XXVI.THAT OF THE INDISCREET HEN AND THERESOURCEFUL ROOSTER.(An Allegory.)
I dote upon the softer sex.The theme I write upon doth vex,For female inconsistencyA sorry subject is for meTo tackle;Yet of a wayward female henI write this time, with halting pen.Compound of pride, and vanity,All feathers she appear'd to be,And cackle.A flighty hen was she, no doubt—A foolish fowl, a gad-about."Lay eggs!" quoth she. "Why should I?—why?And set! I won't, upon that I'M decided."Then,—on theTimesinstalment plan,—A bicycle she bought, and 'ganDomestic duties to neglect;Her skirts were—what could one expect?—Divided.
I dote upon the softer sex.The theme I write upon doth vex,For female inconsistencyA sorry subject is for meTo tackle;Yet of a wayward female henI write this time, with halting pen.Compound of pride, and vanity,All feathers she appear'd to be,And cackle.A flighty hen was she, no doubt—A foolish fowl, a gad-about."Lay eggs!" quoth she. "Why should I?—why?And set! I won't, upon that I'M decided."Then,—on theTimesinstalment plan,—A bicycle she bought, and 'ganDomestic duties to neglect;Her skirts were—what could one expect?—Divided.
I dote upon the softer sex.The theme I write upon doth vex,For female inconsistencyA sorry subject is for meTo tackle;Yet of a wayward female henI write this time, with halting pen.Compound of pride, and vanity,All feathers she appear'd to be,And cackle.
I dote upon the softer sex.
The theme I write upon doth vex,
For female inconsistency
A sorry subject is for me
To tackle;
Yet of a wayward female hen
I write this time, with halting pen.
Compound of pride, and vanity,
All feathers she appear'd to be,
And cackle.
A flighty hen was she, no doubt—A foolish fowl, a gad-about."Lay eggs!" quoth she. "Why should I?—why?And set! I won't, upon that I'M decided."Then,—on theTimesinstalment plan,—A bicycle she bought, and 'ganDomestic duties to neglect;Her skirts were—what could one expect?—Divided.
A flighty hen was she, no doubt—
A foolish fowl, a gad-about.
"Lay eggs!" quoth she. "Why should I?—why?
And set! I won't, upon that I
'M decided."
Then,—on theTimesinstalment plan,—
A bicycle she bought, and 'gan
Domestic duties to neglect;
Her skirts were—what could one expect?—
Divided.
This conduct greatly scandalisedThe farmyard; all looked on surprised,All but the rooster staid and grim;Hedid not fret. 'Twas not for himTo rate her;He let her go her wilful way,And purchased for himself one dayA strange contraption—glass and tin—An article that's called an in-Cubator.The nearest grocer's then he sought,Some ten-a-shilling eggs he bought;The incubator set to work(There was no fear thatitwould shirkIts duty),Then sat and waited patiently.Not many days to wait, had he:Within a week, to make him glad,A family of chicks he had—A beauty.
This conduct greatly scandalisedThe farmyard; all looked on surprised,All but the rooster staid and grim;Hedid not fret. 'Twas not for himTo rate her;He let her go her wilful way,And purchased for himself one dayA strange contraption—glass and tin—An article that's called an in-Cubator.The nearest grocer's then he sought,Some ten-a-shilling eggs he bought;The incubator set to work(There was no fear thatitwould shirkIts duty),Then sat and waited patiently.Not many days to wait, had he:Within a week, to make him glad,A family of chicks he had—A beauty.
This conduct greatly scandalisedThe farmyard; all looked on surprised,All but the rooster staid and grim;Hedid not fret. 'Twas not for himTo rate her;He let her go her wilful way,And purchased for himself one dayA strange contraption—glass and tin—An article that's called an in-Cubator.
This conduct greatly scandalised
The farmyard; all looked on surprised,
All but the rooster staid and grim;
Hedid not fret. 'Twas not for him
To rate her;
He let her go her wilful way,
And purchased for himself one day
A strange contraption—glass and tin—
An article that's called an in-
Cubator.
The nearest grocer's then he sought,Some ten-a-shilling eggs he bought;The incubator set to work(There was no fear thatitwould shirkIts duty),Then sat and waited patiently.Not many days to wait, had he:Within a week, to make him glad,A family of chicks he had—A beauty.
The nearest grocer's then he sought,
Some ten-a-shilling eggs he bought;
The incubator set to work
(There was no fear thatitwould shirk
Its duty),
Then sat and waited patiently.
Not many days to wait, had he:
Within a week, to make him glad,
A family of chicks he had—
A beauty.
Surprised, his wife returned; but "No;In future you your way may go,And I'll go mine, misguided hen!"Said he. She fell to pleading then,But vainly."I'm better off without," he said,"A wife with such an empty head.* * *He flourishes. His wife, grown stout,Neglected, squa-a-ks and stalks about—Ungainly.
Surprised, his wife returned; but "No;In future you your way may go,And I'll go mine, misguided hen!"Said he. She fell to pleading then,But vainly."I'm better off without," he said,"A wife with such an empty head.* * *He flourishes. His wife, grown stout,Neglected, squa-a-ks and stalks about—Ungainly.
Surprised, his wife returned; but "No;In future you your way may go,And I'll go mine, misguided hen!"Said he. She fell to pleading then,But vainly."I'm better off without," he said,"A wife with such an empty head.
Surprised, his wife returned; but "No;
In future you your way may go,
And I'll go mine, misguided hen!"
Said he. She fell to pleading then,
But vainly.
"I'm better off without," he said,
"A wife with such an empty head.
* * *
* * *
He flourishes. His wife, grown stout,Neglected, squa-a-ks and stalks about—Ungainly.
He flourishes. His wife, grown stout,
Neglected, squa-a-ks and stalks about—
Ungainly.
It's a wise chicken in these days that knowsits own mother.
It's a wise chicken in these days that knowsits own mother.
It's a wise chicken in these days that knowsits own mother.
It's a wise chicken in these days that knows
its own mother.