The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-20
scKNE SECOND

Mrs Bddy Chanticleer lays her first egg,
and has invited two or three female friends to
help cackle, TO- c., Esq, being absent
Mrs B,ddy "Cut cut, cut, cut, cut-a-a-a!
cut cut, cut-a-a-a-a-a-cut!"
Mrs Pa,tlett. "Qus qua, qua, cut-a-a-cut!p
Mrs Penfeather "Cluck cluck, qua qua,
qua cut, cut cut-a-a-a-a a-cutl" Is interrupt
ed by the sudden appearance of o. c., Esq,
who has just returned from stag party
o. C. rCock-a-doodle-doo, Now, may pa
tience be vouchsafed me to ask Of you, madam,
what does ell this mean! Here am return
ing, careworn and exhausted, from the excite
meDts and temptations of deusive world, ex-
pecting to find repose and peace in the quiet of
the domestic nest instead Of which, discover
you in the midst of riot and dissipation. Mad
am, insult not my penetration by denying it
| affirm that you are having party"
Mrs Biddy lapprehensively) "Not at all,
my dear; at least, that is, my friends were just
going by, and stopped in quite accidentally, and
so-for you see my dear, Eve laid an egg cut,
cut, cut, cut, cuta-a-a-a-c--that is ut least
yes, sir, we've laid an egg!p
Three female neighbors simultaneously. "Cut,
cut, cut, cut, cut-a-a-a-a-a-cut !"
o. c., Esq, Enthusiastically "Peace, hens.
Madam, what does all this cackling folly
mean ~ "a A.f. a ~ .,
iExeunt hens, in indignationl
Mrs. B. c. it has become necessary, at this
stage Of our matrimonial career, that should
state, in mild but unmistakeable terms my
opinions regarding the appropriate sphere and
duties of henhood.
First selfdevoton: It has been the decision
of all rooster kind, for ages and therefore can
not be denied, that the browning virtue of the
hen character is disinterestedness. A true hen
should be patient, self-forgetful, obedient, ten
derby solicitous for her husbands little wants,
delghting wholly and solely in the graceful
and pleasant duties that cluster round the do
nestle nest On the contrary find you think
ing only how to crafty your own selfish tastes
and desires instead of displaying las might
naturally be expected) some little sense of lone
illness and melancholy at your husbands alb
sence | return from visit Of nearly twelve
hours, and find you literally rejoicing! Madam,
ask of you is this true henhoodl
Second retiring position, dedicate
shrinking from contact with the coarse and
unsympathizing world, an exclusive indiHer-
ence ~ all without the sacred circle of the do
mestic nest. On the contrary, ] find you CAD
ding among the other hens of the yard making
appointments, sending invitations. Again ask
of you madam, is this true henhood
aThird: Freedom from curiosity true hen
never evinoes the slightest interest in the affairs
of her neighbors, scarcely in her own; she never
inquiries concerning the whereabouts or actions
of her husband, being perfectly assured that
wherever he be, and however appearances at
the time may seem to tell against him, he is
ever acting with view to the welfare of the
domestic nest
son the contrary, what do | find to be the
truth, in regard to yourselfl Not rooster
raises his voice within half q mile of the yard
but you are able to name him not hen lays
an egg, but you begin to cackle.
Mrs. Biddy, (meekly) Pp laid an egg
cut, cut, cut, cut cuta-a-a-a No, | mean
yes, sir, we've laid an egg"
o. c., Esq, with solemn animation.) You've
laid an egg! And pray, where is the thing7"
Walks briskly to the nest and takes a micro
scopic view Of the object
Biddy "Cut, cut--I mean, will it do sir :
&C, ESQ. Humph-well, yes very fair,
considering; though, now look more closely,
perceive that it Is nSt-prscisely shaped too
short, madam, quite too short; not well finish
cd of, by any means Add what do you mean,
madam. by having the shing so much larger
at one end than the other Where, | ask, is
your idea of symmetry POUNDS madam, If
this is the best you can do in that department,
| shall lay the next myself"
Mrs Biddp with her claw In her eye
please, couldn't help it, didn't mean to"
&C, ESQ, modified aWell, well, don't fret
your gizzard You're no chicken, madam, to
be 40 sensitive about trife only remember
my advice in future, and above all, recollect
that the browning virtue of henhood is dlsn-
terestedness
Mrs Biddy, (meekly) Have worm DEAR"
&C, Esq, (solemnly) 81 will"