![]() “I feel highly flattered, kind sir,” replied the Cock slyly. I am quite sure we shall become the closest of friends.” I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you here. “A hearty welcome to our woods, honored sir. Hurrying to the tree where the Cock was roosting, he said very politely: The Fox immediately had rosy visions of a very delicious breakfast. But instead of awakening the farmer, he awakened a Fox not far off in the wood. So standing on tip-toes he flapped his wings and crowed lustily. He thought he was still in the farmyard where it had been his duty to arouse the household at daybreak. For the moment he forgot just where he was. With the first glimmer of dawn the Cock awoke. So said, so done, and both slept very comfortably. The Dog could creep inside and the Cock would fly up on one of the branches. ![]() The two comrades traveled along in the very best of spirits and without meeting any adventure to speak of.Īt nightfall the Cock, looking for a place to roost, as was his custom, spied nearby a hollow tree that he thought would do very nicely for a night’s lodging. So they decided to leave the farmyard and to set out into the world along the road that led to the woods. “This must surely be the King of Tortoises!”īut as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words he lost his hold on the stick, and down he fell to the ground, where he was dashed to pieces on a rock.įoolish curiosity and vanity often lead to misfortune.Ī Dog and a Cock, who were the best of friends, wished very much to see something of the world. He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried: He seized the stick firmly with his teeth, the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end, and away they sailed up toward the clouds. “Take hold of this stick with your teeth and we will carry you far up in the air where you can see the whole countryside. “We can help you to see the world,” said the Ducks. One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble. He wanted to see the world too, and there he was with a house on his back and little short legs that could hardly drag him along. When he saw how gaily the birds flew about and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by, always eager to see everything there was to be seen, the Tortoise felt very sad and discontented. They say that Jupiter punished him so, because he was such a lazy stay-at-home that he would not go to Jupiter’s wedding, even when especially invited.Īfter many years, Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that wedding. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot leave home. The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back. The Wolf’s song ended suddenly, and as he ran, with the Dogs at his heels, he called himself a fool for turning piper to please a Kid, when he should have stuck to his butcher’s trade.ĭo not let anything turn you from your purpose. They recognized the song the Wolf sings before a feast, and in a moment they were racing back to the pasture. In the still evening air the Wolf’s piping carried far. Meanwhile, the flock was moving slowly homeward. The Wolf liked the idea of a little music before eating, so he struck up a merry tune and the Kid leaped and frisked gaily. But first please pipe me a tune, for I want to dance and be merry as long as I can.” Wolf,” he said trembling, “I know you are going to eat me. The Kid knew there was little hope for him. But not half-way, near a clump of trees, there was the Wolf! Then he started wildly over the field, bleating for his mother. The Kid shivered as he thought of the terrible Wolf. A chilly little wind came creeping with them making scary noises in the grass. Long shadows came creeping over the ground. A little later when he lifted his head, the flock was gone. So one evening when the flock started home from the pasture and his mother called, the Kid paid no heed and kept right on nibbling the tender grass. There was once a little Kid whose growing horns made him think he was a grown-up Billy Goat and able to take care of himself.
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