The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-03-20

blessed as he who receives it."
/ And then the wife, with her arm placed
/. gentle around her husbands neck, gently,
kindly said:
"Dear Jack, wouldn't VIC both be hap
pier if we would try to live by the blessed
rules laid down by the Saviour OIL
know that they were given by One who
! sought our highest good, and l think we
should find much joy in trying to square
our lives by the golden rule"
And Jack, with kiss, made answer:
"My darling, we will try"
History OF WeathercOck-Being the
/ Wonderful and Instructive Legend
OF MediO.POllftO.
STORY FOR CHILDREN.
Translated from the Spanish Of Fernan Caballero.
There was once upon time hand
some hen who lived very comfortably in
a courtyard surrounded by her numerous
family, among whom there was one chicken
that was both lame and ugly. Now, this
was the very one that the mother loved
best of all, for that is the way with
mothers.
This cripple had been Matched from
very tiny little egg. He was, indeed, no
more than half chicken, for he had only
one eye, one wing, and one claw; and, for
all that, he gave himself more airs than
| his father did, who was the handsomest,
and bravest, and most gentlemanly cock
in all the fowl yards for sixty miles round.
This chick thought himself the Phoenix of
his race. If the other cocks laughed at
him, he thought it was out of envy; and If
| the hens did, he said it was out of anger
because of the little attention paid them.
One day he said to his mother:
"Look here, mother. The country wea-
ries me; | have made up my mind to go
to Court. I want to see the King and
| Queen.
The poor mother began to tremble when
she heard these words.
"My SON." she exclaimed, ;" who should
have put such nonsense into your head
Your father has never once been outside
of his own domain, and he is the pride OF
his race. Why, where would you find such
a courtyard as you have here Or where
grander manure-heap? Where would
you find better or more plentiful food, q
warmer hen-roost, or family that loves
you more dearly?"
Nero" said Medic Pollito in Latin, for
he set up to be great scholar. "My bro
theirs and my cousins are all ignorant
clowns"
"But, my son." continued his mother,
shave you never looked at yourself in the
glass Have you not found out that you
have got one eve and one claw less than
other people 7" :.
"Nay, if you begin upon that" replied.
Medio-Pollito, 81 shall answer that you
ought to fall down dead for shame at seeing
me in such a state. 1t is your fault, and
nobody's else. What sort of an egg did
come out of, prayi Was it laid by an old
cock?"
"No, my son." said the hen; g. for
old basilislls come out of those eggs. You
were Matched from very wee little egg
but, indeed, that was no fault of mine."
Perhaps" said Medio-P ollito, his comb
turning as red as scarlet, :" shall meet
with some clever surgeon who will put on
my missing limbs. Anyhow, my MUD is
made up; off l CO."
When the poor hen saw that there was
no way of turning him from his purpose,
she said:
cat least, my son, hearken to the coun-
sci of loving mother. Take care not to
pass by any churches where there is
statue of St. Peter for that saint is not at
all fond of cocks, and still less of their
crow. Avoid, also, certain men whom
there are in the world called cooks; for
they are our mortal enemies, and will
wiring your neck as soon as look at you.
And now, my son, ST. Raphael, the patron
saint of travellers, be your guide. Go and
ask your fathers blessing"
Medio-Polito approached the venerable
author of his existence, and, stopping to
kiss his claw, begged his blessing. The
worthy old cock gave it to him with more
dignity than affection; for he was by no
means fond of him, on account of his
peevish temper. But his mother was so
much moved that she was obliged to wipe
away her tears with withered leaf.
Then Medio-Pollito began his march,
clapping his wings and Growing three times
as signal of departure.
As he arrived at the banks of a stream
that was almost dried up-for it was sum-
merit so happened that the slender
thread of water was hindered from flowing
by few branches that had fallen across
its bed.
On seeing the traveller, the stream said
"Thou seest, friend, how weak | am.
Scarcely can move a step, and l have not
strength to push aside these branches that
block up my way. Neither can | make
round to avoid them, for it would exhaust
me. Thou couldst easily get me out of
this difficulty by parting the branches with
thy bcak. In return, thou mayst not only
quench thy thirst in my current, but
reckon on my services as soon as the rains
of Heaven shallhave restoredmy strength"
The chicken replied:
81 could, but don't choose. Do you
think look like the servant Of dirty little
streams?"
"Thou wilt remember me when least
thou thinkest," murmured the stream in
faintng voice.
cts very fine of you to boast" return
ed Medo-P ollito, ,mockingly. "Why, one
would think you had just drawn prize in
the lottery, or could be sure Of help from
the waters of the deluge."
A little farther on he met with the Wind,
lying faint and helpless on the ground.
"Dear Medio-P ollito," he said, sin this
world we have all need of one another.
Come near and look on me. Seest thou
what the heat of summer has done to me
to me, so strong, so mighty to me, who
raises the waves, who lays waste the fields,
whose power none can withstand! This
midsummer day has killed me. | fell
asleep, intoxicated by the perfume of the
flowers with which was playing, and here
thou seest me swooning. If thou wouldst
but raise me two inches from the ground
with thy beak, and fan me with thy wing,
;, that would enable me to take flight to my
oayarp whore my mothers and sisters the