132 Domestic Animals 



"I know what 'tis," exclaimed Fred; "it is a 

 rooster. Grandpa has one, and grandma says he 

 is the man of the hen-house. If a hawk or a weasel 

 comes stealing 'round after a chicken he will fly at 

 him and drive him off." 



"Yes," said Miss Clare, "a good farmer always 

 has some roosters or cocks among his fowls. They 

 are brave and courageous, and look after the wives 

 and children the hens and little chickens. It is 

 the cock, too, that crows loud and long in the morn- 

 ing, telling people as well as hens that it is time to 

 get up. Oh, a cock is a handsome fellow as he 

 stands out in the morning sunshine, calling, ' Cock- 

 a-doodle-doo/ or as the old rhyme says: 



" Cock-a-doodle-do, 



My dame has lost a shoe, 

 My master's lost his fiddle stick, 

 And don't know what to do. 



"Now, who is going to tell me what a hen eats?" 

 The little folks were ready, and grain, such as 



rye, oats, corn, and barley, were mentioned, as well 



as many vegetables. 



"You must cook the vegetables," said Harry. 



