St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-04-30
sfnr Me Children.
A Story for the Little Folks.
THE PERT CHICK.


little apart from the barnyard. 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
ee-Chee, and Peep-Weep, whom
they called Peep for short-six in all
six well-meaning chickens, although
they had their little faults. Peeps
was pertness. He was always answer
ing back to his mother and saying sharp
things. He wasn't bit afraid of his
brothers and sisters, and thought it a
joke to tell Tee-Tee she was ''a fluffy
little fool" or call Tu-Tu ga young
goose.n And when TuTu would ruffie
his pin-feathers and show he was IA
game little chicken, and not goose at
all, old Cluck 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
Cluck's wing to bed at night. He
would play about and say, 81 won't go
to bed" and even cry ont to his
mamma, in a saucy way, $50 to bed
yourself, Mrs. Chuck"
"Oh, 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
pecking 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 Cluck told him, quite
gravely, that good chick must mind
his mother, Peep said, "Oh, go away !!
mothers don't pay" in manner that
was very naughty; but Cluck found it
so bright and clever for such fledge-
ling. Peep had his own way in the
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, so she called him
back.
Don't you FUSS" said Peep; 'Tm
going to take walk" and he looked
so bright, and spoke SO sharp and fun
ny, that Chuck was quite lost in admir-
ing his ways and his fine tail feathers
proudly waving as he strutted off.
"Surely," she thought, ''if they see
him in the barnyard, 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 loud noise, and sounded far
and wide over the fields.
81 can do as well as that, and better,
too, old chap" said Peep. Now Peep
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 well? Let us
hear you"
She looked quite fierce at him, not a
bit like fond, good old Cluck, and all
the fowls gathered around Peep.
epoch !" said he, 81 don't want to
but can" Still nobody seemed to ad-
mire him, but instead, said the old roos
ter,
"You can brag, young fellow, but you
shall show what sort of a crow you
have, or Pll peck you to DEATH"
Peep was very much scared, and
tried his fist crow. 1t was such d fee
BILE, foolish noise that all the hens and
rOOsters, 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, as
he did at home; he laughed and called
tall young rooster, as big as himself,
and as handsome, said,
"Come, Mr.. Chicken, don't like your
airs"
"You don't amount to any thing"
said Peep, just as he spoke to his moth
er.
"Don't 1 ~ said the young rooster ;
and before Peep knew what he was
about the stranger had strewn the fine
tail feathers, poor Cluck's pride, all
over the ground. Peep was struggling
in vain the young rooster pecked and
pecked till the blood came. One OF
Peeps eyes was gone, one leg was use
less, and not until he lay quite still anG
fairly beaten did his enemy hold off.
Over Peeps body the fowls all said
at served him right for his impu
dence."
After while Peep hoped home yer,
feebly on one leg, and lay down quit
humbly under Cluck's wing.
"Where has my poor Peep been I?
asked Chuck, with the tears runnin!
down her bill.
"Been out in the world, mother,
said Peep.
"And didn't the world admire you
t "Not bit. Oh, my little brother
and sisters" said poor Peep, "chicken
must not be pert and rude and unkin,
at home among their friends, for whel
they carry the habit out into the worl,
r with them they meet their match an,
come to grief" and Peep kicked one
with his one leg, rolled up his one eye
and-died.
, All this happened in the land of Co
J chin China. OF course there are n
pert chickens in our country.
Chain Shirts.
From the New York Times