Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-02-24
bow Top-Knot Cams Down.

HOW Top-AnoG Came DoWn'
"Come, my dears,p said Biddy
White, to her little brood. "The
dew is falling. 1t is time for US to go
-home.n
at don't want to go home yet"
thought Top-Rnot, a half grown
chicken. ''That old hen-house is
mind to stay out all night. / am
big enough to take care of myself"
So he hid behind q bush till his
mother and brothers and sisters were
out of sight, and then RAJ off in the
opposite direction in high glee.
NOW thought he, 'if catch a
grasshopper, / can eat him all my
self, instead of sharing him with any
one.n
Then he went up on a ,hillock, and
climbed a rock at the top to see what
he couldsee.
He saw a clear, golden sky and the
his side stood-a GrasshopPer.
"My goodness ." said TOp-Knot, as
he prepared to eat him.
"Take care" said the Grasshop-
per, "the sun is down. No Grass
hoppers to be killed after sunset, you
know.
"How is that 2" said Top-Knot.
sit is the law" said the grass
II didn't know it," said Top
Knot.
aYour mysser oughtto have told
you,n said the Grasshopper.
"She didn't think I would be out
so late, said Top-Knot. "Did you
ever stay out all night2n
"Oh yes;'' said the Grasshopper,
ct always STAY Out.u
just then q Turkey came by and
gobbled up the Grasshopper.
81 wish now Ed eaten him myself"
thought Top-Knot.
why are you out so late 2p said
the Turkey.
"Because-n said Top-Knot.
"What shall I;ten your mother If
she asks me where you are said
the Turkey.
aTeIlher you don't know said
Top-Knct as he scampered away.
1.-THE foxes will catch you,n said
the Turkey, but TSp-Knot hurried
round the corner without stopping
to listen to him.
Here he found a few crumbs and
seeds, which he was very glad to
eat.
BY and by he met Towser.
"Have you lost your way ?" asked
fTowser.
"No,nreplied.T op-Knot ST am GO
ing to stay out all night"
IEYou're crazy,'f said Towser.
1.-THE minks will catch your
i II am big enough to take. care of
myself" said Top-Knot-
"Big enough butnot smart enough"
said Towser, "You'd better come
home with me I'll take care of you.''
Top=Knotconsidered. 1t was grow
ing very dark. The grass was cold
and wet. He didn't find as many
bugs and grasshoppers al he expect
ed. But to have to go homes so soon,
downfall to his pride, SO he said :
"No, / thank you,n and turned
away, inwardly resolving to go home
alone in q few minutes.
"Ill follow Towser,p thought he ;
tthe knows the way.n
so he followed slowly, keeping
ToWserss Whitehall in sight in the
distance. suddenly he saw a bright
light, like a spark of fire, in the grass
at his feet. He stopped to look at
it and it was gone, and there in its
place was a nice little worn He
stopped to pick him up and he was
He started back in surprise, and
there was the worm He turned
his head on one side and looked at
him with one eye, and there was the
spark I ST must be crazy to be sure,
as Towser said" THOUGHT he, turn
ing away in dismay. "Iiu go home
as fast as / can"
By good fortune he took the right
road and o saw the hen-house,
but when he reached the door it was
shut for the night.
"What shallIt do Pr thought he,
and heran all around it, trying to
find a place to get in. No indeed. 1t
was never Intended that any one
should be able to get in from the
outside in the night. He peeped
through the palings and saw his
mother and brothers and sisters sit
ting there, all snug and II
tsPoor little Top-Knot ~ said his
mother. FtHow careless I was not
to miss him tiI1the door was Shut
"Mother, mother p" cried Top
.Hark p,said his mother. "what
tits me /; I can't get in, +" said Top
Knot.
ooh, Top-Knot how could you ?"
"I,n never dc 20 any more" said
Top-Knot, softly.
HWell, my dear,n said his mother,
ttcuddle down close to the palings
and be as still as a mouse. i can't
let you in, but I'll keep an eye on
your
So Biddy White kept one eye open
all the night, and a miserable time
she had of it, you may be sure.
In the morning, when David
opened the hen-house to let out the
80 ~ - -.-A@1 =. Afc 1