The Half-cock, the Two Foxes, and the Two Robbers
THE STORY OF THE LITTLE
HALF-COCK
OHNNY and Molly lived in a little hut in the forest. When their parents died they were left quite alone in the world, and had to divide their heritage between them. They were dreadfully poor and possessed nothing but two hens and a cock.
The puzzle was how to divide these animals into equal shares.
At last Molly said, “Let us cut the cock in two, and have half each.” This was done; Johnny had the part with the head, and Molly had the tail end.
Molly plucked her portion of the cock, and put it into the saucepan.
Suddenly Johnny’s godmother, who was a fairy, appeared down the chimney. “Listen,” she said to her godson, “you must not put your half into the saucepan; I will enchant him, and he will do anything you wish.”