The tragedy began with Chanty , who was the boldest little cockadoodle who ever tried to crow . Before he had a feather to his bit of a tail , Chanty began to fight , and soon was known as the most quarrelsome chick in the farm-yard . Having pecked his brothers and sisters , he tried to do the same to his playmates , the ducklings , goslings , and young turkeys , and was so disagreeable that all the fowls hated him . One day , a pair of bantams arrived , -- pretty little white birds , with red crests and nice yellow feet . Chanty thought he could beat Mr. Bantam easily , he was so small , and invited him to fight . Mr. B. declined . Then Chanty called him a coward , and gave Mrs. B. a peck , which so enraged her spouse that he flew at Chanty like a gamecock , and a dreadful fight followed , which ended in Chanty 's utter defeat , for he died from his wounds . Downy and Snowball soon followed ; for the two sweet little things would swing on the burdock-leaves that grew over the brook . Sitting side by side , the plump sisters were placidly swaying up and down over the clear brown water rippling below , when -- ah ! sad to relate -- the stem broke , and down went leaf , chickens and all , to a watery death . ` I 'm the most unlucky hen ever hatched ! ' groaned poor Madam Cluck ; and it did seem so , for the very next week , Speckle , the best and prettiest of the brood , went to walk with Aunt Cockletop , ` grasshoppering ' they called it , in the great field across the road . What a nice time Speckle did have , to be sure ; for the grasshoppers were lively and fat , and aunt was in an unusually amiable mood . ` Never run away from anything , but face danger and conquer it , like a brave chick , ' said the old biddy , as she went clucking through the grass , with her gray turban wagging in the wind . Speckle had hopped away from a toad with a startled chirp , which caused aunt to utter that remark . The words had hardly left her beak , when a shadow above made her look up , give one loud croak of alarm , and then scuttle away , as fast as legs and wings could carry her . Little Speckle , remembering the advice , and unconscious of the danger , stood her ground as a great hawk came circling nearer and nearer , till , with a sudden dart he pounced on the poor chicken , and bore it away chirping dismally , ` Aunty told me not to run . Oh , dear ! oh , dear ! What shall I do ? '
It was a dreadful blow to Mrs. Cluck ; and Aunt Cockletop did n't show herself for a whole XXXXX after that story was known , for every fowl in the yard twitted her with the difference between her preaching and her practice .
Aunty Cluck Cockletop Downy bantams cockadoodle day farm-yard fowls left