hesaid."everythinginitissostupid."

theweather-cockwaspuffedup,andthatqualitywouldhavemadehiminterestingintheeyesofthecucumberifithadknownit,butithadeyesonlyfortheyardcock,whowasnowintheyardwithit.

thewindhadblowntheplanks,butthestormwasover.

"whatdoyouthinkofthatcrowing?"saidtheyardcocktothehensandchickens."itwasalittlerough-itwantedelegance."

andthehensandchickenscameuponthedung-hill,andthecockstruttedaboutlikealord.

"gardenplant!"hesaidtothecucumber,andinthatonewordhisdeeplearningshoweditself,anditforgotthathewaspeckingatherandeatingitup."ahappydeath!"

thehensandthechickenscame,forwhereonerunstheothersruntoo;theyclucked,andchirped,andlookedatthecock,andwereproudthathewasoftheirkind.

"cock-a-doodle-doo!"hecrowed,"thechickenswillgrowupintogreathensatonce,ificryitoutinthepoultry-yardoftheworld!"

andhensandchickscluckedandchirped,andthecockannouncedagreatpieceofnews.

"acockcanlayanegg!anddoyouknowwhat'sinthategg?abasilisk.noonecanstandthesightofsuchathing;peopleknowthat,andnowyouknowittoo-youknowwhatisinme,andwhatachampionofallcocksiam!"

withthattheyardcockflappedhiswings,madehiscombswellup,andcrowedagain;andtheyallshuddered,thehensandthelittlechicks-buttheywereveryproudthatoneoftheirnumberwassuchachampionofallcocks.theycluckedandchirpedtilltheweather-cockheard;heheardit;buthedidnotstir.

"everythingisverystupid,"theweather-cocksaidtohimself."theyardcocklaysnoeggs,andiamtoolazytodoso;ifiliked,icouldlayawind-egg.buttheworldisnotworthevenawind-verythingissostupid!idon'twanttosithereanylonger."

withthattheweather-cockbrokeoff;buthedidnotkilltheyardcock,althoughthehenssaidthathadbeenhisintention.andwhatisthemoral?"bettertocrowthantobepuffedupandbreakoff!

theend.

1872

fairytalesofhanschristianandersen

thefirtree

byhanschristianandersen

fardownintheforest,wherethewarmsunandthefreshairmadeasweetresting-place,grewaprettylittlefir-tree;andyetitwasnothappy,itwishedsomuchtobetalllikeitscompanions-thepinesandfirswhichgrewaroundit.thesunshone,andthesoftairfluttereditsleaves,andthelittlepeasantchildrenpassedby,prattlingmerrily,butthefir-treeheededthemnot.sometimesthechildrenwouldbringalargebasketofraspberriesorstrawberries,wreathedonastraw,andseatthemselvesnearthefir-tree,andsay,"isitnotaprettylittletree?"whichmadeitfeelmoreunhappythanbefore.andyetallthiswhilethetreegrewanotchorjointtallereveryyear;forbythenumberofjointsinthestemofafir-treewecandiscoveritsage.still,asitgrew,itcomplained,"oh!howiwishiwereastallastheothertrees,theniwouldspreadoutmybranchesoneveryside,andmytopwouldover-lookthewideworld.ishouldhavethebirdsbuildingtheirnestsonmyboughs,andwhenthewindblew,ishouldbowwithstatelydignitylikemytallcompanions."thetreewassodiscontented,thatittooknopleasureinthewarmsunshine,thebirds,ortherosycloudsthatfloatedoveritmorningandevening.sometimes,inwinter,whenthesnowlaywhiteandglitteringontheground,aharewouldcomespringingalong,andjumprightoverthelittletree;andthenhowmortifieditwouldfeel!