The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-06-07
The Pert Chick.

and lived with her brood in nice coop
little apart from the barn-yard. Chuck
was dear old hen, very kind to her
chickens, and very pretty chickens she
had. There were Tee-Tee, and Wee
Wee, and Tu-Tu, and Twit-See, and
Chez hee, and Peep Weep, whom they
called Peep for short-sx il all-six
well-meaning chickens, although they
had their little faults. Peeps fault was
pertness. He was always answering
back to his mother and saying sharp
things. He wasn't bit afraid OF his
brothers and sisters, and thought it q
joke to tell Tee-Tee she was ga fluffy
little fool" or call Tu-Tu ga young
goose" And when Tu-Tu would ruffie
his pin-feathers and show he was game
little chicken, and not goose at all, old
Chuck would say Peep was only witty, and
liked to talk, but meant no harm, and
her chickens must not fight. Peep was
always the last to come under Clucks
wing to bed at night. He would play
about and say, 81 won't go to bed,"
and even cry out to his mamma, in a
saucy way, $50 to bed yourself, Mrs.
Chuck"
ooh, how naughty, Peep" Chuck
would say; but she never stopped his
nimble little tongue. She couldn't bear
to scold or punish him, for she loved the
bright little fellow. His feathers were
getting quite long and glossy now, and
he was growing tall.
At meal-times Peep had a way OF peck
ing at his brothers and sisters. and,
while he ate as much as anybody else,
he called them all pigs and laughed
at them.
At last, when Chuck told him, quite
gravely, that a good chick must mind
his mother, Peep said, "Oh, go away I!
mothers don't pay" in a manner that
was very naughty but Chuck found it
so bright and clever for such a fedge-
ling Peep had his own will in his
family. He said and did whatever he
liked, and grew quite big and hand
some, and thought himself the finest
fellow in the world.
Well, one day Peep kept running
far away from the coop, and his mother
was afraid some of the barn yard fowls
would hurt him, 30 she called him back.
Don't you FUSS" said Peep "Tm
going to take walk" and he looked so
bright, and spoke up 30 sharp and fun
nv that Chuck was quite lost in admiring
his ways and his fine tail feathers, proud
ly waving as he strutted off.
"Surely," she thought, :" if they see
him in the barn-yard, all the hens will
envy me such clever chick"
To the barn-yard Peep went, and be-
gan scratching about for his lunch with
the rest of the fowls. Pretty soon an
old bird gave crow that was really a
very fine louu noise, and sounded far
and wide over the fields.
81 can do as we'll as that, and better
too, old chap" said Peep. Now Peer
knew he couldn't, but he had way OF
saying pert things.
To his wonder, nobody laughed; but
big hen-the growers wife-said,
"Can you, indeed, do as we'll Let us
!. hear you"
She looked quite fierce at him, not a
bit like fond, good old Chuck, and all the
fowls gathered around Peep.
Pooh - said he, CT don't want, but
I can." Still nobody seemed to admire
, him, but instead, said the old rooster.
"You can brag, young fellow, but you
shall show what sort of crow you have,
VI ii pcCh you w uedbu.
Peep was very much scared, and tried
, his first crow. It was such feeble,
foolish noise that all the hens and roost.
ers, and even the turkey gobblers and
ducks and guinea-hens and pigeons,
laughed at him and despised him.
, Peep was not daunted yet, but he
strutted off among the younger fowls.
: He struck right and left with his bill, az
he did at home; he laughed and called
; names, and Dragged, and at last fine.
, tall young rooster, as big as himself
and as handsome, said.
"Come, Mr.. Chicken, 1 don't like youl
airs"
Z" You don't amount to anything,
said Peep, just as he spoke to hi
mother.
, "Dont II said the young rooster
, and before Peepkn what he was abou
, the stranger had strewn the fine tai
feathers, poor Cluck's pride, all over tn,
> ground. Peep was struggling in vain
the young rooster pecked and pecked til
. the blood came. One of Peeps eyes wa
3 gone, one leg was useless, and not unit
: he lay quite still and fairly beaten die
, the enemy hold off.
3 Over Peeps body the fowls all said
| cit served him right for his impu
dence.
3 After while Peep hoped home yer,
D feebly on one leg, and lay down quit
: humbly under old Cluck's wing.
"Where has my poor Peep been 2
asked Chuck, with the tears running
{ down her bill"
: Been ont in the world, mother,
r said Peep.
e "And didn't the world admire your
: mot bit. Oh, my little brother
. and sisters" said poor Peep, "chick
r must not be pert and rude and unkin,
g at home among their friends, for whel
a they carry the habit out into the worl,
: with them they meet their match an,
I come to grief p and Peep kicked ono
4 with his one leg, rolled up his one eye
: and-died.
e All this happened in the land of Co
chin China. OF course there are n