Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-01-25
From The Cincinnati Observer.
FABLE OF TIE CHICKENCOCk:
AND THE HENS.


true, that the fowls, IN the barnyarj Of a
certain neighborhood became awakened
10 an unusual degree OF interest in all
subjects pertaining to their own we'll be.
ing, and that Of their race in general.
They gathered into groups, or as men
would say, into convent MS, and at these
gatherings they crowed, and cacklet, and
capped their wings, and did all other
things, 10 manner and form as such c-ea-
lures do, when they are celebrating upon
matters Of moment to themselves aud 9TH
ers. Things had proceeded thus for
long time, and many plans designed TO
produce the most happy influence upon
the social condition Of chickens, and Of
birds IN general, had been devised, and
were in process Of execution, when Ger.
tain hens got IL into their heads that the
part which they acted in public concerns
was not just so important end imposing
as it nigh, be and to this opinion agreed
certain OF the ROSTERS. In this state Of
things 1t was agreed, that at subsequent
gatherings of the chickens, these dsaf.
fected hens should stand up and partic.
pate in the doings Of the assembly, just as
the ROSTERS had been accustomed TO do
before; and thus, as they said, equality
would be promoted, and the active wis
dom of the roost be brought to bear upon
the subject in hand. An old rooster who
was accustomed to look good deal into
the nature Of things, and who was not ca.
silly carried away with the new. tangled
notions of the younger birds, remonstrat.
ed against this procedure of these hens,
and stated many grave and weighty rea.
sons, showing the absurdity and the folly
Of their intentions. After mounting upon
a fence, and clapping his wings, and crow.
ing to engage attention, he presented the
case something as follows. In the first
place, it was not convenient at all times
for the hens to leave the little chickens,
to attend to public affairs. |, was ex.
ceedingly important, he said. that the lit
nature seemed to have devolved that duty
upon the hens. and to turn aside from il,
TO act in sphere for which nature had
not designed them, he thought would be
"strange and unnatural" In the second
place, he said that there were nsuperable
barriers in their way, which they could
never surmount. For instance, their
voice was no: Of tina, kind which was suit.
able, in addressing public assemblies bu,
it was of mild aud sweeter tone, and
better adapted to please and interest in the
social circle. 1t was true, he said, that
hens might crow, and he had heard them
attempt il, but it always appeared to him
a very ridiculous and unnatural business.
He added furthermore, that in public
speaking a certain amount OF red, or bra
zen color seemed to be necessary, about
the physiognomy, and this, he rema rked,
some ROSTERS possessed in an uncommon
degree, while the hens were entirely with
out it; and if. as he remarked, they en-
deavor to assume this brazeR appearance,
ii appeared to him, and he believed i did
to others, very coarse, and uncomely in
them.
He said further, in the 81 place, that
in the public meetings OF the fowls, as
they were not entirely perfect in their ma.
ture, it often occurred, that there were
some contentious in the best assemblies,
about who should speak and what should
be said, and there sometimes arose a great
degree of heat in deciding the matter Of
right; and just at this point, advancing
one of his legs, he displayed quite res
pectable spur, which he said. enabled him
TO MAINTAIN his rights, and their int rests.
These he said they were without and al.
though he hoped never TO have occasion
to use his spurs, and he was opposed to
using them excep,in self-defence, yet
they indicated that when contention exist.
ed, a, the Creator ha furnishe him, and
other roosters, with weapons of defence
and had not giveE such implements of de.
fence TO the hens, il was very clear to his
mind. that hens were not designed 10 have
any thing to do with scenes of contention.
lie likewise quoted certain record which
all professed to regard as authority in mat.
tiers OF duty, and showed them that the
teachings OF this record were directly OPP
posed TO their present intentions.
la conclusion, he added, that if the hens
had desire to control public affairs, he
would tell them method by which they
could have more influence than any other
class in the community Of fowls. That
was this. The little chicks, he said, were
all committed to their charge, for several
months of their life. During this period
their minds were Just in that state, that
impressions might be made, that would
Influence their conduct in all after life.
Now, said he, you can make your ndu-
ence felt ia all after generations, and the
future governors of the barn yards may
be controlled in a great measure by the
principles which you inculcaled during
their minority. Thus you will have great.
or influence than any other class, ia deter
mining the character of public ROSTERS
And certainly, he added, they might per.
celve that TO have the business of forming
The character Of the governors, and then
take the field as pubic chickens them
selves, would be attending TO more than
their share of public matters.
The old bird said he had bat a single
word 10 say to those roosiers who had IA
vored this folly Of the hens, and then he
would fly down. 1t was this, that il ap-
peared to him, i would be much more
easy for them to doff their combs and their
spurs, and to have the fash feathers in
their tails pulled ont and TINS accommo