GOOD RESOLUTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 15

GOOD RESOLUTIONS

Cockacloodlo do! Cockadooillr, do! Cockadoodle do!" chanted Cutlibeit Cockerel, as he swaggcicd llirough the farmyard on New Year's morning. '"He's wishing us a Happy New Year," Paid Hetty Hen to the chickens, who wcic flapping and clucking round hci. "A Happy' New Year, CulhJjert." , ■' t *'A Happy New Year,'' my dcais," lie exclaimed jovially, swinging liis cane. "A prosperous one, too, the mosL prosperous you've ever had." "And we need il," they exclaimed in chorus. '"Have you made any j\cw Year's resolutions, Cuthbci'l?" asked ]JcUv Culhbeit sliiUghlcricd his head and wagged his comb. "Of course," he said. "Out with them ihen.' "Well, first and foiemosl, llieie is to be no swapping this year." "What?" they asked faintly. "When you have a set-lo with Claude ncaily every day." "Thai's all a thing of the past,'" he said, gravely. ''From now onwards I am a rcfoimcd bild." "I am sure he won't be able lo keep of! it for long," whispered Jlelty. ''Is that all, Culhbeit?" she asked.

"Not guile. lam going to moderate my appetite; in fact, this year, I am going to do every thing within reason." ' . • ■ . "And 1 should say that it'will just about kill you. \Friends,.if Cuthbert sticks by these resolutions, I am" convinced that, lie has wished, its a Happy New Year for the last time. "Well, well!" she exclaimed tpher- :- self a? the party broke up ? "wonders will never cease," and she pecked away at the cabbage swinging above her head with one eye on the maghi' ficent Cuthbert, who was struldng round the yard. He was "Cockadoodlc do! Cockadoodld do! CockadoodJe do-ing everybody. ;"I wonder how long it will last," she said, dubiously, to the cabbage. Presently he passed his enemy, Claude, the other veleran of the farmyard,.with such an amiable nod that Hetty retired for her afternoon nap in a fine stale of lii- ■ credulity..-; ■' ,; :.-.■, ■; .-,. . ' ■ -. :■ • ..■■•■.• ■.-.-. Before very long, however, she was disturbed. "What's up?"'she asked. ■'■"■'..• '•'•'■ '■"-.'. /'Claude's killing Culhbert," exclaimed an agitated hen; "they're fighting like ihad."; ' "But he's given up that sort of thing," retorted Hetty. "Not a bit 'of it. You come and see. I'll tell you what happened. A new cabbage was hung in the outhouse. As usual, Cuthbert thought that he should haye the first go at it, and sure enough he did, with all the others clustered round him waiting for their turn. Presently Claude walked'up, but Cuthbert was too busy eating to notice him.. 'took here,' said Claude, marching a step or two forward, 'have you bought that cabbage?' 'I'll tell you when I've finished,' said Culhbert, without looking up. And Claude roared, 'And who are you to eat the best and leave other people to fish for themselves., 'Eh?' choked Cuthbert with his mouth full. He was surprised that anybody should argue with him, but before you could say knife, Claude was standing in front of him yelling. 'Now, then, come on. Up with them.' And you've never seen such a fight. They're squealing and pecking and scratching. A fat lot of good Culhbelt's New Year's resoluLions have done him, I must say." Suddenly theic was a tcirihlc noise from the field of battle. Hetty and her friend heard it and hastened to investigate. "I don't ihink he's dead," exclaimed one of the onlookers, "but they've sent for his wife. Half Claude's tail's gone, loo," Hclty peered round ansiou&ly as Culhbert was being led away in his wife's arms, and Claude was also being supported frbni llie field. She called later hi the day lo inquire at the victim's house. "And-how is lie, dear Mrs. Cuthberl?" she exclaimed.' "It's such a pity, when only'this morning Cuthberl was telling US all about his New YeaiVresolutiop not lo fight a;iy more. He's quickly been led astray." "Yes," said Mrs. Culhbert, with a shade of annoyance in her voice, "when he .told me. of his resolutions I wondered how quickly ho would gel into trouble, and I said .to, him: 'Anybody who has been as wild as you, my'lad','is simply asking'for trouble if they take so'much on their shoulders at once.', One fight a week,' I said, 'then you might be able lo slick to it, but you'll 1 never be'able to go for a whole year without some sort of a set-to 1! I wonder what he will have to say for i himself in the morning now. that all hjs good intentions have come to nothing. Thank you so much for calling, Hetty dear," she said kindly,^'and a prosperous and happy New .Year to you."