Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-05-21
From LtteH's living Age.
THE ROOsTER-PECKED WIFE.
SCENE FIRST.

THE ROOSLEhsEECAED WIFE,
SEEM FIRST.
Mrs. Biddy Chanticleer, scratches
for her breakfast. o. Chantieieers Esq.s
from the top rail Of the barn fence, be-
comes cognizant Of the fact, and struts
with dignity towards his little spouse.
Biddg. "Good morning, my dear"
o, O., ESQ. informing, madam ;
quite enjoying yourself, madam Of
that I have been up for more tina an
hour, and rave not yet eaten q mouth
full Is this what I married yOW for,
MADAME [Gives her a pointed salute
on the ankle.l Where are your d0meS-
tic qualities, madam CImpEtnts q
mark Of affection on the top Of her
head.1 Where was your smile Of well
come when you saw me getting on the
fence 2 L watched you, madam +
Where was your tender female soncl-
tude when You beheld me to9As
weakly for want Of a little nourishm9ntE
Where, I repeat, Is my breakfast COCK
BiSdg emeekIyi. "Have Z worm,
uS 3. &. Esq. Csolemnly). I" twill"
SCENE SECOND.
Mrs. Biddy Chanticleer lays her first
egg. and has invited " or three te-
male frieuEis7fO help cackle. 10. ESQ.,
--sT
MTs. BSddg. "Cut, cut, cut, cut, cut
a@a-a cut, cut, cut-a-a-a-a-a=eut
Mrs. ParaeH. "Qua, qua qua, cCt-a-
a-cut 3"
hrs, Penfeathey. ''CIuck. cluek, qua,
qua, qua, cut, cut cut-a-a-a-a-a-cut J"
lis Interrupted by the sudden appear
ance of o. @. Esq, who has just return
ed from a stag partyl.
o. c. "Cock-a-dOOdle-do ! Now, may
patience be vouchsafed me to ask of
you, madam, what does all this mean 7
Here am / returning, care-WOrn and ex-
hausted, from the excitemenGs and
temptations of a delusive world OK
pectlng,to find repose and peace in the
Quiet Of the domestic nest, instead Of
which, I discover you inFthe m1dse OF
riot and dissipation. Madam, insult
not my penetration by denyiI 8 i'll az
firm that you are having o party p
Mrs. Biddg (apprehensiVely(. "HOt
at all, my dear ; &C 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<aza-a-c-that is, at
least-yes, sir, we've laid an egg ~
Three female NetQh0OfS simultaneously.
Gut cut, cut, cut, cut-~a-a-a=a=a-cut !"
o. O. Esq. (majeslieally). Peace,
hens. Madam, what does all this eack-
ling folly mean ?"
[Exeunt hens, in in~dignatiOn.l
mrs. b. II mas become necessary
al this stage of our matrimonial career,
that / should state, in mild but IN
mistakable terms, my opinions regard
ing the approximate sphere and duties
of henhood.
eFirst, s~elfdevotion II has been
the decision of all rOOster-kinds for
ages, and therefore cannOt be denied,
that the browning virtue of the hen
character is disinterestedness. A true
hen shall be patient, s~elf-forgetfuls obe-
dent, tenderiy, solicitous for her hus-
bands little wants, delighting wholly
and solely in the graceful and pleasant
duties that cluster round b domestic
nest. On the contrary, 1 you think
ing only how to crafty your own sell
fish tastes and desires, Instead OF dis
playing( as might naturally be expect
edl some little sense Of loneliness and
melancholy at your husbands absence;
return from q visit of nearly twelve
hours, and find literally rejoicing !
Madam, I ask of you, Is this true mem
hood ?
siSecond A retiring position, q deli
cate Shrinking from contact with the
coarse and uhsympathizing world, an
exclusives indifference to al without
the sacred circle OF b domestic nest.
On the contrary, I ind you gadding
among the other hens of the yard,
making appointments, sending invita-
tons. Again 7 ask of you madam, Is
this true henhOod?
suThird Freedom from curiosity {; q
true hen never evinces the slightest in
terest in the affairs OF her neighbofs,
scarcely in her own she neVeFfnquires
Concerning the whereabouts or actions
of her husband, being perfectly AEBuF-
ed 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 b domestic
nest.
ION the contrary, what do l Ind to
be the truth, In regard 20 yourself4
Not a rooster raises his voice within q
half amile of the yard, but you are
able to name him ; not a hen lays an
egg, but you begin to cackle."
Mrs. Biddy (meekly). "IVe laid an
egg ( cut, cut, cut, cut, cut-a-a-a-a-
No, I mean-yes, sir, we've laid an
egg"
"Y0u'Ue laid an egg /! And pray where
is the thing 2" Walks briskly to the
nest, and takes a microscope view Of
the object.1
BiddV. lieut., cut-I mean viii it dc
sir 20 ~
very fair, considering ; though, now ]
look more closely, I perceive that It Il
not precisely shaped too Short ma.
dam, quite too short not we'll finished
OF, by any means. And h do you
mean, madam, by having the thing Hc
much larger at one M than the other
Where. Task, is your idea Of symme-
tryl bounds ! msdam, ii this is the
best you can do in that departmenbd
shall lay the next myself"
Mrs. Biddy with her clawin her eyel.
"Please, I couldn't help it. I didn't
mean tor s
o. c. Esq. (molliied). well, well,
don't fret your gizzard. YOU'RE no
chicken, madam, to be so sensitive
about q tribe : only remember my adj
vice nlfuture, and above all, recollect
that the croWniug virtue of henhOOd is
Observation-Disclosures q
Mrs. BiddV (meeklVA, tfHave a worm.
dear ~
o. G. Esq. (solemnlyl. "I will" Z 81
SCENE THIRD.