It was a bright, sunny day, and Little Rooster and Little Hen decided to go on an adventure. "Let’s go to Nut Mountain!" chirped Little Hen. "We can find the tastiest nuts there!"

So off they went. On Nut Mountain, Little Hen found a very big, yummy-looking nut. She was so excited, she tried to swallow it whole! Oh dear. The nut got stuck in her throat, and she couldn't breathe. Little Hen coughed and coughed, and then, she lay very still. She had choked and died.

Little Rooster was so, so sad. His best friend was gone! He cried big rooster tears. "I must take her home," he thought. So, he built a little cart with tiny wheels to carry Little Hen.

As he pulled the cart, a Duck waddled by. "Quack! Little Rooster, why do you look so sad?" asked the Duck.
"Oh, Duck," sobbed Little Rooster, "Little Hen choked on a nut and died."
The Duck felt very sorry. "I will come with you," she quacked, and hopped onto the cart.

Next, they met a Pin lying by the road. "Little Rooster, why are you pulling that cart with such a sad face?" asked the Pin.
"Oh, Pin," said Little Rooster, "Little Hen choked on a nut and died, and the Duck is coming with us."
"How sad!" said the Pin. "I will come too." And the Pin stuck itself onto the cart.

A little further on, a Needle was resting on a leaf. "Little Rooster, what's wrong? You look heartbroken!" said the Needle.
"Oh, Needle," sighed Little Rooster, "Little Hen choked on a nut and died. The Duck and the Pin are coming with us."
"That's terrible!" said the Needle. "I'll join you." And the Needle carefully placed itself on the cart.

Soon, they came to a big, round Millstone. "Hoo-rumph, Little Rooster!" rumbled the Millstone. "Why the long face and the little cart?"
"Oh, Millstone," said Little Rooster, his voice trembling, "Little Hen choked on a nut and died. The Duck, the Pin, and the Needle are all coming with me to say goodbye."
The Millstone felt a deep rumble of sadness. "I am very heavy, but I will come too," it said, and with a great effort, it rolled onto the cart. The cart creaked and groaned!

Finally, they reached a wide stream. There was no bridge! "How will we get across?" cried Little Rooster.
Just then, a long piece of Straw floated by. "I can help!" said the Straw. "I will lay myself across the stream, and you can all walk over me."

Little Rooster went first, carefully pulling the cart. The Duck waddled, the Pin and Needle were light. But when the heavy Millstone rolled onto the Straw... CRACK! The Straw snapped in two!
Splash! The Duck, the Pin, the Needle, and the Millstone all fell into the water and disappeared. Poor Little Hen, in her little cart, also tumbled into the stream.

Little Rooster managed to flutter to the other side, all alone. He was even sadder than before. He had lost Little Hen, and now all his new friends too. He found a quiet spot, dug a little hole, and buried the big nut that had caused all the trouble. And he missed his Little Hen every single day.

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