t what a joke he was going to have right away on
Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum.

Then, pretty soon he had everything ready, and said to Mr. Dog:--

"Now I'm going to call my friends down, but they won't come." And then
they both laughed soft like, for of course Mr. Dog knew all about the
joke, too.

So then the Crow went up to the 'Possum's door and knocked and said:--

"Supper's ready! Comp'ny's here! Come down!"

[Illustration: "WHO IS YOUR COMPANY, MR. CROW?"]

"Who is your company, Mr. Crow?"

"Oh, just home folks. Nobody but Mr. Dog. We've got fried chicken and
it's all ready."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Crow, but I've just had comp'ny come, too, and I
couldn't come unless I brought my comp'ny."

"Who is it?" said the Crow.

"Nobody but home folks. Mr. Cat just dropped in to spend the evening."

The Old Black Crow gave a jump when he heard that, for he was afraid as
death of Mr. Cat, and he said, quick as a wink:--

"Table's all full and no room for more! Table's all full and no room for
more!"

Then he hurried over to the 'Coon's door and called:--

"Supper's all ready! Comp'ny's here! Come down!"

[Illustration: MR. 'COON PUT AN EXTRA CHAIR AGAINST THE DOOR.]

Mr. 'Coon put an extra chair against the door and said:--

"Who is your comp'ny, Mr. Crow?"

"Oh, just home folks. Nobody but Mr. Dog. We've got fried chicken and
it's all on the table."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Crow, but comp'ny just came here, too, and I'd have to
bring him along."

"Who is it, Mr. 'Coon?"

"Only home folks. Just Mr. Hawk run in for the evening."

[Illustration: MR. CROW NEARLY FELL OVER BACKWARD.]

Mr. Crow nearly fell over backward when he heard that. He had stolen
some of Mr. Hawk's chickens the day before, and the 'Coon knew about it.
The Hawk would surely know the flavor of his own chickens if he came
down, and, anyhow, Mr. 'Coon would tell him. So he called out just as
quick as lightning:--

"Table's all full and no room for more! Table's all full and no room for
more!"

Then he hurried right back to Mr. Dog and told him not to wait, because
Mr. 'Coon and Mr. 'Possum could not come, and Mr. Dog laughed and
pitched into the fried chicken and said it was the best joke and the
best chicken he had ever heard of. But the Crow some way did not think
it was as good a joke as he had expected and could not eat his supper
for looking up at the doors where the 'Possum and the 'Coon were.

By and by, when Mr. Dog had finished his su