Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/115

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KURATKO THE TERRIBLE
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“Cockadoodledo!” Kuratko remarked. “I’m still hungry. I think I’ll eat you!”

And with that he made one peck at Grandmother and swallowed her down, spinning-wheel and all!

Then that terrible chick went strutting down the road, crowing merrily!

He met a washerwoman at work over her wash-tub.

“Good gracious, Kuratko!” the woman cried. “What a great big crop you’ve got!”

“Cockadoodledo!” Kuratko said. “I should think my crop was big for haven’t I just eaten Grandmother, spinning-wheel and all, and Grandfather, stool and all? But I’m still hungry, so now I’m going to eat you!”

Before the poor woman knew what was happening, Kuratko made one peck at her and swallowed her down, wash-tub and all!

Then he strutted on down the road, crowing merrily.

Presently he came to a company of soldiers.

“Good gracious, Kuratko!” the soldiers cried. “What a great big crop you’ve got!”

“Cockadoodledo!” Kuratko replied. “I should think my crop was big, for haven’t I just eaten a washerwoman, tub and all, Grandmother, spinning-wheel and all, and Grandfather, stool and all? But I’m still hungry, so now I’m going to eat you!”