Chapter II: Preparation

On their way home the cock and the hen overtake two travelers.

Test the children’s knowledge of _travelers_ and _travel_.

Narration.

THE TRAVELERS.

The cock and the hen had not gone far when they heard a voice calling to them to stop. The cock told the duck to stop, and found that they had overtaken a pin and a needle traveling along the road. The cock asked them what they wanted. The needle said, “It is now getting dark and we fear that we shall lose our way. I have but one eye and the pin has none at all. Please be so good as to let us ride with you.”

At first the cock said, “No;” but the travelers begged so hard that he at last consented. “You are so small,” he said, “that you will take up no room. But you must be very careful not to tread on the hen’s toes.”

They promised to be very careful and climbed into the wagon at once. The cock told the duck to go on. “You must be quick, Mrs. Duck,” he said, “or we shall not get home to-night.” So the duck waddled along as fast as she could. She could not go much faster, for she was getting tired.

Suggestions.

Different ways of traveling.

Who was polite? Tell who was polite in the previous stories? Who was kind?