The little hen happening to look up, wondered what he was up to and then ran to see. When she saw that he was choking, she became greatly frightened and looked in all directions for help. Suddenly she happened to think of the spring and away she flew to get a drop of his water.
Trembling with excitement, she panted, "Dear spring, dear spring, give me a drop of your water for my little partner, the cock. He is choking to death. Hurry, hurry, dear spring."
But the spring coldly replied, "No, I will not give you a drop, unless you bring me a leaf from the linden tree".
So the little hen hurries off to the linden tree, of whom she begs a leaf, which she can give to the spring, who will give her a drop of water for the little cock.
But lo, the linden tree has his bargain. "Yes, I will give you a leaf, but you must bring me a kerchief that the peasant woman is making." So off to the peasant woman, the little hen flys.
"Dear woman. I pray you, give me a kerchief which I can give to the linden tree, who will give me a leaf which I will give to the spring, who will give me a drop of water."
