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a chicken。
The Hen…mother did not know what in the world to do with the queer little Half… Chick。 She was afraid something would happen to it； and she tried hard to protect it and keep it from harm。 But as soon as it could walk the little Half…Chick showed a most headstrong spirit； worse than any of its brothers。 It would not mind； and it would go wherever it wanted to； it walked with a funny little hoppity…kick； hoppity… kick； and got along pretty fast。
One day the little Half…Chick said； 〃Mother； I am off to Madrid； to see the King！ Good…by。〃
The poor Hen…mother did everything she could think of； to keep him from doing so foolish a thing； but the little Half…Chick laughed at her naughtily。 〃I'm for seeing the King；〃 he said； 〃this life is too quiet for me。〃 And away he went； hoppity…kick； hoppity…kick； over the fields。
When he had gone some distance the little Half…Chick came to a little brook that was caught in the weeds and in much trouble。
〃Little Half…Chick；〃 whispered the Water； 〃I am so choked with these weeds that I cannot move； I am almost lost； for want of room； please push the sticks and weeds away with your bill and help me。〃
〃The idea！〃 said the little Half…Chick。 〃I cannot be bothered with you； I am off for Madrid； to see the King！〃 And in spite of the brook's begging he went away； hoppity…kick； hoppity…kick。
A bit farther on； the Half…Chick came to a Fire； which was smothered in damp sticks and in great distress。
〃Oh； little Half…Chick；〃 said the Fire； 〃you are just in time to save me。 I am almost dead for want of air。 Fan me a little with your wing； I beg。〃
〃The idea！〃 said the little Half…Chick。 〃I cannot be bothered with you； I am off to Madrid； to see the King！〃 And he went laughing off； hoppity…kick； hoppity…kick。
When he had hoppity…kicked a good way； and was near Madrid； he came to a clump of bushes； where the Wind was caught fast。 The Wind was whimpering； and begging to be set free。
〃Little Half…Chick；〃 said the Wind； 〃you are just in time to help me； if you will brush aside these twigs and leaves； I can get my breath； help me； quickly！〃
〃Ho！ the idea！〃 said the little Half… Chick。 〃I have no time to bother with you。 I am going to Madrid； to see the King。〃 And he went off； hoppity…kick； hoppity… kick； leaving the Wind to smother。
After a while he came to Madrid and to the palace of the King。 Hoppity…kick； hoppity…kick； the little Half…Chick skipped past the sentry at the gate； and hoppity… kick； hoppity…kick； he crossed the court。 But as he was passing the windows of the kitchen the Cook looked out and saw him。
〃The very thing for the King's dinner！〃 she said。 〃I was needing a chicken！〃 And she seized the little Half…Chick by his one wing and threw him into a kettle of water on the fire。
The Water came over the little Half… Chick's feathers； over his head； into his eye； It was terribly uncomfortable。 The little Half…Chick cried out；
〃Water； don't drown me！ Stay down； don't come so high！〃
But the Water said； 〃Little Half…Chick； little Half…Chick； when I was in trouble you would not help me；〃 and came higher than ever。
Now the Water grew warm； hot； hotter； frightfully hot； the little Half…Chick cried out； 〃Do not burn so hot； Fire！ You are burning me to death！ Stop！〃
But the Fire said； 〃Little Half…Chick； little Half…Chick； when I was in trouble you would not help me；〃 and burned hotter than ever。
Just as the little Half…Chick thought he must suffocate； the Cook took the cover off； to look at the dinner。 〃Dear me；〃 she said； 〃this chicken is no good； it is burned to a cinder。〃 And she picked the little Half…Chick up by one leg and threw him out of the window。
In the air he was caught by a breeze and taken up higher than the trees。 Round and round he was twirled till he was so dizzy he thought he must perish。 〃Don't blow me so？ Wind；〃 he cried； 〃let me down！〃
〃Little Half…Chick； little Half…Chick；〃 said the Wind； 〃when I was in trouble you would not help me！〃 And the Wind blew him straight up to the top of the church steeple； and stuck him there； fast！
There he stands to this day； with his one eye； his one wing； and his one leg。 He cannot hoppity…kick any more； but he turns slowly round when the wind blows； and keeps his head toward it； to hear what it says。
THE LAMBIKIN＇1＇
＇1＇ From Indian Fairy Tales。 By Joseph Jacobs （David Nutt）。
Once upon a time there was a wee； wee Lambikin； who frolicked about on his little tottery legs； and enjoyed himself amazingly。
