But as soon as
it could walk the little Half-Chick showed
a most headstrong spirit, worse than any
of its brothers. It would not mind, and it
would go wherever it wanted to; it walked
with a funny little hoppity-kick, hoppity-
kick, and got along pretty fast.
One day the little Half-Chick said,
"Mother, I am off to Madrid, to see the
King! Good-by."
The poor Hen-mother did everything
she could think of, to keep him from doing
so foolish a thing, but the little Half-Chick
laughed at her naughtily. "I'm for seeing
the King," he said; "this life is too quiet
for me." And away he went, hoppity-kick,
hoppity-kick, over the fields.
When he had gone some distance the
little Half-Chick came to a little brook
that was caught in the weeds and in much
trouble.
"Little Half-Chick," whispered the
Water, "I am so choked with these weeds
that I cannot move; I am almost lost,
for want of room; please push the sticks
and weeds away with your bill and help
me."
"The idea!" said the little Half-Chick.
"I cannot be bothered with you; I am off
for Madrid, to see the King!" And in spite
of the brook's begging he went away,
hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick.
A bit farther on, the Half-Chick came
to a Fire, which was smothered in damp
sticks and in great distress.
"Oh, little Half-Chick," said the Fire,
"you are just in time to save me.
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