The Green Fairy Book

sters. Indeed, he was such a strange, queer-looking creature, that when he first chipped his shell his mother could scarcely believe her eyes, he was so different from the twelve other fluffy,

head sadly as she l

will go out into the world and rule over poultry yards of their own; but this poor little fellow will alwa

er he was as unlike his brothers and sisters as he was in appearance. They were good, obedient chickens, and when the old hen chicked after them, they chirped and ran back to her side.

ay by himself, and hide among the Indian corn. Many an anxious minute his brothers and

ient, and his manner to his mother was often very rude,

return he strutted up to his mother with the peculiar little hop and kick which w

myard, with nothing but a dreary maize field t

own-up cock, and a poor little thing like you would be tired out before you had gone half the distance. No,

ld not listen to his mother’s advice, nor to the p

courtyard of my own at the King’s palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and pay me a short visit

ed his mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry to

d, he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and overgrown

f-chick hopped along its banks, ‘do come

you think I have nothing to do but to waste my time on such trifles? Help yourself, and don’t trouble busy

been left by some gipsies in a wood. It wa

half-chick approached, ‘in a few minutes I shall go quite out, unless

Gather sticks for yourself, and don’t trouble me. I am off to Madrid to

anches the wind was caught and entangled. ‘Oh! Medio Pollito,’ called the wind, ‘do hop up he

pity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito in great glee, for the towers and roofs of Madrid were now in sight. When he entered the town he saw before him a great splendid house, with soldiers standing befo

dinner,’ and opening the window he stretched out his arm, caught Medio Pollito, and popped him into the broth-pot that was standin

s despair, ‘do have pity upon

would not help me when I was a little stream

e danced and hopped from one side of the pot to the other,

ch me like this; you ca

‘you would not help me when I was dying

to thought he must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the

e;’ and opening the window he threw Medio Pollito out into the street. But the wind caught him up, and whirled him through the

ke this you will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or —‘ but

ld not help me; now you are punished.’ And he swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the houses till

till you come to the highest church, you will see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the st