ght them napping, he was more than
likely to make matters unpleasant for them. He knew how to make their
feathers fly.

Now, Henrietta Hen thought that the Rooster behaved in a most silly
fashion. She said it pained her to see him prancing about, with his two
long, arched tail-feathers nodding as he walked. The truth was, Henrietta
could not endure it to have any one more elegantly dressed than she. And
there was no denying that the Rooster's finery outshone everybody else's.
Why, he wore a comb on his head that was even bigger than Henrietta's!
And he had spurs, too, for his legs.

But what Henrietta Hen disliked most about the Rooster was the way he
crowed each morning. It wasn't so much the _kind_ of crowing that he
indulged in; it was rather the early hour he chose for it that annoyed
Henrietta. He always began his _Cockle-doodle-doo_ while it was yet dark.
Then everybody in the henhouse had to wake up, whether he wanted to or
not. And Henrietta Hen did wish the Rooster would keep still at least
till daylight came. She often remarked that it was perfectly ridiculous
for any one from a fine family--as she was--to get up at such an
unearthly hour. She said it was a wonder she kept her good looks, just on
account of the Rooster's crowing.

"Why don't you ask him to wait until it's light, before he begins to
crow?" Polly Plymouth Rock asked Henrietta one day.

"I'll do it!" cried Henrietta. Right then she called to one of the
cockerels, who was near-by. "Just skip across the yard and ask the
Rooster--" she began.

The cockerel broke right in upon her message.

"Oh! I can't do that!" he exclaimed. "I've never gone up to the Rooster
and spoken to him. If I did, he'd be sure to fight me."

"Just tell him that I sent you," said Henrietta. And she made the
cockerel listen to her message. But he wouldn't be persuaded. He told
Henrietta that the Rooster would be sure to jump at him the moment he
opened his mouth. "Besides," he added, "it wouldn't do any good, anyhow.
The Rooster can't wait until after daylight, before he begins to crow."

"He can't, eh?" Henrietta Hen spoke up somewhat sharply. "I'd like to
know the reason why!" And fixing her gaze sternly upon the Rooster, she
marched straight across the farmyard towards him, to find out.

VII

WARNING THE ROOSTER

"Good Afternoon!" Henrietta Hen greeted the Rooster. He had not seen her
as she walked towards him. And when she spoke he hastily arranged his