The Green Fairy Book : Large Print

Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had a large brood ofchickens.

They were all fine, plump little birds, except the youngest, who was quite unlikehis brothers and sisters.

Indeed, he was such a strange, queer-looking creature, that whenhe first chipped his shell his mother could scarcely believe her eyes, he was so differentfrom the twelve other fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled under her wings.

This onelooked just as if he had been cut in two. He had only one leg, and one wing, and one eye, andhe had half a head and half a beak.

His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at himand said:'My youngest born is only a half-chick.

He can never grow up a tall handsome cock likehis brothers.

They will go out into the world and rule over poultry yards of their own; butthis poor little fellow will always have to stay at home with his mother.' And she called himMedio Pollito, which is Spanish for half-chick.Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little thing, his mother soonfound that he was not at all willing to remain under her wing and protection.

Indeed, incharacter he was as unlike his brothers and sisters as he was in appearance.

They weregood, obedient chickens, and when the old hen chicked after them, they chirped and ranback to her side.

But Medio Pollito had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg, and when hismother called to him to return to the coop, he pretended that he could not hear, because hehad only one ear.When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, Medio Pollito would hopaway by himself, and hide among the Indian corn.

Many an anxious minute his brothers andsisters had looking for him, while his mother ran to and fro cackling in fear and dismay.As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and his manner to hismother was often very rude, and his temper to the other chickens very disagreeable.One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the fields.

On his return hestrutted up to his mother with the peculiar little hop and kick which was his way ofwalking, and cocking his one eye at her in a very bold way he said:'Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing but a dreary maize field tolook at.

I'm off to Madrid to see the King.''To Madrid, Medio Pollito!' exclaimed his mother; 'why, you silly chick, it would be a longjourney for a grown-up cock, and a poor little thing like you would be tired out before youhad gone half the distance.

No, no, stay at home with your mother, and some day, when youare bigger, we will go a little journey together.'But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen to his mother's advice,nor to the prayers and entreaties of his brothers and sisters.