Page:Fairy Tales from Brazil.djvu/96

 ugly worms upon the bank and he was afraid they would crawl back in again. The little white hen had eaten them for him. Always after that the river had been her friend.

"O, little white hen, where are you going?" the river called out as soon as he saw her. "Quirrichi, quirrichi, I am going to the royal palace to carry a letter to the king," replied the little white hen. "O, little white hen, may I go with you?" asked the river. The little white hen told the river that he might go with her and asked him to ride in the little brown basket. So the river climbed into the little brown basket. After the little white hen had journeyed along for a time she came to a fire. Once