A CERTAIN cock ruled over a poultry yard. He formed a friendship with a goose who had fine plumage, had travelled and had dabbled in the fountain of knowledge; its gait was not elegant, but it was firm; its voice was not melodious, but it was grave and sententious. The goose advised its friend, the cock, to cut off his crest, which was provocative of hostility, and his spurs, which were useless. The cock complied, and then went out for a walk with his friend.
The goose, who was very confiding, left the gate of the poultry yard open. When they returned the cock went to his hearth to light up, and saw two gleaming lights there.
“What strange lights are those?” exclaimed the cock. And going nearer he saw that they were the eyes of a cat which darted m to him.
He put himself into position for fighting, but as he had no spurs, the cat killed him.
The goose, when it beheld this, never ceased repeating: “Peace, gentlemen; peace, peace, gentlemen; peace, peace, peace;” but this did not prevent the cat from making an end of him too.
