“It’s too bad; yes, it is really too bad that we should be so often disturbed by that naughty fox;” said the grey goose to her sister. “I was just dropping off into a comfortable doze. I declare I would be very very angry if I was not very very frightened.”

“Squeal! grunt! oh! squee-e-e-e-e-e-eek! there he comes again, mother, oh dear! squeel-eek!” cried a little pig, the moment it caught sight of the fox.

The big sow gave a low grunt. “Hold your squeak, silly thing,” she said, “what are you afraid of ? Is your mother not big and fat enough to protect you?”

“Co-co-co-coo! quiet, you monster,” cried a hen, angrily, “you’ll waken up all my chickens if you make such a—” At this instant the fox sneaked up to the yard, and the chickens started up all at once so violently that they nearly tossed their mother on her back. Then they rushed out and opened their eyes in astonishment; but no sooner did they see the fox than they uttered one loud “quee-quee-quee-co-chickalum-doo!” turned round and fled under their mother’s wings again; for these wise chickens knew that there was no place of safety equal to their own dear mother’s bosom.