Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-13
VOL. vi. -

of Esq Pootra.
ESQ. could bear no more SO, proclaim
ing his authority with shriIl cock-a-
doode-doo,' he said, Peace, hens. Mrs.
Pootra, tell me, command you, what all
this folly and noise means
The neighboring hens took their leave
abruptly in high dudgeon and called the
ESQ brute
Esq. Pootra taking stand near the nest
commenced harangue after this fashion
Mrs. Pootra-I am now fully convinced
that it has become necessary at this stage
of our matrin.onial. car1rr,. that should
state in plaipt tsr<s Il Jour besofi.. n,
opinions, formed by long and patient obser-
vation, of the true position and duties of
henhood.
First, then, will briefly discourse up
on devotion and disinterestedness. 1t has
been decided long ago by solemn confer
ence of roosters, and, therefore cannot be
gainsayed by cackling hens, that the crown
ing virtue of the true hen is devotion to
her rooster and disinterestedness on her
part of all his little business matters and of
herself. She should be unselfsh in all
things and only study the comfort of her
lawful rooster. The hen should be patient,
good natured, peaceable, retiring, unselhsh,
obedient. and tenderly solicitous for her
ROSTERS wants of worms, &c; delighting
only in ministering to his comforts and in
setting forth those inestimable qualities of
social life that cluster around the domestic
nest. Now, Madam, these qualifications
you seem to lack. If they were ever i'm
pressed upon your mind by your mother,
Ca tear for her; alas she is potted,) you
seem to have entirely forgotten them ; for
l find you have only been studying how to
crafty your own tastes and follies. In
stead of evincing some loneliness and mel
ancholy which you should do at my absence,
| find you on my return from the outdoor
duties of life, actually rejoicing with squad
of your gadding neighbors |! ask you,
now, Mrs. Pootra, is that according to true
henhood
Second A delicate shrinking from in
tercourse with the rude and selfish world
an Indifference to all matters unconnected
with the affairs of the domestic nest. This
: you seem to have forgotten, or never known !;
for find you disposed to retail gossip with
your neighboring hens, making parties,
sending out unlimited invitations, when
times are tight and great scarcity Of
worms. Again, cock-a-doodle-doo, Madam,
: l ask you, and may patience be vouchsafed
me, is this according to the rules of etiquette
, governing henhood? .
Third A hen should be free from Gu
riosity A proper hen, with'a mind and
: disposition correctly balanced, never evin-
= ces an interest in the affairs of her neigh.
! bors she never inquiries where her rooster
e is going when it does not please him to tell
# her without asking, or ponders in her mind
a the meaning of any strange conduct on his
IS part for she has confidence in him to be-
e leve-the true hen has-that wherever he
a may be, and however much his actions may
Is tell against him, that he is ever acting with
le an eye single to the peace, the harmony
9r and the welfare of the domestic nest. Now
ID compare this picture with your conduct
How does it agree Why, madam, not
at rooster crows within mile of here but yo1
c, know his voice not hen lays an egg bu
RS you help her cackle and l can't step ou
to enjoy the salubrity of the evening al
re but you are curious to know where [ wen
le and are eternally accusing me of meeting i
OF some social club with all my brotbe
ne roosters. Now, madam, say you are to
We curious-you must turn over new lea
n and reform | am lord of the domesti
es,, nest and my voice, my opinions and m
y, mandates-must and shall be obeyed.'
ID Mrs. Pootra listened to this harangu
with as much patience as hen could b
Gu expected to listen, and at the conclusion {
the same, her only reply was:
gg Bless you, candy stick, I've laid an eg!
Id cut. cut, cut, cut, cut, a-a-cut That is
ne mean, no-yes, eoe' Ue laid an egg, Sir-cu
y" cut, cut, a-a-cut !
-. Did I understand you to say, MADAM
5,sS. that you had laid an egg?' said Esq. Po
= ira. 'And pray, Madam, where is tt
wonderful production ? He walked up
10 the nest, taking a view of the first eg
; y turning his naughty head first on this sic
and then on that.
a. Mrs Pootra kept her eye on him close
during the time he was making his obse
TX vations. She was anxious for his opinion
* so, she called out 'cut, cut, cut-I me;
by Will III 90, OFT CuU, cuUj cuV "in
zen pretty fair sampler
Esq. replied: Pretty fair for the fr'
nes Madam, everything considered. 1t is n
in shaped, however, as we'll as it might ha
- been: In the first place, it is too small,
ad- too short then, it is entirely too large
ere one end for the other. Now, pride m
ON self upon symmetry and dislike exceedin
nsy ly to look upon anything unsymmetrl'
,ast in it's proportions. An unsymmetric
ght worm sits badly upon my craw, and kno
the ing that you should always scratch
my symmetrical worms for me. Have you
lble eye to symmetry? This thing, madam
ois- very uusymmetrical. Zounds, Madam
var swear by my spurs, unless you think J
ma can do better than that, shall lay the nj
du- egg myself! Cock-a-doodle-doo
enc TRY it if you please, sir! That is
par mean to say, [ couldn't help it, cut, C
,on- cut, so couldn't
lone well, well, Mrs. Pootra, don't f
your gizzard about it. You are a lii
'pi1. pm chick anyhow. You shouldn't show 20
Il I self too sensitive about small matters.
hope you will not forget that the crown
: - virtue in the true hen is disinterestedn
-ou'' and freedom from curiosity
ar Mrs. Pootra scratched up worm
an said, Have worm, my dear p
Indeed 1t IS a fine, fat, symmetr