The six shook hands , and walked away together , talking about a fair ; and left me to take care of myself . I walked on through a pleasant meadow , where a pretty little girl was looking sadly up at a row of sheep 's tails hung on a tree . I also saw a little boy in blue , asleep by a haycock ; and another boy taking aim at a cock-sparrow , who clapped his wings and flew away . Presently I saw two more little girls : one sat by a fire warming her toes ; and , when I asked what her name was , she said pleasantly : `` Polly Flinders , ma'am . '' The other one sat on a tuft of grass , eating something that looked very nice ; but , all of a sudden , she dropped her bowl , and ran away , looking very much frightened . `` What 's the matter with her ? '' I asked of a gay young frog who came tripping along with his hat under his arm . `` Miss Muffit is a fashionable lady , and afraid of spiders , madam ; also of frogs . '' And he puffed himself angrily up , till his eyes quite goggled in his head . `` And , pray , who are you , sir ? '' I asked , staring at his white vest , green coat , and fine cravat . `` Excuse me , if I do n't give my name , ma'am . My false friend , the rat , got me into a sad scrape once ; and Rowley insists upon it that a duck destroyed me , which is all gammon , ma'am , -- all gammon . '' With that , the frog skipped away ; and I turned into a narrow lane , which seemed to lead toward some music . I had not gone far , when I heard the rumbling of a wheelbarrow , and saw a little man wheeling a little woman along . The little man looked very hot and tired ; but the little woman looked very nice , in a smart bonnet and shawl , and kept looking at a new gold ring on her finger , as she rode along under her little umbrella . I was wondering who they were , when down went the wheelbarrow ; and the little lady screamed so dismally that I ran away , lest I should get into trouble , -- being a stranger . Turning a corner , I came upon a very charming scene , and slipped into a quiet nook to see what was going on . It was evidently a wedding ; and I was just in time to see it , for the procession was passing at that moment . First came a splendid cock-a-doodle , all in black and gold , like a herald , blowing his trumpet , and marching with a very dignified step .
Then came a rook , in black , like a minister , with spectacles and white XXXXX .
Flinders Muffit Rowley cock-a-doodle cravat gammon haycock spiders tuft wheelbarrow