The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-06-17
BEDTIME STORIES
FOR LITTLE
FOLKS
THE THREE RUNAWAYS.
Part III.
MR.. ROSTERS STORY.

raised on the masters farm. He was
proud, too, to say he had succeeded
the old rooster that had gone to a
dinner one day and did not return
Il have always taken good care of
my family, and, if | do say it, there
is not better-looking family than
mine around these parts" said Mr.
Rooster.
There have been many young roos-
ters in the barnyard, but they have
igone away to other farms to live, for
the master has an eye for beauty, and
he has always decided that was too
-er-valuable to lose"
Mr.. Dog and Mr.. Tom Cat smiled a
little on the side at this last remark,
for they well knew how vain Mr..
Rooster was, and then he really did
Ihave fine feathers and beautiful
comb
Il have never had any trouble with
my family until one morning Madam
Blackie came running to me-" contin-
Iued Mr.. Rooster, ito tell me a new
rooster had come in the BARNARD TO
live.
1T is shameful the way all those
silly hens are running around him.
she said He isn't noticing them a
little bit and they strut back and forth
cycling him as if they had never seen
Il handsome rooster before
For my part, | think the old
friends are the best, though of course
you are not old, my dear Mr. Rooster,
only old in acquaintance, | meant
II had always thought Madam
Blackie an old busybody. but now if
this was all true, had found her my
only friend.
You are most kind, Madam
Blackie,' I said, and thank you, but
| feel sure that the master will not
have new rooster here This new
conner will probably leave in a few
days.
Il expected he would, too, for | had
as fine a set of spurs as | had ever
seen, and | intended to show them to
this new rooster
AS soon as ! could get away from
Madame Blackie took a stroll around
by the barnyard.. and sure enough
there were all MY family, even the |
chickens. walking around and cluck-
ing and cackling as hens will at a
handsome red and black rooster that |
stood by the barn door
81 felt pretty queer for a minute, /
for that new rooster had very shiny
looking set Of feathers, and knew he
would be very popular for a while
at least, and with the whole family
against me, even my spurs might not
make me king.
Il held my head very high, and with
my light step | walked past them
some distance from the barn, but still
knew they all saw me-
There was little fiutter at first,
and they ran toward me, but they gave
a look at the new rooster. | could
see them out the corner of my eyes,
and back the whole silly lot went and
began their silly cackling and cluck-
ng
Il went behind wall and watched
hem through a hole. First they would
scratch the ground near the new
OOster and talk away to each other,
md then they would walk by him.
mt not once did he turn his head
He isn't going to let them think
lie sees them | thought but the
onger | watched the stranger it
eemed to me that with all those fine
Ooking hens and chickens cackling
bout him he should not look once
heir way; and then a thought came to
ne which made me jump up from
here | was scrooched down to look
through the wall. 1t was worth try
lg, anyway, so | crawled under the
ate and walked into the BARNARD
Il walked right up to that family
mine and looked at them, and then
looked at the new rooster. was
ght close to him then
Every hen opened her eyes and
outh. for they thought right then
nd there there was to be a settlement
rights, but one glance at the new
poster told me what | had thought
as true, and l just turned my back
1 him and said: When you silly
Ems and chickens get tired of admir-
6 the new weather cock you better
me over in the lot back of the barn,
here is some corn and grain on the
ound. ! am surprised that INV fam
, cannot tell a tin weather cock
ON a real rooster and awav
alked with my head held higher than
er.