Lullventyr
Henny-Penny — cover illustration
Bedtime story

Henny-Penny

by Joseph Jacobs

Henny-penny is busy picking corn in the yard when a heavy acorn falls on her head. She panics and declares that the sky is falling down. Determined to warn everyone, she sets off to find the king. Along her path, she meets Cocky-locky, who joins her journey. Soon, Ducky-daddles hears their news and wants to help too. Goosey-poosey then appears and decides to come along as well. Turkey-lurkey also wishes to join the group for protection. They all travel together, growing larger with each new friend they meet. Eventually, they encounter Foxy-woxy, who offers to guide them. Foxy-woxy leads them away from the main road toward a dark cave. He claims this shortcut will get them to the king much faster. The birds trust him and follow him into the narrow entrance. Inside the dark hole, Foxy-woxy reveals his true hungry nature. He attacks the group one by one with devastating bites. Turkey-lurkey is the first to fall, followed quickly by Goosey-poosey. Ducky-daddles and Cocky-locky meet similar fates inside the cave. Henny-penny realizes the danger just in time for her own safety. She turns around and runs back home to escape the predator. The sky remains safely above them as she flees. Thus, her mission to warn the king is never completed.

How it begins

HENNY-PENNY One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the cornyard when--whack!--something hit her upon the head. "Goodness gracious me!" said Henny-penny; "the sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king." So she went along and she went along and she went along till she met Cocky-locky. "Where are you going, Henny-penny?" says Cocky-locky. "Oh! I'm going to tell the king the sky's a-falling," says Henny-penny. "May I come with you?" says Cocky-locky. "Certainly," says Henny-penny. So Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell-the king the sky was falling. They went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met Ducky-daddles. "Where are you going to, Henny-penny and Cocky-locky?" says Ducky-daddles. "Oh! we're going to…

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