LESSON 70 OBEY YOUR PARENTS

OBEY YOUR PARENTS

eas-i-ly seized dis-o-bey

fright-ened shad-ow tempt-ed

break-fast fault tal-ons

1. "Cluck, cluck!" said the brown hen. "I saw a hawk fly by. Come along, chicks, into the barn."

2. "Oh, bother!" said Peck to Pick. "Must we leave these nice seeds? Mother is so easily frightened. I am not a bit afraid of the hawk, so I mean to stay and get my breakfast first."

3. "So shall I," said Pick.

Cluck, cluck, cluck! Come here at once, cried the brown hen.

4. Peck and Pick would not heed, so they ran off into the grass to eat the seeds. "Is not mother a silly hen?" said Peck.

Yes, said Pick, "she soon gets scared 〔1〕 . There is nothing to hurt us.

5. "What a treat we shall have with these seeds. The others will be sorry when they hear of it."

Timid 〔2〕 little babies! said Peck.

6. Just then a shadow fell between them and the sun, and a big bird seized Pick in her claws.

Cheep, cheep, cheep! cried poor Pick. "Mother, help me!"

7. But the brown hen was safe in the barn with the rest of her brood and did not hear him.

8. Tom, the game-cock, ran at the hawk, but he was too late. The hawk flew away to her nest with poor Pick in her talons 〔3〕 . He was torn in pieces to feed the hawk's young ones.

9. Peck, half dead with fright, lay quite still in the grass for a long time. Then he ran off to the barn as hard as he could go.

10. He told the brown hen about Pick. He was very sorry, for he had tempted Pick to disobey.

11. The brown hen called Tom, the game-cock, and told him about Peck's fault. Tom gave him the beating which he so richly deserved.

12. "Cluck, cluck!" said the brown hen to the rest of the brood 〔4〕 . "See the trouble that comes to those who disobey. Always obey your parents at once. Cluck, cluck!"

注释

〔1〕 scared: Frightened.

〔2〕 timid: Shy; easily frightened.

〔3〕 talons: Claws.

〔4〕 brood: Clutch of chickens.