Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/114

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94
KURATKO THE TERRIBLE

day. “I’m hungry! Give me something to eat!”

“You mustn’t feed that chick so much!” Grandfather grumbled. “He’s eating us out of house and home.”

But Grandmother wouldn’t listen. She fed Kuratko and fed him until sure enough there came a day when there was nothing left for herself and the old man.

That was a nice how-do-you-do! Grandmother sat working at her spinning-wheel trying to forget that she was hungry, and Grandfather sat on his stool nearby too cross to speak to her.

And then, quite as though nothing were the matter, Kuratko strutted into the room, flapped his wings, and crowed:

“Cockadoodledo! I’m hungry! Give me something to eat!”

“Not another blessed thing will I ever feed you, you greedy chick!” Grandfather shouted.

“Cockadoodledo!” Kuratko answered. “Then I’ll just eat you!”

With that he made one peck at Grandfather and swallowed him down, stool and all!

“Oh, Kuratko!” Grandmother cried. “Where’s Grandpa?”