"I was looking down last night," said the moon, "upon a little yard, with houses on every side.
"There I saw a clucking hen and eleven chickens. A pretty little girl came skipping out and ran towards the chicks.
"The hen clucked, for she was afraid, and spread her warm wings over her little brood.
"The girl"s father came out of the house and scolded her for frightening the chicks. Then I sailed away behind a cloud.
"But, this evening, only a few minutes ago, I looked again into the same yard. All was quiet; but soon the little girl came out softly.
"She stepped lightly across to the hen-house, raised the latch, and went in among the hens and chickens.
"They cried aloud and fluttered off their perches, and the little girl ran after them. I saw it all, for I was peeping in through a hole in the wall.
"I was quite angry with the naughty girl, and I felt glad when her father came out, and, holding her fast by the arm, scolded her even more than he did last night.
She hung down her head, and her blue eyes filled withtears. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
"She cried, and said, "I wanted to tell the hen how sorry I was for giving her a fright last night; but I did not like to tell you so."
"Then the father kissed the sweet child"s mouth, and I kissed her eyes and chin."--Hans Christian Andersen
Author.-Ha n s Ch r i s t i a n An d e r s e n (1805-1875) was born in Denmark of poor parents. When a young man, he tried writing plays, then books of travel, then fairy tales. It was through the last that he became famous. Children all over the world read about the Ugly Duckling, the Brave Tin Soldier, the Little Match Girl. He was not only a clever man, he was a most lovable man.
General Notes.-Why was the moon angry? Had it cause to be angry?
Why? Tell the story as the little girl would tell it; as the father would tell it.