Now one day he set off to visit his Granny； and was jumping with joy to think of all the good things he should get from her； when whom should he meet but a Jackal； who looked at the tender young morsel and said； 〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But Lambikin only gave a little frisk and said；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat me so。〃
The Jackal thought this reasonable； and let Lambikin pass。
By and by he met a Vulture； and the Vulture； looking hungrily at the tender morsel before him； said； 〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But Lambikin only gave a little frisk； and said；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat me so。〃
The Vulture thought this reasonable； and let Lambikin pass。
And by and by he met a Tiger； and then a Wolf and a Dog and an Eagle； and all these； when they saw the tender little morsel； said； 〃Lambikin！ Lambikin！ I'll EAT YOU！〃
But to all of them Lambikin replied； with a little frisk；
〃To Granny's house I go； Where I shall fatter grow； Then you can eat me so。〃
At last he reached his Granny's house； and said； all in a great hurry； 〃Granny； dear； I've promised to get very fat； so； as people ought to keep their promises； please put me into the corn…bin AT ONCE。〃
So his Granny said he was a good boy； and put him into the corn…bin； and there the greedy little Lambikin stayed for seven days； and ate； and ate； and ate； until he could scarcely waddle； and his Granny said he was fat enough for anything； and must go home。 But cunning little Lambikin said that would never do； for some animal would be sure to eat him on the way back； he was so plump and tender。
〃I'll tell you what you must do；〃 said Master Lambikin； 〃you must make a little drumikin out of the skin of my little brother who died； and then I can sit inside and trundle along nicely； for I'm as tight as a drum myself。〃
So his Granny made a nice little drumikin out of his brother's skin； with the wool inside； and Lambikin curled himself up snug and warm in the middle and trundled away gayly。 Soon he met with the Eagle； who called out；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And Mr。 Lambikin； curled up in his soft； warm nest； replied；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa； tum…too！〃
〃How very annoying！〃 sighed the Eagle； thinking regretfully of the tender morsel he had let slip。
Meanwhile Lambikin trundled along； laughing to himself； and singing；
〃Tum…pa； tum…too； Tum…pa； tum…too！〃
Every animal and bird he met asked him the same question；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And to each of them the little slyboots replied；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa； tum…too！〃 Tum…pa； tum…too！ tum…pa； tum…too！〃
Then they all sighed to think of the tender little morsel they had let slip。
At last the Jackal came limping along； for all his sorry looks as sharp as a needle； and he； too； called out；
〃Drumikin！ Drumikin！ Have you seen Lambikin？〃
And Lambikin； curled up in his snug little nest； replied gayly；
〃Fallen into the fire； and so will you On little Drumikin！ Tum…pa〃
But he never got any further； for the Jackal recognized his voice at once； and cried； 〃Hullo！ you've turned yourself inside out； have you？ Just you come out of that！〃
Whereupon he tore open Drumikin and gobbled up Lambikin。
THE BLACKBERRY…BUSH＇1＇
＇1＇ From Celia Thaxter's Stories and Poems for Children。
A little boy sat at his mother's knees； by the long western window； looking out into the garden。 It was autumn； and the wind was sad； and the golden elm leaves lay scattered about among the grass； and on the gravel path。 The mother was knitting a little stocking； her fingers moved the bright needles； but her eyes were fixed on the clear evening sky。
As the darkness gathered； the wee boy laid his head on her lap and kept so still that； at last； she leaned forward to look into his dear round face。 He was not asleep； but was watching very earnestly a blackberry…bush； that waved its one tall； dark…red spray in the wind outside the fence。
〃What are you thinking about； my darling？〃 she said； smoothing his soft； honey…colored hair。
〃The blackberry…bush； mamma； what does it say？ It keeps nodding； nodding to me behind the fence； what does it say； mamma？〃
〃It says；〃 she answered； ‘I see a happy little boy in the warm； fire…lighted room。 The wind blows cold； and here it is dark and lonely； but that little boy is warm and happy and safe at his mother's knees。 I nod to him； and he looks at me。 I wonder if he knows how happy he