Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-13
Original 9apers.
HUMOROUS CHARCOAL SKETCHES
Dra,on for the Spirit of the Age.
I. by MAJOR ORIGINAL.

Augustus Shanghai POotra, Esq, was a
proud fellow and wore spurs He gloried
In self laudation, fine dressing and good
eating He firmly believed that he was
made to rule and TO crow over all creation
with o lordly crow. His companion, Mrs
Biddy Poot.a, was Of modest, retiring
disposition and, being the daughter of
poor widow, Mrs. Bautam, never knew
inrch of tln, ,lesfh, y. ia gkys until sbel
formed tbeaca smsnt t1ifieSof a AaEustus shanig
hal Pootra, Esq Poor, un},ophisticated
creature, it was an evil day when she gave
her foot away aud was no longer Miss Biddy
Bantum. In her young days she was the
happiest of all puILetS; having nothing to
do but trip about on the grass in the yard,
roll in the dust bed aud, now and then,
scratch up worm for her own dainty craw.
She little thought Of the cares and vexa-
tions she was bringing upon her innocent
head when she coyly consented to become
Mrs. Pootra and take care of the domestic
nest. Alas little did she think of the
troubles she would have to endure of the
long hours she would have to scratch
worms for her liege lord until her poor
nails were worn to the quick; of the heart
burnings and jealousies that would arise
to mar the peace and harmony of the do
mestic nest Her mother (kind, tender
hearted old lady, she has long since been
potted) told her, with chokiCg Sobs between
her cackles, Of the trials she would have in
going to take charge Of the nest as Mrs.
Pootra but Biddy cackled out into mer-
ry laugh and assured her mother, with
af I,kGlo Il III
head, that she was not at all chicken heart
ed I; aud besides she had fallen in love
with Augustus Shanghai Pootra, Esq,-he
had, she said, such noble spurs, such 9
sweet voice and such long, flowing, glossy
feathers. Oh Mamma, he is such glo
rious fcllow-cut, cut, cut, ca-a-a-a-a-cut
Go she would, and despite the warming
of her mother she went; little believing
the story that had been told her of how cx
acting, cruel hearted and jealous were roos
ter kind in general
Soon after Biddy became Mrs. Pootra
she was one morning industrlousy scratch
ing for her breakfast, singing the while
merry song. Esq. Pootra, who was perchec
upon the top rail of the barn fence answer
lug neighboring rooster with a shrill cock
a-dood!e-do9, became cognizant of the fact
and so dew down and struted up to his lit
tie happy and modest spouse.
Good morning, sugar lamp said Biddy
Morning Madam said Esq Pootra.-
You seem to be enjoying yourself, mac
anne Pootra. presume, madam, you al
not aware that have been off the roost fc
more than an hour and have not yet bee
honored with mouthful of breakfast.
this what took you from your humble hon
and made you my spouse (Gives her
pointed peck on the ankle.) Where vi
your smile Of welcome when you saw n
come down from the top rail of yond
fence You promised me when | courtt
you that you would always greet me with
smile, like you did one day in tie whe
patch. Where was your smile of wecom
madam? | watched you, and by my spu
swear you never smiled p! (lmprints
mark of his affection on her head.) Whe
was your affections and promised solicitu
when you saw me looking SO feeble
want of my breakfast? Do you expect l
to scratch worms for myself now that
are married Where, repeat with e
phasis, is my breakfast 1? Cock-a-dood
doc madam Do you understand tha
Here's fine fat worm, my DEAR" So
Bddy, with a meek air
And Esq. Pootra eat it without so mu
as-thank' &c
One day Mrs. Biddy laid her first C
in the domestic nest, and sent out invi
tions to some of her female friends to CO.
over and help her cackle. (E5q. Poo
aCas from home that days.
They had jolly time over the first e,
Mrs. Pootra-'Oh it's fine one as
er was-cut, cut, cut, cut, cut, a-a-cut
cut cut, cut, a-a-a-cutp
Mrs. Dominick-'I never saw the i
before-cut, qua, qua, qua, cut-a-a-cu
Mrs. Penfeather-' Such pretty egg
cut cut, qua, cut, cack, cack, cack, "a
cack
Aunt Frizzle--' Rather small-clu
cluck, oluck Ruther SmaU-cuek, clu
cluck' (Here they were interrupted
the coming of Esq Pootra, who had b
to Il" SociaP meeting)
Esq. strutted into the crowd of dar
with lordly air and a sight of wonder
his eye. 'Cock-a-doodle-doo = said he
ANpni may OC dlAuWGu W dsh JOuy IL
ame, what all this halloba means II
am |, your lawful rooster, returning fl
the voxations and turmols of the
world, exhausted and weary, hoping at Il
70 Ind that repose rooster has the ri
70 expect within the sacred precincts of
domestic nest; and, instead of peace,
cars are distracted by your iutermini
caekhng, gathering aud other hideous q
es' ! say, madam, you are taking un,
ranted liberties; you, without anV init
tion to me, have actually had a 1ayty
ring my absence Don't insult nv n
tration, madam, | say you have had a
ty here to-day at my expense and to the
sumption of worms enough to serve us =
for week
oh no, my DEAR said Biddy, a.
hensive of claw at her head, not al
my friends, here, were passing by, a
felt bad and lonely and just called ther
and-and-aud I've laid an egg !
cut, cut, cut, cut, a-a-a-cut, my dc
that is, | mean zee Ve laid an egg, Sir
egg cut, cut, cut, a-a-cut, my dear p