered, and so many wipes to be parried; — it was
altogether exciting business; and it was just the sort of
excitement that Richard needed.
Did Mangil know this? Ah! there is a question. Roxy
said he did; and that this was a trick of his. Mangil had
his way, the same as Climper had, and the rest of mankind
have.
