Doves cooed on the sunny roof , and smoothed their gleaming feathers . Daisy 's donkey nibbled a thistle by the wall , and a stately peacock marched before the door with all his plumage spread . It made Daisy laugh to see the airs the fowls put on as she scattered corn , and threw meal and water to the chicks . Some pushed and gobbled ; some stood meekly outside the crowd , and got what they could ; others seized a mouthful , and ran away to eat it in a corner . The chicks got into the pan entirely , and tumbled one over the other in their hurry to eat ; but the mammas saw that none went hungry . And the polite cock waited upon them in the most gentlemanly manner , making queer little clucks and gurgles as if he said : `` Allow me , madam , to offer you this kernel ; '' or , `` Here , my dear , try that bit . '' And sometimes he pecked a little , with a loud quaver , evidently saying , `` Come , come , children , behave yourselves , and do n't eat like pigs . '' `` What is she saying ? '' asked Daisy , pointing to an old gray hen in a black turban , who was walking about alone , muttering to herself , as hens often do in their promenades . `` She says a cat has made a nest , and hatched three kits up on the loft , near her own nest ; and she does n't like it , because their mewing annoys her , '' said Wee , after listening a minute . `` How nice ! let 's go and find them . But do you learn anything about the fairies from the hen 's chat ? '' `` No : they have been so busy setting , they have had no time for picnics yet . But they will let us know , if they discover any . '' In the barn , the cows were being milked ; and Daisy had a mugful of it , warm and sweet , out of the foaming pail . `` We 'll take some to Mrs. Purr ; for , I dare say , she does n't like to leave the kits long , and will enjoy a sip of something comfortable , '' said Wee , as Daisy climbed the ladder , and went rustling over the hay to a corner , whence came a joyful `` Mew ! '' What a charming sight it was , to be sure ! a snow-white cat lying in a cosy nest , and , by her , three snow-white kits , wagging three very small gray tails . `` There never was any thing so lovely ! ''
cried XXXXX , as she sat with the three downy balls in her lap , while the mamma gratefully lapped the new milk from Aunt Wee 's cup .
Daisy Purr chicks donkey fowls minute mugful plumage sight thistle