Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-03-01
TIE LEGEND.

Of Spanish life by Fernsn Caballero, the greatest
living Spanish novelist
TIE LEGEND.
There Was once upon time handsome
Hen. who lived very comfortably 10 d court
ward surrounded ~ her numerous family,
among whom there Hss one chicken that
was both lame and ugly Row this was the
very one that the mother iogcd lest OF all,
for that is the way with mothers.
This cripple had been hatei.td IRON very
tiny little egg. he was indeed no more than
Haifa chicken, for he had only one eye, cne
wing, and one claw: and for al that be gave
himself more airs than bic father did, who
vac the hands5mest and brayest and most
gentiemanly cock m al tie iuwi-yRrds Tor
sixty miles round. This click thought hlm-
self the Phoenix Of his race. IL the Other
cocks laughed at him, be- thought 1t was out
of envy and If the hens did, g said that 1t
was for anger because Of the little AttentIpn
that be paid them.
One day be said to bis mother, LOOK
here, Mother. The country wearIes me; |
have made up my mind TO 20 TO Court. l
want to see the King and Queen.
The poor mother began 10 tTomhle when
ahe heard these words.
" My son" she exclaimed. % no eou %
have put such nonsense into your head
Your iather has never once been outside his
own domain, and be is tie pride OF his race
Why. where would YOU ind such court
ward as YOU have here? ? Or where a grandeT
manure-heap? Where would You find bet
ter or more plentiful food. warmer hen
roost, or family that loves You more dear
iY2"
..Ncgo. " said MedIo-Pollito in Latin, for
be set up to be a great scholar. . My
brothers and my cousins are ignorant
clowns
But, my son. continued his mother,
have YOU never looked at yourself in the
glass; Have you not found out that you
nave got one eye and enc claw less than
other people?
Nay, if you begin upon that replied
Medio-Pollito, - shall answer that You
ought to fall down dead for shame at seeing
me in such state 1t is yOuF fault and
nobodys else. What sort Of an egg did
come out of, pray? Was i: laid by an old
cock p
..No, my son, said the hen, 'iOr only
basilisks come out of those eggs. You were
hatehed from a very wee little egg, but in
deed that was no fault Of mine
Perhaps said Medio-Polito, his comi
turning red as scarlet, "perhaps ! shal
meet with some clever surgeon, who vii
put on my missing limbs Anyhow, m
mind is made up; of 60"
When the poor hen saw that there was d
way Of turning him fIom his purpose, sh
said:
AT least, my son, hearken to the pruden
counsel of loving mother. Take care no
to pass by any churches where there Is
statue Of St. Peter, for that saint is not
all fond Of cocks. and still less of their crow
Avoid also certain men whom there are !
the world, called cooks; for they are GU
mortal enemies, and viii wiring jour neck a
soon as they look at you. And now, my sol
ST. Raphael. the patron Of travellers, .
your guide. Go and ask your fathers bless
irg." -,
Medio-Pollito approached the yenerabl
author Of his existence, and, STOPPING
Kiss his claw begged his blessing. In
worthy olu Cock gave it him with more Dig
nifty than affection, for be was by no meal
fond Of him on account Of his peeylsh ten
per. But bis mother wss so much moVe'
that she was obliged to wipe away Der teal
with a withered leaf.
Then Medio-Pollito tegen bis maTel
elapping his wing and growing three tim
as a signal Of departure.
As he arrived at the banks Of strea
that vas almost dried up,-for 1t was SUI
mer,-it so happened that the slender thre'
Of water was hindered from flowing by
few branches that had fallen across its be
On seeing the traveller, the Stream said
''Thou seest, friend, hoV weak | al
scarcely can | move step, and have U
strength TO push aside these branches tn
block up my way. Neither can | make
round to avoid them, for it would entirC
exhaust me. Thou couldst easily get i
out of this difficulty by parting the brancl
with thy beak. In return, thou mayst !
only quench thy thirst in my current, /
reckon on my services as soon as the "a
e heayen shall have restored ny strength
The Chicken -eIlied
u could, but | don't chUose DO
think look like the servant Of dirty II
streams p
"Ihou wilt remember me when least .
thinkest," murmured the Stream 10 ia
ing voice.
.It's very fine for you TO beast =" retu
ed Medio-Polhto, mOckingly why,
yonld think you had Just drawn a priz
the lottery, OF could be sure Of help &
the waters Of the Deluge'