Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-18
The ROOster.Peckod Wife.

Natural History. Who ever saw {
hen scratching up worms for a cock
But We strongly suspect there is con
cealed under the rural picture ar
attack upon some of the oldest in
s.itutions of society. Do you ask
Oh, conceited critic! what this seem
ing contradiction means, and why
we should print what we so much
suspect and disap2rove? We an
swer in the words of Shakespeare
modernized-
There are more things in heaven and
! earth, Old Bachelor,
Than are dreampt of in your philosophy.
SCENE FIRST.
Mrs. Biddy Chanticleer scratches
for her breakfast. o. Chanticleer,
Esq, frsm the top rail of the barn
fence, becomes cognizant of the fact,
and struts with dignity towards his
little spouse.
Biddy -" Good morning, my
dear"
o. G. Esq" Morning, madam
quite enjoying yourself, madam; Of
course you are not aware of the fact
that I have been up for more than
an hour, and have not yet eaten a
mouthful? p? Is this what I married
you for, madam? Gives her q
pointed salute on the ancle. Where
are your domestic qualities, madam ?
Imprints mark of affection on the
top of her head. Where was your
smile of affection when you saw me
getting off the fence l watched
you, madam! Where was your ten
der female solicitude when you be-
held me looking weakly for the
want of q little nourishment :?
Where, I repeat, is my breakfast =?
Cock a-doodlo dol"
Bddy (meekly.l "Have worm"
SCENE SECOND.
Mis-. Biddy Chanticleer lays her
first egg, and has invited two or
.ahsss .Isal~as lsissas--te@hslp eackle
70. c. Esq. being absent
Mrs. Biddy. "Cut, cut, cut, a-a- a
cut, cut, cut a-a-a-a cut!
Mrs. Partlett. "Qua, qua, qua,
cut-a-a-cut? p
Mrs. Penfeathcr. "Cluck, cluck,
qua, qua, cut, cut, cut, a-a-a-a cut"
Is suddenly interrupted by the sud-
den appearance of O. G. Esq, who
has Just returned from a stag party.
o. &. Esq. Cock k-a-doodle-do! !!
Now, may patience be vouchsafed to
me to ask of you. madam, what does
all this mean? Here am l returning,
careworn and exhausted, from the
excitemenis and temptations of Il
delusive world, expecting to find
repose and peace in the Iuiet of the
domestic hest, instead of which l
discover you in the midst of riot and
dissipation. Madam, insult not my
penetration by denying it-I affirm
that you are having a party!'
Mrs. Biddy (apprehensivcly.)
" Not at all, my dear; that is, at
least, my friends were just going by,
and stopped in quite accidently, and
so--for you see, my dear, I've laid
an egg! cut, cut, cut, a-a-a-c--that
is, at least-yes, sir, we've laid an
egg!'
Three female neishbors, stimuli
taneously.
Cut, cut, cut, cut-a,a-a-cut!"
O.C. Esq. Una jestically.) peace,
hens. Madam, what does all this
cackling folly mean?'
Exeunt hens, in indignation.
o. G. Esq. 1t has become ne
cessary, at this stage of our matri-
monial career, that I should state,
in mild unmistakable terms, my
opinions regarding the appropriate
sphere and duties of heuhood:
" First, self-devotion. 1t has been
the decision of ali rooster-kind, for
ages, and therefore cannot be denied,
that the crowning virtue of the hen
character is disinterestedness. A
true hen should be patient, selffor-
getful, obedient, tenderly solicitous
for her husbands little wants, de-
lighting wholly and solely in the
graceful and pleasant duties that
cluster round the domestic nest.
On the contrary, find you thinking
only bow to crafty your own selfish
tastes and desires, instead of dis
playing (as might naturally be ex-
pscted) some little sense ofloneliness
and melancholy at your husbands
absence, l return from a visit of
nearly twelve hours, and find you
literally rejoicing! Madam, I ask it
of you, is this true henhood?
" Second. A retiring disposition,
q delicate shrinking from contact
with the course and unsympathizing
world, an exclusive indifference to
all without the sacred circle of the
domestic nest. On the contrary ]
md you cadding among the othe,
hens Of the yard, making appoint
nepts, sending invitations. Again
I ask of you, madam, is this true
henhood?