Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-02-03

L DOmestic Drama In ssPanchss 80
Years AgO.
SCENE I.

A Denestic Dr.n. q. ~P.ncAs %
Years Age.
SCENE I.
Mrs Biddy Chanticleer scratches for her break
ESQ., from the TOP Of the
struts with dignity toward his little spouse)
Biddy.-"Good morning, my dear"
o. c.. Esq.-"Morning. madam; quite enjoy
ing yourself, madam: Of course, you are not
| an hour. and have not yet eaten mouthful! Is
this what married you for, madam? (Gfres
her p Otnted salute on the ankle. Where are
your domestic qualities. madam? [Imprints a
mark Of affection on the top Of he, head Where
Is your smile of welcome when you saw me get
ting on the fence? l watched you. madam.
Where was your tender female soiicitude when
you beheld me looking weakly for want OF
little nourishment? Where. l repeat. is my
breakfast? Cock-adoodledo!"
Biddy (D,eekly)-''Have worm DEAR"
0. C., Esq. (soien,',Iy)-'I will"
MRS. Biddy Chanticleer lays her first egg and
has inEited two or three female friends to cackle,
Mrs. Bibly-" Cut cut cut, cut-a-a. cut
cut-a-a-a-a-cut."
Mrs. PG,tiett-" Qua. qua. qua. cut-a-a-cut?"
Mrs. Psnfeotae7--'' Chuck, cluck. qua. qua
qua, cut. cut. cut-a-a-a-cut Ills interrupted by
the sudden appearance of o. c.. Esq, who has
0. c.. Esq.-"Cock- a-doode-do! Now may
patience be vouchsafed me to ask
of you. madam. what does all this
mean9 Here am 1 returning, care
temptations ola delusive world. expecting to
lind repOse and peace in the quiet of the domes-
| TIC nest. instead of which discover you in the
midst of riot and dissipation. Madam. insult
not my penetration by denying it affirm that
you are having party"
Mrs. Bl6Iy tQDDtsHpn Si,elty -. Not at all my
dear; at 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-a-a-c-that is, at least yes, Sir, we've
laid an egg"
Three female neighbors simultaneously" Cut
cut. cut cut-a-a-a-cut -
o. c. Esq (n,ojesticauy)- Peace. hens,
Madam what does ali this cackling folly mean ?"
(EreHm hens an ihdigndtiOa.)
Mrs. u. c.. 1t has become necessary. at this
stage OF our matrimonial career that l should
state. In mild but unmistakahie terms. my Opin-
ions regarding the appropriate sphere and du-
ties of henlood:
First. sefdevotion-It has been the decision
of all rooster-kind for ages and therefore can
not be denied. that the browning virtue of the
hen character is dsinterestedness. true hen
should be patient. self-forgctful. obedient. ten
derby sOlicitcus Of her husbands little wants.
delighting wholly and solely in the graceful and
pleasant duties that cluster round the domestic
nest On the contrary find you thinking only
how to crafty your own selfish tastes and de-
sires. instead of displaying Gas might naturally
De eXpected) some little sense of loneliness and
melancholy at your husbands ABSENCE return
from visit of nearly IL hours. and find you lit
orally rejoicing! Madam, ask of you, is this
true henhOOd?
Second A retiring position, a delicate
shrinking from contact with the coarse and
unsynpathizng world, an exclusive indiffer
ence to all without the sacred circle of the do
nestle nest. On the contrary find you CAD
ding among the other hens of the yard. making
appointments. sending invitations. Again, l
ask of you. madame. is this true henhOOd?
''Thrd-Freedom from curiosity. true hen
never eynces the slightest interest in the affairs
OF her neighbOrs. scarcely in her own; she never
inquiries concerning the whereabouts or actions
of her husband. being perfectly assured that,
wherever he be. and however appearances at
times may tell against him. he> is ever acting
with view to the welfare of the domestic nest.
On the contrary, what do find to be the
truth in regard to yourself? Not rooster
raises his voice within half mile of the yard.
but you are able to name him; not a hen lays an
egg but you begin to cackle.''
Mrs. Biddy. (meekly) -"rve laid an egg! Cut.
cut, cut-a-a-a. No, mean, sir, we've laid an
egg
o. G., Esq. (,ciM solemn animation)- ''You've
laid an egg. And pray. where is the thing 2"
Walks b,isk{y to the nest and takes a microscopic
rie,v Of the otjeet.l
Biddy-'' Cut cut mean will it do. sir:"
o. c., sq.-''Humph-well. yes; very fair.
considering: though now / look more closely
perceive that it is not precisely shaped too
short madam, too short; not we'll finished off
by any means. And what do you mean, madam.
10y having the thing SO much larger at one end
than the other? Where, l ask is your idea of
symmetry? POUNDS. Madam, if this is the best
you can do in that department, 1 shall lay the
next myself. -
Mrs. Biddy-(,riM her. Glaze in her e,e)-
please couldn't help it, didn't mean to-
o. e.. Esq, (paouitied)-"Well, WELL don't
fret your giZzard- You're no chicken. madame.
to be SO sensitive about a trifle; only remember
my advice In future and. above all, recOllect
that the browning virtue Of henhoOd is dsinter-
estedness."
Mrs. Bidbly (aeekly)-"Have a worm, dear ?"
.. C.. Esq, (solennly)-'I will"
SCENE III.
Mrs Biddy c. has been setting for three
weeks. o. c., ESD, appears i'm the distance.
parting with one of his numerous female
friends; the tones OF his voice fall family on Mrs.
0. C.. Esq Esa.-"And now. sweetest of hens
farewell, and may all the stars of heaven. and
the day when your smile first dawned upon my
weary life, and made me the happiest of
ROSTERS. Farewell"
o. c. uinds has hOnae,rdrd ,cay-"Good
evening, Jack; mOnstrous fine hen. that. Just
been parting from her. Or may be you did not
notice her fine points. Quite fond of me, too,
assure you. Still in tears. you will observe
ahem! COck-a-d doodle door,
70. c. reaches the domestic nest.l
Mrs. Biddy (faebly)-"Oh I'm so glad to have
somebody to speak to. haven't stepped off the
nest Or seen creature since sunrise. How do
you DO, my dear? Anything new going on in the
yard:'
IA long pause o. c., Esq, appears to be sud-
denly overwhelmed with depression and silent
gloom
MRS Biddy-"What's the matter, sir?"
o. c. I'm a terrible uoice, and ,nalting ike
OHeNO) Matter! madame behold.'' Inserts
has bill under has left ICING and produces aroosters
tail feather. Do you recognize that, madame!
DO you acknowledge an acquaintance with the
caitiff who dropped it? Are you
aware that found it within three feet of the do
nestle nest:"
Mrs. Bsddy Qanguidy)-"Did you? l didn't
notice it,"
o. C., Esq.-"Peace. hen, and listen! while in
calm but decisive terms | strive to impress
upon your mind the enormty of your conduct
Has it not been decided. l ask you, madame,
has II mi haan mi Of l. Co.