henwife

Winnie was considered chief "henwife" at the Parsonage.

The Youngest Girl in the Fifth A School Story Angela Brazil 1907

This was a half-witted lad, of very small stature, who had a kind of charge of the poultry under the old henwife; for in a Scottish family of that day there was a wonderful substitution of labour.

Old Mortality 2004

"That's easy enough," said the henwife, and told them that a Brownie that's paid for its service, in aught that's not perishable, goes away at once.

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

So she went home to the queen and told her what the henwife had said.

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

Then the henwife was rare angry and said to Anne, "Tell your minnie the pot won't boil if the fire's away."

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

"Go home to your minnie and tell her to keep her larder door better locked," said the henwife.

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

When she came to the henwife's she asked for eggs, as she had been told to do; the henwife said to her, "Lift the lid off that pot there and see."

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

So she took counsel of the henwife, who told her to send the lassie to her next morning fasting.

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

So next morning early, the queen said to Anne, "Go, my dear, to the henwife in the glen, and ask her for some eggs."

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885

So they took pity on the poor Brownie, and asked the nearest henwife what they should do to send it away.

English Fairy Tales Joseph Jacobs 1885