ut, after saluting the fairy respectfully.
The fairy smiled encouragingly at this poor child who so bravely
resolved to ascend a mountain so dangerous that none of those who had
attempted it had ever reached the summit.
THE CROW, THE COCK, AND THE FROG
Little Henry marched resolutely to the mountain which he found much more
distant than it had appeared to him. Instead of arriving in a half hour
as he had expected, he walked rapidly the whole day without reaching its
base.
About one-third of the way he saw a Crow which was caught by the claw in
a snare which some wicked boy had set for him. The poor Crow sought in
vain to release himself from this trap which caused him cruel
sufferings. Henry ran to him, cut the cord which bound him and set him
at liberty. The poor Crow flew off rapidly, after having said to Henry,
"Thanks, my brave Henry, I will see you again."
Henry was much surprised to hear the Crow speak but he did not relax his
speed.
Some time afterwards while he was resting in a grove and eating a morsel
of bread, he saw a Cock followed by a fox and about to be taken by him
in spite of his efforts to escape. The poor frightened Cock passed very
near to Henry, who seized it adroitly, and hid it under his coat without
the fox having seen him. The fox continued his pursuit, supposing that
the Cock was before him. Henry did not move till he was entirely out of
sight. He then released the Cock, who said to him in a low voice:
"Many thanks, my brave Henry, I will see you again."
Henry was now rested. He rose and continued his journey. When he had
advanced a considerable distance he saw a poor Frog about to be devoured
by a serpent. The Frog trembled and, paralyzed by fear, could not move.
The serpent advanced rapidly, its horrid mouth open. Henry seized a
large stone and threw it so adroitly that it entered the serpent's
throat the moment it was about to devour the Frog. The frightened Frog
leaped to a distance and cried out,
"Many thanks, brave Henry; we will meet again."
Henry, who had before heard the Crow and the Cock speak, was not now
astonished at these words of the Frog and continued to walk on rapidly.
A short time after he arrived at the foot of the mountain but he was
greatly distressed to see that a large and deep river ran at its foot,
so wide that the other side could scarcely be seen. Greatly at a loss he
paused to reflect.
[Illustration: _A large and deep river ran at
|