terribly angry, but before she could say a word the Enchanter and
the Fairy changed her into a big brown owl, and she floated away
out of one of the palace windows, hooting dismally. Then the
wedding was held with great splendour, and King Charming and
Queen Fiordelisa lived happily ever after.

L'Oiseau Bleu. Par Mme. d'Aulnoy.





THE HALF-CHICK



Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had
a large brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little
birds, except the youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and
sisters. Indeed, he was such a strange, queer-looking creature,
that when he first chipped his shell his mother could scarcely
believe her eyes, he was so different from the twelve other
fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled under her wings.
This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He had only
one leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and
half a beak. His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him
and said:

'My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a
tall handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the