one day henny-penny was picking up corn in the cornyard when—whack!—something hit her upon the head. “goodness gracious me!” said henny-penny; “the sky's a-going to fall; i must go and tell the king.”

so she went along and she went along and she went along till she met cocky-locky. “where are you going, henny-penny?” says cocky-locky. “oh! i'm going to tell the king the sky's a-falling,” says henny-penny. “may i come with you?” says cocky-locky. “certainly,” says henny-penny. so henny-penny and cocky-locky went to tell-the king the sky was falling.

they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met ducky-daddles. “where are you going to, henny-penny and cocky-locky?” says ducky-daddles. “oh! we're going to tell the king the sky's a-falling,” said henny-penny and cocky-locky. “may i come with you?” says ducky-daddles. “certainly,” said henny-penny and cocky-locky. so henny-penny, cocky-locky and ducky-daddles went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.

so they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met goosey-poosey, “where are you going to, henny-penny, cocky-locky and ducky-daddles?” said goosey-poosey. “oh! we're going to tell the king the sky's a-falling,” said henny-penny and cocky-locky and ducky-daddles. “may i come with you,” said goosey-poosey. “certainly,” said henny-penny, cocky-locky and ducky-daddles. so henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles and goosey-poosey went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.

so they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met turkey-lurkey. “where are you going, henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, and goosey-poosey?” says turkey-lurkey. “oh! we're going to tell the king the sky's a-falling,” said henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles and goosey-poosey. “may i come with you? henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles and goosey-poosey?” said turkey-lurkey. “why, certainly, turkey-lurkey,” said henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, and goosey-poosey. so henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey and turkey-lurkey all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling.

so they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met foxy-woxy, and foxy-woxy said to henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey and turkey-lurkey: “where are you going, henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey, and turkey-lurkey?” and henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey, and turkey-lurkey said to foxy-woxy: “we're going to tell the king the sky's a-falling.” “oh! but this is not the way to the king, henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey and turkey-lurkey,” says foxy-woxy; “i know the proper way; shall i show it you?” “why certainly, foxy-woxy,” said henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey, and turkey-lurkey. so henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey, turkey-lurkey, and foxy-woxy all went to tell the king the sky was a-falling. so they went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they came to a narrow and dark hole. now this was the door of foxy-woxy's cave. but foxy-woxy said to henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey, and turkey-lurkey: “this is the short way to the king's palace you'll soon get there if you follow me. i will go first and you come after, henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky daddles, goosey-poosey, and turkey-lurkey.” “why of course, certainly, without doubt, why not?” said henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey, and turkey-lurkey.

so foxy-woxy went into his cave, and he didn't go very far but turned round to wait for henny-penny, cocky-locky, ducky-daddles, goosey-poosey and turkey-lurkey. so at last at first turkey-lurkey went through the dark hole into the cave. he hadn't got far when “hrumph,” foxy-woxy snapped off turkey-lurkey's head and threw his body over his left shoulder. then goosey-poosey went in, and “hrumph,” off went her head and goosey-poosey was thrown beside turkey-lurkey. then ducky-daddles waddled down, and “hrumph,” snapped foxy-woxy, and ducky-daddles' head was off and ducky-daddles was thrown alongside turkey-lurkey and goosey-poosey. then cocky-locky strutted down into the cave and he hadn't gone far when “snap, hrumph!” went foxy-woxy and cocky-locky was thrown alongside of turkey-lurkey, goosey-poosey and ducky-daddles.

but foxy-woxy had made two bites at cocky-locky, and when the first snap only hurt cocky-locky, but didn't kill him, he called out to henny-penny. so she turned tail and ran back home, so she never told the king the sky was a-falling.