Now, the cuckoo was a wise old bird, and she never took a step of this sort without a reason. You sometimes hear people say, “As silly as a cuckoo,” but you may take my word for it, it is only because they know nothing at all about her.
Well, a bright idea had occurred to the cuckoo, and it was just this: She thought it was high time the birds chose a king of their own. If they had a king, you see, they might in time be able to have a “Court Circular,” which would sound very grand. Besides, who knew but that in the future some of her own family might even marry royalty? Yes, it was a good idea, she thought, but the other birds would have to be consulted first.
So she gave a big tea-party, and fed them all up with the finest worms and dainties to be had, just to put them into a good temper.
Even the hungry sparrow finished eating at last—and you have no idea what his appetite was like!—and then the cuckoo broke the news gently that she thought they ought to have a king to manage their affairs for them.
Now this caused no end of commotion. And there they sat—fathers, mothers, uncles, and cousins, all talking away at the same time.
Just then the cock and hen passed by, taking a little airing.
You must know that they had heard nothing about the teaparty. They were just the cock and hen, and it did not matter much what they thought; so they did not get an invitation.
“Wat! wat!” cried the hen, when she heard the dreadful din. Of course the cock understood her language, and knew that she was asking what was going on.
“I’ll find out, my dear,” he answered, and he inquired from a fat, green frog.
“They want to choose a king over the birds,” he told the hen, a minute after.