Vulgar words in The Louisa Alcott Reader: a Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School (Page 1)

This book at a glance

cocky x 32
            

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~   ~   ~   Sentence 571   ~   ~   ~

But before he got there poor cocky had pulled his fine tail-feathers all out in his struggles, and when set free was so frightened and mortified that he ran away and hid in the bushes, and the hens went to comfort him.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 718   ~   ~   ~

So Cocky was brought in, and petted.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 726   ~   ~   ~

Cocky soon began to help take care of his sisters; and when a nice corn or a fat bug was found, he would step back and let little Downy or Snowball have it.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 730   ~   ~   ~

Cocky began to crow when he was very young, and had such a fine voice that people liked to hear his loud, clear "Cock-a-doodle-doo!" early in the morning; for he woke before the sun was up, and began his song.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 732   ~   ~   ~

The father cock had been killed by a dog; so they made Cocky king of the farmyard, and Peck was very jealous of him.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 735   ~   ~   ~

We want Cocky; he is so lively, kind, and brave.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 738   ~   ~   ~

One day, when Cocky was swinging with three of his sisters on a bush that hung over the brook, Peck asked a stupid donkey feeding near to come and put his heavy foot on the bush.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 739   ~   ~   ~

He did it, and crack went the branch, splash went the poor chicks into the water, and all were drowned but Cocky, who flew across and was saved.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 742   ~   ~   ~

Mamma Partlet was heart-broken to lose three darlings at once; but Cocky comforted her, and never told how it happened, because he was ashamed to have people know what a bad bird Peck was.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 746   ~   ~   ~

But kind Cocky saw him, and would run with some nice bit and creep through the fence into the wood, saying,--"Poor brother, I'm sorry for you, and I'll come and play with you, and tell you the news."

~   ~   ~   Sentence 751   ~   ~   ~

Silly Peck never guessed what harm he was doing, and only laughed when Cocky said,-- "You will be sorry if you play with the fox.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 753   ~   ~   ~

Cocky was fat and large, and the fox longed to eat him, but never could, because he wisely ran home whenever he saw the rogue hiding in the wood.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 754   ~   ~   ~

This made Peck angry, for he wanted his brother to stay and play; and so one day, when Cocky ran off in the midst of a nice game, Peck said to the fox,-- "See here, if you want to catch that fellow, I'll tell you how to do it.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 761   ~   ~   ~

Now, good Cocky had saved up nice bits from his own dinner, and put them in a paper hidden under a bush.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 763   ~   ~   ~

Cocky stood by talking pleasantly till a little shower came up.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 765   ~   ~   ~

I'll step under that burdock leaf and wait till you are done," said Cocky; and Peck was too busy gobbling up the food to remember anything else.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 770   ~   ~   ~

One squawk, and the naughty bird was dead; but though the paper fell off, and the fox saw what he had done, it was too late, and he began to eat Peck up, while Cocky flew into a tree and crowed so loud that the farmer ran with his gun and shot the fox before he could squeeze through the hole in the fence with the fowl in his mouth.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 771   ~   ~   ~

After that the hens felt safe, for there were no more foxes; and when they heard about Peck they did not mourn at all, but liked Cocky better than ever, and lived happily together, with nothing to trouble them.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 778   ~   ~   ~

It was a pretty sight to see Cocky run home with a worm in his bill or a nice berry, and give it to his mother, who was very proud of her handsome son.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 784   ~   ~   ~

Cocky was picking about in the field when he heard voices behind the wall, and peeping through a hole saw two shabby men hiding there.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 788   ~   ~   ~

Cocky was much troubled, and didn't know what to do.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 794   ~   ~   ~

Just as he came creeping along with the box, Cocky gave a loud, long crow, that frightened the robbers and woke the boys.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 795   ~   ~   ~

The man with the basket ran away in such a hurry that he tumbled into a well; the other was going to get out of the window, when Cocky flew down and picked at his eyes and flapped his wings in his face, so that he turned to run some other way, and met the boys, who fired at him and shot him in the legs.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 800   ~   ~   ~

"We did," cried the boys, very proud of what they had done; "but we shouldn't have waked if our good Cocky had not crowed, and scared the rascals.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 802   ~   ~   ~

So Cocky was brought in, and petted, and called a fine fellow; and his family were so proud of him they clucked about it for weeks afterward.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 804   ~   ~   ~

It made a great stir, and people would go to see Cocky and tell how he helped catch the men; and he was so brave and handsome, they said at last,-- "We want a new weather-cock on our court-house, and instead of an arrow let us have a cock; and he shall look like this fine fellow."

~   ~   ~   Sentence 805   ~   ~   ~

"Yes, yes," cried the young folks, much pleased; for they thought Cocky ought to be remembered in some way.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 806   ~   ~   ~

So a picture was taken, and Cocky stood very still, with his bright eye on the man; then one like it was made of brass, and put high up on the court- house, where all could see the splendid bird shining like gold, and twirling about to tell which way the wind was.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 815   ~   ~   ~

"Where is Cocky?" cried the other boy, as he counted the hens and missed the king of the farmyard.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 818   ~   ~   ~

yes, he was: for when the fire was out they found good old Cocky sitting on a nest, with his wide wings spread over some little chicks whose mother had left them.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 819   ~   ~   ~

They were too small to run away, and sat chirping sadly till Cocky covered and kept them safe, though the smoke choked him to death.

~   ~   ~   Sentence 823   ~   ~   ~

Good-by, dear Cocky: sleep and rest, With grass and daisies on your faithful breast; And when you wake, brave bird, so good and true, Clap your white wings and crow, "Cock-a-doodle-doo."

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