Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1871-06-01
MiSfk1Iane1uS'
THE HENS RIGHTS MEET
ING.

AT farm-yard IN Virginia there ilyec
family of domestic fowls, consisting o
two cocks and about dozen hens. Th;
cocks were game and of the best breed
and we're remarkable for their pluck and
gal!antry, as we'll as for their devotion and
| attention to their wives. When food was
thrown to them they never partook of il
before calling up the hens and seeing that
they we're served FIRST, and whenever they
chsuced to End savory Bug or to scratch
up delicate worm, they always denied
themselves the luxury and invited the
hens to enjoy il in preference, thus show
ing that their CHIEF qualification consisted
in the comfort and happiness of their
helpmeets. And the hons were not slow
to avail themselves ofthe self. denial aud
politeness of their husbands, but gobbled
up grain, worms, and bugs, without even
saying "Thank you," or Wont you join
US" They seemed to look upon these
delicate attentions of their lords, and the
appropriation Of al the best things to
themse Ives, Us their natural and inherent
right.
On the other hand, the hens were low
ing, gentle. and obedicnt. and attended to
their domestic duties notably laying their
eggs with regularity and dispatch, sitting
on them carefully and patiently, and rails
ing their chickens in the most affection.
ate and devo ed manner. Both men and
women, if their pride permitted. might
draw instructive lessons from the social
life Of this family Of domestic fowls. The
men might copy after the cocks in courage
self-denial, and those pleasing little atten-
tons which are SO much appreciated by
their wives and the women might initiate
the hens in their regularity, patience,
diligence. and industry in their devotion
to their children and in their respect for
and submission to their husbands.
One day this family of fowls was visit
ed by two strange hens that had just arriv-
ed from Massachusetts,. The strangers
were tall, raw-bonsd. ng-le9gcd, long
necked, and bis-fpcted. and had coarse.
harsh voices. Without invitation or in
production. they sNidcd in the barn-yard 3,
and circulated amongst the hens, and con-
versed with them insss free and easy a
style a. il they had known them all their
lives. 1ndecd. one would have supposed
that the barn-ysrd belonged to them.-
After few remarks upon tho late war
and the scarcity of cocks, they requested
the hens to separate themselves from the
BOOSTERS. and to collect together in a cor
ner Of the yard. as they had matter of vast
importance to communicate to them. -
The curiosity Of the hens being thus e1-
cited. they fled off furtlvely to the appoin-
ted corner, and formed circle around
their new aoauaintsnccs, and in solemn
respectful silence listened to ono Of them
who thus addressed them:
''Ladies have called you together to
address you ona subject OF paramount i'm
portance, not only to your own comfort
and happiness. but to the future success
and progress Of your posterity and Of all
civilized poultry. You are aware Of the
accepted idea that In the beginning Of this
world the male portion Of creation were
made first. and shat the female was creat-
ed as sort of aftsrthougbt, or side issue,
to relieve the male from the tedinm OF be-
ing alone, and 10 contribute to his comfort
and pleasure. There 10 no doubt that.
| acting upon this idea. the male has con-
stituted himself the Lord of creation, and
has set himself up as being the superior
IF the female, and, taking mean advaR-