hen-wife

At length the Queen, having some business with the hen-wife, went herself to her, and, after a long conference passed, was taking leave of her, when the hen-wife prayed that if ever she should come back to her again she might break her neck.

The Red Fairy Book 2003

Whether it was the hen-wife instructed her, or whether it was from her own knowledge, I cannot tell; but she gave out they must go and bring her the Knight of the

The Red Fairy Book 2003

The Queen immediately took the cards, and, after returning the hen-wife thanks for her kind instruction, went back to the palace, where she was quite uneasy until she got speaking to the King in regard of his children; at last she broke it off to him in a very polite and engaging manner, so that he could see no muster or design in it.

The Red Fairy Book 2003

She vanished briskly into the guest-hall, and he caught but a glimpse of her, but she was positive enough to stay with him through the offices and duties of the morning, and as the worshippers left the church after Mass he caught sight of her again, arms spread like a hen-wife driving her birds, marshalling two chicks, it seemed, before her, both largely concealed beyond her ample width and bountiful skirts.

The Pilgrim of Hate Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1984

She had his bed ready, probably smoothed with her own hands, she would shoo him into it like a hen-wife harrying her chicks, and when he was in it, and fast asleep, she would probably hang over him possessively, and have food ready for him when he stirred.

The Virgin In The Ice Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1982

When the hen-wife plucks the goose's bosom it makes her nestle more closely to her goslings.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 55, No. 343, May 1844 Various

Trude, the old hen-wife has more of her aches and pains to-day, and you must feed the pullets their extra grain and see to the eggs.

In the Border Country Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon 1918

Gradually the memories will come back and fit themselves together for the average hen-wife who learnt history at the English elementary schools, and who has now something better to do.

What I Saw in America 1905

He went into the first house he came to, and this happened to be the house of the King's hen-wife.

The Yellow Fairy Book Andrew Lang 1900

But she couldn't get the King on no account to part Billy and the Bull, so she consulted with a hen-wife what they could do as regards separating

Tales of Wonder Every Child Should Know Various 1896