Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/145



NCE upon a time a big Rooster and a dear little Hen became close friends.

“Let us go to the garden,” the Rooster said, “and scratch up some seeds and worms. I tell you what we’ll do: everything you scratch up you divide with me, and everything I scratch up I’ll divide with you.”

The dear little Hen agreed to this and off they went together to the garden.

The dear little Hen scratched and scratched and scratched and every time she scratched up a nice fat worm or a tasty seed she divided with the Rooster.

And the Rooster scratched and scratched and scratched and whenever the Hen saw him scratch up something good he divided with her. But once, when she wasn’t looking, he scratched up a big grain of corn and without dividing it he tried to gobble it all himself. He gobbled it so fast that it stuck in his throat and choked him.

“Oh, dear little Hen!” he gasped. “I’m choking! Run quick and get me some water or I’ll die!”