Page:Fairy Tales from Brazil.djvu/97

 upon a time, when the fire had been dying the little white hen had brought some dried grass. The grass had given the fire new life and always after that he had been the friend of the little white hen. "O, little white hen, where are you going?" the fire asked. "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 fire. "I have never been to the royal palace and I have never had even a peep at the king."

The little white hen told the fire that he might go with her and asked him to climb into the little brown basket. By this time the little brown basket was so full, that, try as they might, they couldn't make room