How the Rooster Became King.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XIII, 28 September 1901, Page 622

How the Rooster Became King.

(By Augustus Henry, aged 13 years.) One day the Hon. Mr Rooster took it into his head to travel. Why he did so is neither my business nor yours, so we will let that question take care of itself. At the next meeting of the Poultryville Committee, of which Mr Rooster was president, he made known his resolution, and his announcement was greeted with cheers from all over the house. The chairman, the venerable Judge Turkey, moved that the president, who had resigned his office, should be made ambassador to represent Poultryville in the various cities he would come across in his travels. The former president was elected to his office by unanimous vote, and the next morning started off after an affectionate and pathetic farewell from his family. Under a hole in the fence, down the wonderful, strange road, walked Ambassador Rooster in dignified silence, when suddenly a most wonderful thing happened. Our astute friend went awkwardly scuttling down the road, as a most hideous noise arose nearby. Remembering his important position in his community, Mr Rooster stopped and looked back to see what had caused his very undignified race. What should he see but a whole colony of donkeys guffawing loudly at his ruffled appearance, and he suddenly realised that he had appeared very foolish over a donkey’s bray. “This wiH never do,” he argued, angrily, “running away from the first foreign domain I have entered.” Thus was he musing when—plump went a disgusted fowl into a swift stream. Our friend Rooster had plunged over the steep bank and was being carried onward by the little stream. Imagine his terror at finding himself in this roaring ocean, as it seemed to his terrified eyes. Calling loudly for help, he battled the water desperately, looking everywhere for an avenue of escape. Suddenly all grew dark, and when he became conscious he found he was at home and he was told that he had fainted just as he was carried past his native city, when the doughty little Tommy Duck had plunged in and gallantly rescued him. On being asked to relate his adventure he did so, ending by declaring that he had gone around the world, as his proof was that he had started and ended his journey at Poultryville. And on account of this wonderful feat he was created king, and as a signet of his office was presented a crown of the royal colour, crimson, and to this day he may be seen with his gorgeous crown, more popularly known as his comb, the monarch of the farmyard. But let me tell you an astounding secret, which you must not divulge, at the risk of your life. Instead of going • around the world, as all Poultryville had supposed, he had just made the circuit of the Farm, the country in which Poultryville is situated.