(Adapted)
Mr. Peacock was proud. He had a fine long train, a splendid crest, and
the gayest blue-green coat that ever was seen; and all day long he
would strut up and down the barnyard and say: “See what a beauty I am!”
[Illustration]
The geese and ducks and turkeys were much displeased at this. “Beauty,
indeed!” they said. “Of what use is your beauty? Can it hatch eggs?
Tell us that!” and they turned their backs and walked away.
“These are stupid creatures!” said Mr. Peacock. “Why should I stay
among them? I will go to the Fair, for there people will see my beauty
and admire it.”
So he spread his tail like a fan, raised his crested head and strutted
off down the road to the Fair. Pretty soon he met some young men who
also were going to the Fair. “Aha!” said Mr. Peacock. “These people
will admire me!” and he strutted more than ever.
“Look!” said the young men. “What a fine peacock, and what splendid
feathers he has! They are just what we want for our hats.” They
surrounded Mr. Peacock, and, spite of his screams of rage and terror,
tore out three or four of his finest tail feathers and went away
laughing. Presently he fell in with a large flock of geese which a boy
was driving to the Fair to sell. He spread his tail and tried to push
his way to the head of the flock, but they took no notice of him and
waddled steadily on, keeping close together.
“Make way, you stupid creatures!” said Mr. Peacock. “Keep your dirty
feet off my fine train!”
“Quack!” said an old gray goose, the grandmother of the flock. “Keep
your train out from under our feet, Mr. Strut! Who asked you to join
our company?”
“Join your company, indeed!” cried Mr. Peacock. “Get out of my way, you
rude, clumsy thing, and learn how to treat your betters!” and he gave
the goose a hard peck.
When the other geese, who loved their grandmother, saw this, they all
fell upon Mr. Peacock and beat and pecked and hustled him till he ran
screaming away, dragging his tail behind him.
He was now in a sad way, covered with dust, and many of his finest
feathers were torn and broken; but still, when he came to the Fair he
spread his tail, reared his crest and made as much of himself as he
could.
“I am still handsomer than any one else!” he said, “and people will be
sure to admire me.”
“Look there!” said a man. “There is a peacock. Let us kill and stuff
him and add him to our show.” And he chased Mr. Peacock, who ran off
screaming with terror. Coming around a corner he ran into a large dog
who was coming the other way.
“Get out of my way!” screamed Mr. Peacock.
“Get out of mine!” growled Mr. Dog, and he grabbed Mr. Peacock by the
neck, shook him hard and tore out a great mouthful of feathers.
More dead than alive, the poor Peacock ran and ran and ran, and never
stopped till he got home.
The geese and turkeys looked at him in great surprise. “Who is this
wretched, shabby bird?” they asked each other. “It cannot possibly be
Mr. Peacock?”
“Yes,” sobbed the poor creature, “it is I; but I have left my pride
behind. If you will only let me stay with you I will do my best to
hatch eggs.”
But he never could.