Oldal 175 [175]
a "sú sú
PIES a Oquorico
oi A Spanish I ale”
tO} NCE upon a time there was a handsome hen who
lived like a great lady in the poultry-yard of a
rich farmer, surrounded by a numerous family which
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clucked about her, and none of which clamored more loudly
or picked up the corn faster with his beak than a poor
little deformed and crippled chicken. This was precisely
the one that the mother loved best. It 1s the way with
all mothers; the weakest and most unsightly are always
their favorites. This misshapen creature had but one eye,
one wing, and one leg in good condition; it might have been
thought that Solomon had executed his memorable sen¬
tence on Coquerico, for that was the name of the wretched
chicken, and cut him in two with his famous sword. When
a person is one-eyed, lame, and one-armed, he may reason¬
ably be expected to be modest; but our Castilian ragamufhin
was prouder than his father, the best spurred, most elegant,
bravest, and most gallant cock to be seen from Burgos
to Madrid. He thought himself a phoenix of grace and
beauty, and passed the best part of the day in admiring
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