Show r o p t a t 9 7 1 MR FOX LEARNS S SOMETHING Mr Fox crept very carefully along the the wall outside the barnyard for It was a moonlight night and very often Mr Dog slept very badly on moonlight nights When he reached the gate Mr Fox peeked through the bars and made his way to lo the poultry house A strange sight caught his eye cye and made him stop and look before he reached It for right on top of a a. a shed Mr 1 Fox saw a looking fine ro rooster ster perched on the peak right over the door Well Weil well he said hiding In a shadow who would have e expected such luck I r believe that shed is low enough for me to climb up and get Mr Ro Rooster ster before he hears or sees me He must be a vain fellow to stand up there in the moonlight looking at his shadow I suppose some folks are vain lain enough for that but Ill I'll soon put an end to his vanity Vanity is a abad abad abad bad trait in anyone anyone AH AU the time Mr Fox was thinking nil this over in his mind he was carefully carefully carefully care care- fully creeping around the little shed to the back bade an and there to his joy he found a barrel standing on end with a aboard aboard aboard board across it It could not have suited me better if it I had fixed it myself said Mr Ir Fox smiling at his good luck No Xo one will see me back of this barn even if the moon is shining brightly The only trouble will willbe be to get that silly rooster before he sees my shadow but no doubt he will be so taken up admiring himself that he will see little else but tout his shadow Mr 1 Fox was careful not to slip on the board over o the barrel and when he was on top of ot it he put his front paws pawson paws pawson on top of ot the shed It was not high and with a spring Mr 1 Fox stood on top and looked with hungry e eyes es at Mr Ir Rooster standing very straight Inthe in inthe inthe the moonlight Stooping down Mr Fox began to creep toward him but he had moved only a little way when a breeze sprang sprang up and around swung Mr Rooster with his head right toward Mr F Fox x When Mr Fox saw the supper he had almost within his grasp move he was sure Mr Rooster would spread his wings and jump to the ground so Mr Fox made a spring at him Just then the wind changed again and around swung Mr 1 Rooster just as I Mr Fox sprang to catch hint him Whether he was frightened or whether he lost his footing Mr lr Fox was never sure but he slipped sUpped and tumbled off the roof right into a bed of nettles He jumped up and started to run but on his feet were the prickly nettles and oh how they did hurt b but t there was no use he had to run for Ir Dog was barking loudly and Mr Man Ian might come out with his gun at any minute I would be a fine shot for him Inthe in inthe inthe the moonlight thought Mr 1 Fox as he heran ran What is your hurry Mr 1 Fox c culled called out the turkeys from the tree where e they were roosting why didn't you OU take the wooden rooster on the shed with you you gobble gobble gobble gobble they they laughed after him for all the time the Gobbler and his family had had been watching Mr Fox Mr Fox ran until he lie he reached a rock by the road and here he ho stopped topped stopped to pull off the burrs that were on n his feet He peeked out once to see if any anyone was following and as he did he caught sight of the rooster on the shed Ugh he growled I said he was vain I knew it all the time He is a weather vane yane so I wasn't fooled so much as as those foolish turkeys s 's thought Though he is a vane lane rooster I just omitted the omitted the weather b but t I wasn't deceived deceived deceived de de- at all Of course I knew it was a weather vane ane and I wanted to find out if ir it was made of wood or tin All the v ay home Mr Fox kept saying saying saying say say- ing this over o and over to himself un until until until un- un til he made himself quite sure in his mind at le least st that he was not fooled at allBut all But his stomach was quite empt empty and Mr 1 Fox gave gave a sigh as he he went I into the house for he knew his cupboard cupboard cup cup- board hoard was as empty as his stomach I wish that rooster had not been a weather vane he said but hut I shall know after this that all roosters on n sheds or barns are made of tin or wood so this night nigh has not been wasted after all I x |