Nose Mike flew down on the floor of the henhouse. Then he gave a cry that waked all the chickens. He said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please all get together and listen to this sad news I have to tell you."

All the people assembled, and Red Nose Mike said—

"Knowing as I do that young Scratchfoot, of our beloved Fowl Farm, has gotten up such a reputation, not only for finding the nicest, fattest worms, not only for guessing riddles or telling the best stories, but for fighting off any rooster that does harm to the people, I wish to break the dreadful news as best I can that Scratchfoot is dead!"

Every hen and every rooster drew out their kerchiefs and freely the tears fell. It was dawn before any of them stopped crying. Then preparations were made to bury Scratchfoot. Every chicken went; even Henny Penny left her eggs long enough to go.

That night every one was weak with crying and Topknot had cried herself sick.

CHAPTER THIRD.

FOWL FARM.

Fowl Farm was once owned by a farmer named Gray, but when Mr. Gray died he left his farm to a friend who cared nothing at all about it, and never took the trouble to go to it or to sell it or to send any one else to it. So once, nearly five years after Mr. Gray's death, some half dozen travelling hens and roosters found it, and after coming to the conclusion that it was as much theirs as any one's, they took possession of it and have kept it ever since.

Here are the names of the hens:—

Lady Gray, Henny Penny, Fluffie, Speckle, Mrs. Bluehen, Topknot, Brownie, Eatwell, Stuffie, Cockletop, Swellhead, Tiptoe, Highhead, Julia, Charcoal, Glover, Bluie, Longlegs, and Bigfoot.

Here are the names of the roosters:—

Red Nose Mike, Lazybones, Long Nose Bill.

CHAPTER FOURTH.

THE PARTY.

"Mr. Long Nose, have you been for the mail?" asked Cockletop, as Long Nose was returning from a walk.

"Yes," answered Bill, "I called. Only a letter for Lady Gray, though. Here, Lazybones, take this to the lady."

Lazybones never objected to taking mail to Lady Gray, because she always gave him something.

That night Lady Gray's maid came to the second henhouse and handed a folded paper to Red Nose Mike. He opened it and read:—

"Mr. Mike:

"Dear Sir:—I wish all of you to come to Hen Castle at eight o'clock to-night.

"Lady Gray."

Red Nose called all the people together and read aloud the note. They all, except Henny Penny, said they would go. Then Mike seated himself at the table and wrote:—

"Lady Gray:

"Dear Madam:—We will all be very glad to come to the Castle to-night at the appointed hour. Mrs. H. Penny says you really must excuse her though, as she is setting.

"Respectfully,

"R. N. Mike."

RED NOSE MIKE.

This answer met with great approval in the henhouse, and at seven o'clock every hen was getting out her silk dresses and saying what they looked best in.

Promptly at eight every one was at the Castle. Lady Gray met them in the garden and said:—

"I received by to-day's mail a very kind invitation to go to a party over at Chicken Place. You were all invited.