The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-17
THE CURIOUS COCKEREL.

Parish Visitor.
THE CURIOUS C0CKEREL.
There was once curious cockerel that
always stood listening and looking to
hear and see everything that took place
in the farm yard. When the hens were
cackling privately to each other he would
run up and hearken, which was often
much against their wishes. Then they
would say to him that he would do we'll
not to trouble himself about business
that did not concern him, and that he
ought to be keeping watch that the fox
did not get into the farm yard and crow
when bird of prey showed himself so
that they might hurry and get the chick
ems out of the way of harm. But the
curious cockerel paid no attention to the
advice Of the hens, and often was the
loser by not doing go. Once as the farm
yard dog was getting his dinner and the
cockerel ran up, the dog bit his leg, and
once, as he went into the goose pen to
count the goose eggs, an old goose got
angry and rushed at him and tore out
the handsomest feathers of his tail. After
this the geese and the hens made great
deal of fun of him; but for all that, he
did not learn to behave any better.
One morning, when the door Of the
hen roost was opened and he walked out
with the hens, he heard loud "cock-
a.doodle-doo very near by. The Curl
Gus cockerel flew upon the wall of the
farm yard to see where the growing came
from. He saw in the neighboring farm
yard cockerell scratching about for
something to eat. Being exceedingly
curious he few over to him and said:
"Your servant true!
Your hens, how do they do?
How many eggs do they lay?
And does the hawk carry any away?
And those darlings of my heart,
The chickens, are they pretty smart?"
The other cockerel at first looked at
him with establishment, but soon grew
angry and replied:
"Mr. Neighbor, that's nothing to you.
What business have you to know how they
do?
Come. be stirring, clear out of the yard,
Or else, fear, you'll fare rather hard"
With this he ran full tilt at the curious
cockerel and tried to hit him, but he
thought it best to fly upon the wall
again. There he walked up and down
again in very bad hnmor, for he was
vexed because his neighbor would have
nothing at all to do. with him, and had
driven him off besides. The neighbor
paid no further attention to him, but
went into remote part of the farm yard
to find something Il, eat. When the
curious cockerei saw him go away, he
thought, +" Now I'll go down among the
hens; they will certainly be more in
clined to talk" So he few down, and
went up to the hens and said:
''Your servant, my dear Biddies,
Did you sleep well last night?
But it seemed that the hens also would
have nothing to do with him, for they did
not even look at him, but kept scratching
in the sand. Then he spoke again:
a. The weather this morning is fine and clear,
Corn seems TO be pretty plenty here
Still the hens made no reply, but left
him where he was, and went to the other
side of the yard. The curious cockerel
was now resolved to have gossip with
them, and followed after. and asked
again:
@'Have you had your breakfast already here?
Pray, do they give you pretty good cheer.
Or have you noticed that corn was dear?"
This importantly and curiosity were
more than one of the hens could bear,
and she broke out and scolded him:
-'Who told you to ask about our feeding?
Mr.. Cockerel, you've had poor sort of breed
ing.
Your speeches are not at all to my taste;
BE quick, l advise you, depart from this
place,
Or I'll call the dog and he'll send you off
bleeding"
When the curious cockerel saw that he
could not make out anything he kept
still for while. Then he went up to a
hen standing apart from the others plum
ing her wings. He thought she would be
more laxative, and spoke to her:
'' How does it go with the eggs that you lay,
The folks always try to get em away;
Pray have you had every one to yield?
Or have you few somewhere concealed
OF course you are willing to let me see,
So come to the nest and show them TO me-"
But this time the curious cockerel had
come to the wrong place, for the hen
rushed at him with impotence, saying:
Whether we hide our eggs or no.
Is a thing you have no need to know,
And il TO preserve your own you care,
You'd better be keeping watch where they
are,
And not be gadding about TO learn
OF things with which you have no concern"
Then an old gray hen with a great cap
of feathers on her head, that had heard
from distance what the cockerel said,
came up in passion, and cried:
4" Why, you impudent Old busy body;
What are our eggs to you, you noddy?
ifyouare anxious to look at some eggs,
Away tn your home, as fast as your legs
VIII carry you on; and don't make bother,
For eggs are the same in one place as an
other"