The Louisa Alcott Reader

of chickens. Presently crack, crack, went the shells, "Peep, peep!" cried the chicks; "Cluck, cluck!" called the hen; and out came ten downy

with yellow legs, bright eyes, and a tiny red comb on his head. This was Cockyloo, the go

a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or Snowball have it. But Peck would run and push them away, and gobble up the food greedily. He chased them away from the pan where the meal was, and picked the down off their necks if they tried to get their share. His mother scolded him when the little ones ran to hide under her wings; but he didn't c

og; so they made Cocky king of the far

st, and I am the oldest; so

ively, kind, and brave. He will make a splendid bird, and he must be our king," answered th

and crack went the branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were drowned but Cocky, who flew across and was saved. Poor little Hop, Chirp, and Downy went floating down the brook like balls of white foam, and were never seen again. All the hens mour

are; but he did, and was very unhappy, and used to go and peep into the pleasant field where the fowls scratched and talked together. He dared not show himself, for they would have driven him out. B

issed the good corn and meal he used to have, and grew very thin living on grasshoppers and berrie

, who got him to tell all about the hen-house,--how the door was fastened, and where the plump chickens roosted, and what time they went to bed,-

is a bad fellow; so be careful and sleep on a

whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood. This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to s

will hide and not get shut up; then, when those cross old biddies are asleep, he will cluck softly, and I am to go in and eat all I want out of the pan. You

ased with the plan, and very glad t

y had saved up nice bits from his own dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush. He spread them all

g pleasantly till a l

go on eating. I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till you are done," sa

roof; and when he peeped down, there was just l

pper!" And with a jump he seized Peck by th

was too late, and he began to eat Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the farmer ran

they heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky bette

and eyes that shone like diamonds. His crow was so loud that it could be heard all over the neighborhood, and people used to say, "Hark! hear Farmer H

stir far from the yard. It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, who was very

ne bird, and I know he will do so

r once; and this

r a chance to fire it. Now it happened that the farmer had a good deal of money in the house, and some bad men knew it; so they waited for him to go away tha

w and steal the money. You shall watch on the outside and whistle if any one com

wake the family, so we are quite safe," said the othe

nt about all day looking very sober, and would not chase grasshoppers, play hide-and-seek under the big burdock leaves, or hunt the cricket with his sisters. At sunset he did not go

s and woke the boys. The man with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; the other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and picked at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned to run some other

l and picked up the wounded one, a

them?" asked

't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the rascals. He

a fine fellow; and his family were so proud of

al of money; so every one was glad to have them shut up for twenty years. It made a great stir, and people wou

se, and instead of an arrow let us have a co

much pleased; for they thought Cock

lendid bird shining like gold, and twirling about to tell which way the wind was. The children were never tired of admiring him; and all the hens and chickens went in a procession one

some years, and kept his kingdom in good order; for no one would kill him, when many of the other fowls were taken f

leaves lay about, and took fire, setting the place in a blaze; for the boy ran away when he saw the mischief he had done, and the fire got to burning nicely before the cries of the poor hens called people to hel

r boy, as he counted the hens an

id the farmer, who was thr

ide wings spread over some little chicks whose mother had left them. They were too small to run away

fine funeral, and buried him in the middle of the field, with a

bravest cock t

r him with

t dawn his musi

d like trumpet

their heads, the c

sober, and the

r Cocky: sle

daisies on your

e, brave bird, s

ings and crow, "C

ed awhile to

large