EE-SZE (Meaning): Why have some more power than others? Only one knows.
Why have some longer life than others? Only one knows. Why do some try and
not succeed; while others do not try and yet they do succeed? Only one knows.
The Proud Chicken
A Widow named Hong-Mo lived in a little house near the market place. Every
year she raised many hundreds of chickens, which she sold to support herself
and her two children.
Each day the Chickens went to the fields near by and hunted bugs, rice, and
green things to eat.
The largest one was called the King of the Chickens, because of all the hundreds
in the flock he was the strongest. And for this reason he was the leader of them
all.
He led the flock to new places for food. He could crow the loudest, and as he
was the strongest, none dared oppose him in any way.
One day he said to the flock, "Let us go to the other side of the mountain near
the wilderness to-day, and hunt rice, wheat, corn, and wild silkworms. There is
not enough food here."
But the other Chickens said, "We are afraid to go so far. There are foxes and
eagles in the wilderness, and they will catch us."
The King of the Chickens said, "It is better that all the old hens and cowards stay
at home."
The King's secretary said, "I do not know fear. I will go with you."
Then they started away together.
When they had gone a little distance, the Secretary found a beetle, and just as he
was going to swallow it, the King flew at him in great anger, saying, "Beetles are
for kings, not for common chickens. Why did you not give it to me?" So they
fought together, and while they were fighting, the beetle ran away and hid under
the grass where he could not be found.