There was once a great big chestnut tree growing in a field where a lot of hens and chickens lived. One day a little yellow chicken called Chicky-Wicky was standing under the tree, and a prickly green chestnut fell plop  on to her back.

"Oh," thought Chicky-Wicky, "the sky is falling! I must run and tell everyone!"

So she ran, and she ran, until she met a pretty speckled hen called Henny-Penny.

"Henny-Penny," cried Chicky-Wicky, all out of breath, "I feel so  excited, the sky is tumbling down! A piece of it fell on my back just now!"

"We must let the King know about this at once," returned Henny-Penny.

So she and Chicky-Wicky ran, and ran, until they met Ducky-Wucky.

"Ducky-Wucky," cried Henny-Penny, "the sky is tumbling down—a piece of it fell on Chicky-Wicky's back just now—and we're going to tell the King."

"I'm coming too," said Ducky-Wucky.

And the three birds ran, and ran, till they met Goosey-Woosey.

"Goosey-Woosey," cried Henny-Penny, "the sky is tumbling down—a piece of it fell on Chicky-Wicky's back—and we're all on our way to tell the King about it."

"I'm coming too," said Goosey-Woosey.

And the four birds ran, and ran, until they met Turkey-Wurkey.

"Turkey-Wurkey," cried Henny-Penny, "haven't you heard the news? The sky is tumbling down—a great big piece of it fell on Chicky-Wicky's back—and we are on our way to let the King know about it."

"I'm coming too," said Turkey-Wurkey.

And the five birds ran, and ran, till they met Foxy-Woxy.

"Foxy-Woxy," cried Henny-Penny, "the sky is tumbling down—a great big piece fell on Chicky-Wicky just now—and we are all on our way to tell the King about it!"

"Dear me," said Foxy-Woxy, "I am sure his Majesty will be much interested. Do you know where he lives?"

"Oh, yes," said Henny-Penny, "he lives in a silver castle with a roof of gold!"

"Oh, no," returned Foxy-Woxy, "not at all—you are quite  mistaken, Henny-Penny. He lives in a beautiful palace underground. I often go to see him there. So I know the way well."

"Oh, do show us  the way!" cried the five birds.

"With pleasure," said Foxy-Woxy, smiling under his red whiskers. "It's quite near here. All you have to do is to keep close behind me, and follow where I lead."

So the five birds and Foxy-Woxy ran, and ran, till they came to Foxy-Woxy's own deep hole in the side of the hill.

"This is the way," said Foxy-Woxy; and Chicky-Wicky, and Henny-Penny, and Ducky-Wucky, and Goosey-Woosey, and Turkey-Wurkey all kept close behind him, and followed where he led, as he had told them to.

And Foxy-Woxy led them into his own deep hole in the side of the hill, and I am sorry to say that not one of them ever came out again.