but no one replied, so that at last she resolved. to go in search of her money herself, and she set out for the king's palace.

he.

3. On the way she met a fox.

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Where are you going, Medio Pollito ?" said

"I am going to see the king, who owes me a

hundred crowns."

"Take me with you."

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It will not be the least trouble. Jump down my throat, and I will carry you."

4. The fox jumped down her throat as he was bidden, and on she went, delighted at having done him a favor.

he.

A little further on she met a wolf.

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Where are you going, Medio Pollito?" said

5. “I am going to see the king, who owes me a hundred crowns."

"Take me with you."

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With pleasure. Jump down my throat, and I will carry you."

The wolf jumped down her throat, and off she went once more. He was a little heavy, but the thought that he wished to take the journey gave

her courage.

6. As she drew near the palace, she met a river. "Where are you going, Medio Pollito?" asked the river.

"I am going to see the king, who owes me a hundred crowns."

"Take me with you."

"I have a heavy load already; but if you can find room down my throat, I will carry you.'

7. The river made itself very small, and glided down her throat on the spot.

The poor little chicken could scarcely walk; but she managed to reach the door of the palace. "Rap, rap!" went the knocker. The porter put

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his head out of the window to see who was there. 8. Whom do you want to see, Medio Pollito ? " said he.

"I am going to see the king, who owes me a hundred crowns."

The porter took pity on the innocent young chicken. "Go away, my pretty pullet," said he; the king doesn't like to be disturbed, and those who trouble him have to suffer for it."

9. "Open the door," said she. "I must speak to the king. He is well acquainted with me; he has my property."

The king was told that Medio Pollito wished

to speak with him.

He was at the table, feasting with his courtiers. He burst out laughing, for

he suspected what was the matter.

10. “Bring in my dear friend," said he, put her in the poultry-yard.”

"and

The door opened, and the king's dear friend entered quietly, sure that she was about to receive her money. But instead of taking her up the great staircase, the servant led her to a little courtyard, raised a latch, and behold! Medio Pollito found herself shut up in the poultry-yard.

1. The cock, who was busy with a lettuce leaf, looked down on her without saying a word; but the hens began to peck her and to chase her in all directions. Hens are always cruel to strangers that come to them unprotected.

2. Medio Pollito, who was a peaceful and orderly little chicken, not accustomed to quarrelling at home, was terribly frightened at the

sight of all these enemies. She crouched in a corner, and cried with all her might, "Fox, fox, come out of my throat, or I am a little lost chicken!"

And behold! the fox jumped out of her throat and ate up all the hens.

3. The servant who carried the corn to the poultry found nothing but feathers on her arrival. She ran in tears to tell the king, who turned red with anger.

"Shut up this crazy Medio Pollito in the sheepfold," said he; and to comfort himself he ordered some more wine.

4. Once in the sheep-fold, Medio Pollito saw herself in greater peril than in the poultry-yard. The sheep were huddled close together, and threatened every moment to trample the poor chicken under foot. She had just succeeded in taking shelter behind a post when a great ram threw himself down there and nearly smothered her in his fleece.

5. "Wolf, wolf, come out of my throat, or I am a little lost chicken!" cried she.

And behold! the wolf jumped out of her throat and killed all the sheep in the twinkling of an eye.

6. The king's anger knew no bounds when he learned what had just happened. He overturned glasses and bottles, ordered a great fire to be kindled, and sent to the kitchen for a spit.

"The wretch!" he cried; "I will roast her, to teach her better than to kill everything in my palace!"

7. The poor, trembling Medio Pollito was brought before the fire. The king held her in one hand and the spit in the other, when she hastily murmured,

8. "River, river, come out of my throat, or I am a little lost chicken!

And behold! the river flowed out of her throat, put out the fire, and drowned the king and all the courtiers.

9. Medio Pollito, left mistress of the palace, sought in vain for her hundred crowns; they had all been spent. But as there was no one on the throne, she mounted it in the king's place, and the people welcomed her with shouts of rejoicing; they were delighted to have a queen that knew how to save.

10. This story appears strange, and I should not tell it to you if it had not a moral, which seems, at first sight, to be that it is not well to lend