HOW THE ROOSTER WAS DECEIVED
The rooster with the reddest comb perched himself up on the gate-post to crow. As he stretched his neck he caught sight of another rooster higher up on the barn.
“I’ll have no one in this barnyard higher than I,” said he; “I am master here.” And he flew up at the rooster. But his wings were so short that he barely reached the edge of the roof. Had he fallen he would have been disgraced before all the fowls in the barnyard. He was so furious at the thought that he rushed up the sloping roof and pecked at the rooster savagely. The rooster never budged.
“Ha, ha, silly cockscomb!” screamed Poll, the parrot, shaking with laughter. “It serves you right. Did you hurt your beak? He isn’t a live rooster at all. He’s only a weathervane.”
THE SHOES THAT WALKED MOST
The cobbler sat at his bench. The shoes stood in a row before him.
“Which shall I mend first?” thought he to himself. “I know,” he said aloud; “I’ll begin with whichever pair has walked most.”
At this out toddled baby’s shoes.
The cobbler laughed at them. “Why,” said he, “baby has been in the world only two years at most. You can’t have walked far yet.”