MAKING THE BEST OF IT
by Ada M. Skinner
The Happy Henhouse
It was a cold, snowy day. Snow fell on the farm. The animals were inside the henhouse. The Gray Goose looked outside. The Brown Hen stood with her. "I am hungry," the Brown Hen said. She felt a little sad.
Other animals felt sad too. The Pekin Duck was hungry. "Quack! I am hungry!" he said. Little speckled chickens huddled close. "We are thirsty!" they cried. They felt left out.
The White Rooster was happy. He saw the sad animals. He wanted to make them happy. He looked around the henhouse. "You all look so sad," he said.
A Little Rooster was cross. He hopped from his perch. "The farmer's boy forgot us!" he said. "No food came today." He was very upset.
The White Rooster spoke kindly. "Look around," he said. "We are warm here. We are safe inside. We have a good home. He smiled."
The Brown Hen thought about it. She stretched her wings. The other animals looked up. They felt a little better. They preened their feathers.
The White Rooster had an idea. "Let's sing a happy song!" he said. The Brown Hen started to sing. "Cluck-cluck!" she sang.
All the chickens sang. The Pekin Duck quacked loudly. The Gray Goose honked too. It was a loud, happy sound. All sang.
Outside, other animals heard. The horse neighed a song. The cow mooed along. The sheep baaed with joy. The dog barked too. All sang!
The animals sang and sang. They were so happy. They forgot they were hungry. Music made them feel good. They sang many songs.
Then, the door opened. Three children stood there. They carried warm food. It was for the animals. The food smelled good.
The Little Girl smiled. "We heard your happy song!" she said. "It made us happy. We knew you need food!" She looked kind.
The White Rooster crows loudly. "See!" he said. "Be happy. Sing a song. Good things will happen! They ate their food."
Original Story
MAKING THE BEST OF IT
“What a pretty day this is!” said the old gray goose to the brown hen, as they stood at the henhouse window and watched the falling snow which covered every nook and corner of the farmyard.
“Yes, indeed,” said the brown hen; “I would be almost willing to be made into chicken pie on such a day.”
She had scarcely stopped talking, when the Pekin duck said, fretfully, “I am dreadfully hungry,” and a little flock of speckled chickens all huddled together wailed in sad chorus, “And we’re so thirsty!”
In fact, the feathered folks in the henhouse were very much inclined to be cross and discontented. 174Since the farmer’s boy fed them, early in the morning, they had been given nothing to eat or drink, and, as hour after hour went by, and the cold winter wind howled around their house, it is no wonder they felt deserted.
The handsome white rooster, however, appeared quite as happy as usual, and that is saying a great deal, for a jollier, better-natured old fellow than he never graced a farmyard. Sunshine, rain, or snow were all the same to him, and he crowed quite as lustily in stormy weather as in fair.
“Well,” he said, laughing heartily, as his bright eyes glanced about the henhouse, “you all seem to be having a fit of the dumps.”
Nobody answered the white rooster, but a faint cluck or two came from some hens who immediately put their heads back under their wings, as if ashamed of having spoken at all.
This was quite too much for the white rooster, who, standing first on one yellow foot and then on the other, said: “Well, we are a 175lively set! Anyone would think, to look in here, that we were surrounded by a band of hungry foxes.”
Just then a daring little white bantam rooster hopped down from his perch, and, strutting pompously over to the big rooster, created quite a stir among the feathered folk by saying,
“We’re all lively enough when our crops are full, but when we’re starving the wonder is that we can hold our heads up at all. If I ever see that farmer’s boy again, I’ll—I’ll peck his foot!”
“You won’t see him until he feeds us,” said the white rooster, “and then I think you will peck his corn.”
“Oh, oh!” moaned the brown hen, “don’t mention a peck of corn.”
“Madam,” remarked the white rooster, bowing politely, “your trouble is my own—that is, I’m hungry, too. But we might be worse off; we might be on our way to market in a box. Then, too, suppose we haven’t had enough to eat to-day, at least we have room 176enough to stretch our wings and a good, quiet place to sleep in.”
“Why, that is a fact,” answered the brown hen; and all the feathered family—the smallest chickens included—stretched their wings, preened their feathers, and looked a trifle more animated.
“Now then,” went on the rooster, “suppose we have a little music to cheer us and help pass the hours until roosting time. We will all crow—there, I beg your pardon, ladies; I am sorry you can’t crow—we will sing a merry song. Will you be kind enough to start a lively tune, Mrs. Brown Hen?”
The brown hen shook herself proudly, tossed her head back, and began: “Cut-cut-cut-ca-dak-cut,” and in less than two minutes every one in the henhouse had joined her.
Now the horses, cows, and sheep were not far away, and, hearing the happy voices in the henhouse, they, too, joined in the grand chorus, while the pigs did their best to sing louder than all the rest. Higher and higher, stronger and stronger, rose the chorus; louder and 177louder quacked the ducks, and shriller and shriller squealed the pigs. At length even the dogs barked merrily.
They were all so happy that they quite forgot their hunger until the door of the henhouse burst open, and in came three chubby children, each carrying a dish full of steaming chicken food.
“Don’t stop your music, Mr. Rooster,” said the little girl, who was so snugly bundled up that you could scarcely see her dear little face. “You see, we were so lonesome that we didn’t know what to do; but when we heard all you folks singing out here in your house, we laughed and laughed until we almost cried. Then we went to tell Jack about you; he was lonesome, too—poor Jack sick with a sore throat—and he said, ‘Why, those poor hens; they haven’t been fed since morning!’”
“Cock-a-doodle-do!” said the white rooster. “This comes of making the best of things. Cock-a-doodle-do!” And nobody asked him to stop his crowing.
