The door of the grandmother’s room opened very slowly, and the little boy peeped in.
“Grandmother, I did hold the yarn, and I am very patient now. Do you think you could tell me another story?”
“It is such a good thing to be patient,” said the grandmother, “and so hard to learn, that I am sure you deserve a reward. So come in and shut the door tight, and I will tell you about
“THE COCK AND THE HEN”
Once upon a time there was a man who had lived many years in peace and quietness with his wife. At last, however, they fell into a violent quarrel and decided to separate at bed and board and to divide their goods between them.
Short hair is soon brushed, and the division was soon made, for their whole possessions consisted of a Cock and a Hen. And the wife said, “I’ll take the Hen for my share, and you may have the Cock.”
By and by the husband fell ill, and he went to beg his wife to give him just one little egg, for he was very hungry. But she answered him scornfully:
“Hum, hum, where is your Cock? Let him lay you a little egg; if he won’t do it, kill him!”
At this the man returned home quite crestfallen, and said to his Cock, “Come, my fine fellow, this can’t go on any longer! You do nothing but eat and drink, and never bring me so much as a bright penny. Go out into the world and seek your fortune!”