The Nevada journal., 1853-11-18
The ReOSter-Pecked Wife.
BY ELIZA L SPROAT.
CNENT FIRST


SCENE FIRST.
Mrs. Biddy Chandelier scratches for he
breakfast O. Chanticleer, ESQ., from th'
top rail of the barn fence, becomes cognl
zant Of the fact, and struts with dignlt.
towards his little spouse.
Bddy. Good morning, my dear
o. C, Esq. Morning, madam; quite
enjoying yourself, madam; of course, yol
are not aware of the fact that I have beer
up for more than an hour, and have no
eaten a mouthful7 Is this what i married
you for, madam? (Gives her pointed
salute on the ankls) Where are YOU
domestic qualities, madame (Imprints {
mark of affection on the top of her head.
Where was your smile of welcome wher
you saw me getting off the fence ?
watched you, madam Where was you
tender female solicitude when you behelc
me locking weakly for want of a little
nourishment? Where, l repeat, is my
breakfast? Cock-a-doodle-doo? ?
Biddy, (meekly.) Have worm, dear !?
o. c., Esq. (solemnly) i will
SCENE SECOND.
Mrs. Bddy Chanticleer lays her first
egg, and has invited two or three female
friends to help cackle, 60. c., Esq. being
absent)
Mrs. Biddy. Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut-a-
"a cut, cut, cut-a-a-a-a-a-cutn
Mrs. Partlett. Qua, qua, qua, cut-a'
cut
Mrs. Pinfeather. 'Cluck, cluck, qua
qua, qua, cut, cut, cut-a a-a-a- cutn Us
interrupted by the sudden appearance of O.
c., Esq. r, turnef from stag party. }
o. C. 'Cock-a a-doodle-doo! Now, more
patience be veuchsafed me to ask of you,
madam, what does all this mean? Here
am returning, care-worn and exhausted,
from the excitements and temptations of a
delusive world, expecting to find repose
and peace in the quiet of the domestic
nest, instead CT which, I discover you in
the midst of riot and dissipation. Madam
insult not my penetration by denying it
I affirm that YOU are having party
Mrs. Biddy, (apprehenslvely.) Not al
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
I've laid an egg cut, cut, cut, cut cut-a-a
-ac-that is, at least-yes, sir, we've laid
an eggn
Three female friends simultaneously
Cut, cut, cut, cut-a-a-cut ,
O. c., Esq, (majestically.) Peace,
hens Madam, what does all this cackling
folly mean?
rExeunt hens, in Indignation.
Mrs. B. c., it has become necessary, a
this stage of our matrimonial career, that
| should state, in mild but unmistakablt
terms, my opinions regarding the appro
pirate sphere and duties of henhood.
'First-self-devetion: 1t has been the
decision Of all rooster kind, for ages, anc
therefore cannot be denied, that the crown
ing virtue of the hen character is dsinter
estedness. A true hen should be patient
selfforgetfu, obedient, tenderly solicltous
for her husbands little wants, delightne
wholly and solely in the graceful anc
pleasant duties that cluster round the do
mestic nest On the contrary, [ find you
thinking only how to crafty your OWL
selfish tastes and desires, instead of dis
playing las might naturally be expected
some little sense of loneliness and melan
choly at your husbands absence: return
from visit of nearly twelve hours, ant
find you literally rejoicing! Madam,
ask of you, is this true henhood?
'Sccond-A retiring disposition, deli
cate shrinking from contact with the coars,
and unfeeling world, an exclusive indif
ference to all without the sacred circle
the domestic nest On the contrary,
find you gadding among the other hens
the yard, making appointments, senoin:
invitations. Again | ask OF you, Is thl
true henhood?
'Third-Freedom from curiosity tru
hen never evinces the slightest interest Il
the affairs of her neighbors, scarcely Il
her own she never inquiries concerning
the whereabouts or actions of her husband
being perfectly assured that wherever h
be, and however appearances at the tim
may seem to tell against him, he is eve
acting with view to the welfare of tn
domestic nest. On the contrary, what d
find to be the truth in regard to yourself
Not rooster raises his voice within haI
amile of the yard, but you are to nam
him; not hen lays an egg, but you begl
to cackle.'
Mrs. Biddy, (meekly)-'frs laid a
egg cut, cut, cut cut, cut-a-a-a-a. NO,
mean-yes sir, we've laid an egg
0. c. Esq, with solemn aramatlon)-
you haze laid an egg! And pray wher
is the thing? walks briskly to the mes
and takes a microscope view Of the object.
Biddv. Cut, cut, cut-I mean, will
do, sir? ?