Moral of the Story
Even in difficult circumstances, maintaining a positive attitude and making the best of things can lead to unexpected good fortune and improve the situation for everyone.
Characters
The Old Gray Goose ○ minor
A large, sturdy goose with a soft, downy body. Her feathers are a uniform, muted gray, suggesting age and experience. She has a long, flexible neck and webbed feet.
Attire: Natural gray feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To live peacefully and observe her surroundings.
Flaw: Passive, not a leader.
Remains consistent, a steady presence.
Observant, appreciative of simple beauty, content.
The Brown Hen ◆ supporting
A medium-sized hen with rich, earthy brown feathers covering her body. She has a plump, rounded build and strong legs.
Attire: Natural brown feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To be fed and comfortable, to participate in group activities.
Flaw: Easily swayed by hunger and discomfort, prone to moaning.
Transforms from grumbling and despondent to proud and musical, leading the group in song.
Initially discontent and prone to complaining, but easily cheered and capable of pride and enthusiasm.
The Pekin Duck ○ minor
A large, domestic duck with pristine white feathers, a stout body, and short legs. Its posture is somewhat upright.
Attire: Pristine white feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To satisfy hunger and thirst.
Flaw: Prone to complaining, lacks resilience.
Remains consistent in its fretful nature until joining the general cheer.
Fretful, easily discontent, focused on immediate physical needs.
The White Rooster ★ protagonist
A handsome, large rooster with striking white feathers that are well-groomed and lustrous. He has a proud, upright stance and strong, yellow legs.
Attire: Lustrous white feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To maintain a positive outlook, to cheer up his companions, to make the best of any situation.
Flaw: Perhaps a bit too jovial at times, potentially underestimating others' distress.
Remains consistent in his positive nature, successfully inspiring his community to overcome their discontent.
Jolly, good-natured, optimistic, resilient, a natural leader, witty.
The Daring Little White Bantam Rooster ◆ supporting
A small, compact rooster with bright white feathers, much smaller than the White Rooster. He has a feisty, strutting posture.
Attire: Bright white feathers, no clothing.
Wants: To express his discontent and assert himself, even against authority (the farmer's boy).
Flaw: Impulsive, prone to empty threats, easily frustrated.
Initially defiant and threatening, he is quickly disarmed by the White Rooster's wit.
Daring, defiant, hot-headed, prone to dramatic statements, easily frustrated by hunger.
The Little Girl ◆ supporting
A chubby child, small in stature. Her body is almost entirely obscured by thick, warm winter clothing.
Attire: Snugly bundled up in thick, warm winter clothing, likely a heavy wool coat, scarf, and hat, in colors appropriate for a child of the era (e.g., muted blues, reds, or browns).
Wants: To alleviate her own loneliness, to care for the animals, to share her joy.
Flaw: None explicitly shown.
Experiences a shift from loneliness to joy and then to compassionate action.
Kind, observant, empathetic, easily amused, responsible (in bringing food).
Locations
The Henhouse Interior
A cozy, enclosed wooden structure, likely a simple timber-framed barn or shed, with a window looking out onto the snowy farmyard. The interior is filled with perches, straw on the floor, and space for various fowl to gather. It feels somewhat cramped and initially discontented due to hunger, but later becomes lively with song.
Mood: Initially gloomy and fretful, transforming into cheerful and boisterous
The animals express their hunger and discontent, then the white rooster inspires them to sing, leading to their eventual feeding.
The Snowy Farmyard
A wide, open farmyard completely covered in freshly fallen snow, with every nook and corner blanketed in white. It is a cold winter day, and the wind howls around the buildings. Various farm animals like horses, cows, sheep, and pigs are present in their respective enclosures or barns, visible from the henhouse.
Mood: Bleak and desolate due to the weather, but later filled with the joyous sounds of singing animals
The setting for the broader chorus of animal singing, and where the children eventually emerge from.
Story DNA
Moral
Even in difficult circumstances, maintaining a positive attitude and making the best of things can lead to unexpected good fortune and improve the situation for everyone.
Plot Summary
On a cold, snowy day, the farm animals in the henhouse are hungry, thirsty, and deeply discontented after being forgotten by the farmer's boy. The cheerful white rooster tries to lift their spirits, encouraging them to focus on their blessings and suggesting they sing a merry song. Initially reluctant, the animals eventually join in, and their joyous chorus spreads to all the other farm animals. Drawn by the happy sounds, three children remember the neglected animals and bring them a warm meal, proving the white rooster's philosophy that making the best of things can lead to a positive outcome.
Themes
Emotional Arc
discontent to joy
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a time when children were more directly involved in farm work and daily animal care, and the concept of 'making the best of it' was a common virtue.
Plot Beats (13)
- The old gray goose and brown hen observe the snowy day, with the hen expressing a desire for food.
- Other animals in the henhouse, including a Pekin duck and speckled chickens, complain loudly about being hungry and thirsty, feeling neglected.
- The white rooster, always cheerful, notices their discontent and tries to lighten the mood.
- A bantam rooster challenges the white rooster, expressing anger at the farmer's boy and the lack of food.
- The white rooster calmly points out that they have other things to be grateful for, like shelter and space.
- The brown hen and other animals start to feel a little better, stretching their wings.
- The white rooster suggests they sing a merry song to pass the time, and the brown hen initiates the singing.
- All the henhouse animals join in the song, creating a loud and joyful chorus.
- Other farm animals (horses, cows, sheep, pigs, dogs) hear the music and join in the singing and barking.
- The animals become so engrossed in their music that they forget their hunger.
- Three children arrive at the henhouse door with steaming food for the chickens.
- The little girl explains that they heard the singing, which cheered them up, and reminded them that the animals hadn't been fed.
- The white rooster crows triumphantly, attributing their good fortune to making the best of things.
