Numbers came to inquire our price, I was lifted up, and pricked, and
pulled about, to see whether I was fat; but the distress I had of late
been in, had made me very thin, I was therefore always thrown down
again, with this observation, why, what a bag of bones this hussey is, I
would not have her if you would give her to me.
All my companions were sold, and I remained till night tired and hungry.
Towards the close of the market, when the people were preparing to
return home, a little girl passed by me with a piece of bread in her
hand; urged by hunger I pecked at it, and when she patted me, though my
poor sides were all over bruises, I would not appear as if she hurt me,
but rubbed my head against her hand; she seemed much delighted with me,
crying out, Oh! what a nice tame little creature, how I wish you were
mine, but I fear I have not money enough to buy you. Why what can you
give? (said the man who brought me from the farm.) I have but one
shilling; but I will give you all that. Very well, you shall have it
then, for I am sure there is not any use in taking it back.
Little Ann, my new mistress, took me directly home; her mother lived in
a thatched cottage, and was very poor: when she heard Ann had given all
her money for me, she was very angry. Oh dear mother! you know it will
soon lay eggs, which we can sell, and get chickens besides. You foolish
girl, you cannot get both, what do you intend to feed it with? and we
have no place to keep it in. Oh, we can keep it very well in the wood
house, I will put up a perch for it, we will give it some crumbs to
night, and to morrow it will provide for itself.