there was another member of farmer green's flock, besides henrietta hen, that was proud. nobody needed to look twice at the rooster to tell that he had an excellent opinion of himself. he had a way of walking about the farmyard that said quite plainly that he believed himself to be a person of great importance. and it was true that things went according to his ideas, among the flock.
he was always spoken of as "the rooster." for although there were other roosters in the flock, they were both younger and smaller than he, and he would never permit anybody to call them—in his hearing—anything but cockerels.
these cockerels usually took great pains to keep out of the rooster's way. if they were careless, and he caught them napping, he was more than likely to make matters unpleasant for them. he knew how to make their feathers fly.
now, henrietta hen thought that the rooster behaved in a most silly fashion. she said it pained her to see him prancing about, with his two long, arched tail-feathers nodding as he walked. the truth was, henrietta could not endure it to have any one more elegantly dressed than she. and there was no denying that the rooster's finery outshone everybody else's. why, he wore a comb on his head that was even bigger than henrietta's! and he had spurs, too, for his legs.
but what henrietta hen disliked most about the rooster was the way he crowed each morning. it wasn't so much the kind of crowing that he indulged in; it was rather the early hour he chose for it that annoyed henrietta. he always began his cockle-doodle-doo while it was yet dark. then everybody in the henhouse had to wake up, whether he wanted to or not. and henrietta hen did wish the rooster would keep still at least till daylight came. she often remarked that it was perfectly ridiculous for any one from a fine family—as she was—to get up at such an unearthly hour. she said it was a wonder she kept her good looks, just on account of the rooster's crowing.
"why don't you ask him to wait until it's light, before he begins to crow?" polly plymouth rock asked henrietta one day.
"i'll do it!" cried henrietta. right then she called to one of the cockerels, who was near-by. "just skip across the yard and ask the rooster—" she began.
the cockerel broke right in upon her message.
"oh! i can't do that!" he exclaimed. "i've never gone up to the rooster and spoken to him. if i did, he'd be sure to fight me."
"just tell him that i sent you," said henrietta. and she made the cockerel listen to her message. but he wouldn't be persuaded. he told henrietta that the rooster would be sure to jump at him the moment he opened his mouth. "besides," he added, "it wouldn't do any good, anyhow. the rooster can't wait until after daylight, before he begins to crow."
"he can't, eh?" henrietta hen spoke up somewhat sharply. "i'd like to know[pg 30] the reason why!" and fixing her gaze sternly upon the rooster, she marched straight across the farmyard towards him, to find out.
