The Peacock & The Hen

A farmer had a hen and a peacock. The hen laid eggs every day and then wandered about the yard pecking after morsels of food. The peacock strutted about the farm and displayed its marvelous colors and feathers to all admirers who would pass by. The children fussed about the peacock and played with it and gave it attention each day.

With all the admiration and attention the peacock became very vain and strutted about the yard each day fanning its feathers about and enjoying life and the farm. As the hen came pecking past the peacock one day, the peacock said; “I am so glad I am a beautiful bird with many bright colors and a proud spread of feathers, and not a dull chicken like you who never gets attention.” Then it strutted away again displaying its wondrous fan of feathers to the world once more. The hen just shrugged and kept on pecking away at tidbits in the dirt.

But one day hard economic times hit the farmer and his family, and they forced to start cutting costs around the farm. One of the first things to go was the splendid peacock who was sold to old lady in town, “Because,” said the farmer, “The bird only eats, and produces nothing. It is only a luxury and brings nothing into the coffers.”

And so the hen alone was left with a few other chickens and it continued to lay eggs, feed at the tray, and went pecking about the yard. It was never bothered by the vain peacock again. “Because,” said the farmer “A chicken is handy to have about, as it has a practical use in laying eggs.” Beauty will not make the pot boil.