104
XXIII GETTING ACQUAINTED 109
XXIV WINNING FIRST PRIZE 114

------------------------------------------------------------------------

ILLUSTRATIONS

Henrietta Hen is Afraid the Duck Will Drown. (_Page 14_) Frontispiece
"Come Up to My Nest!" Cried Henrietta Hen. (_Page 50_) 51
Henrietta Hen Scolds Jimmy Rabbit. (_Page 62_) 62
"Don't Worry!" Said Aunt Polly Woodchuck. (_Page 91_) 89

------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE TALE OF HENRIETTA HEN

I

A SPECKLED BEAUTY

Henrietta Hen thought highly of herself. Not only did she consider
herself a "speckled beauty" (to use her own words) but she had an
excellent opinion of her own ways, her own ideas--even of her own
belongings. When she pulled a fat worm--or a grub--out of the ground she
did it with an air of pride; and she was almost sure to say, "There! I'd
like to see anybody else find a bigger one than that!"

Of course, it wouldn't really have pleased her at all to have one of her
neighbors do better than she did. That was only her way of boasting that
no one could beat her.

If any one happened to mention speckles Henrietta Hen was certain to
speak of her own, claiming that they were the handsomest and most speckly
to be found in Pleasant Valley. And if a person chanced to say anything
about combs, Henrietta never failed to announce that hers was the reddest
and most beautiful in the whole world.

Nobody could ever find out how she knew that. She had never been off the
farm. But it was useless to remind her that she had never travelled. Such
a remark only made her angry.

Having such a good opinion of herself, Henrietta Hen always had a great
deal to talk about. She kept up a constant cluck from dawn till dusk. It
made no difference to her whether she happened to be alone, or with
friends. She talked just the same--though naturally she preferred to have
others hear what she said, because she considered her remarks most
important.

There were times when Henrietta Hen took pains that all her neighbors
should hear her. She was never so proud as when she had a newly-laid egg
to exhibit. Then an ordinary cluck was not loud enough to express her
feelings. To announce such important news Henrietta Hen never failed to
raise her voice in a high-pitched "Cut-cut-cut, ca-dah-cut!" This
interesting speec