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 day after that story was known , for every fowl in the yard twitted her with the difference between her preaching and her practice . Strut , the other son , was the vainest chick ever seen ; and the great aim of his life was to crow louder than any other cock in the neighbourhood . He was at it from morning till night , and everyone was tired to death of hearing his shrill , small voice making funny attempts to produce hoarse little crows , as he sat on the wall and stretched his yellow neck , till his throat quite ached with the effort . ` Ah ! if I could only fly to the highest beam in the barn , and give a splendid crow that everyone could hear , I should be perfectly happy , ' said this silly little fowl , as he stared up at the loft where the old cock often sat .
So he tried every XXXXX to fly and crow , and at last managed to get up ; then how he did strut and rustle his feathers , while his playmates sat below and watched him .
Aunty Chanty Cockletop beak biddy burdock-leaves chirp dart day left