The Half-chick
by Andrew Lang · from The Green Fairy Book
Adapted Version
Once, a mother hen had Medio Pollito. He was not the same. He had one leg, one wing, one eye.
Medio Pollito did not always listen. He liked to hop away and hide.
One day, he went to his mother. "I am tired of this farm," he said. "I am going to Madrid to see the King!"
His mother was worried. "That is a long way," she said. "Please stay home with me." But Medio Pollito did not listen. He hopped away down the road.
"Be kind to all," his mother called. But he was in a big hurry.
He passed a stream. The stream was stuck. "Help me, please," said the stream. "I am stuck with these weeds."
"I am too busy," said Medio Pollito. "I am going to Madrid to see the King!" He hopped away.
He passed a small fire. The fire was cold. "Help me, please," said the fire. "I need sticks to be warm."
"I am too busy," said Medio Pollito. "I am going to Madrid to see the King!" He hopped away.
He passed a big tree. The wind was stuck in the branches. "Help me, please," said the wind. "I am stuck and cannot get free."
"You got yourself stuck," said Medio Pollito. "I am going to Madrid to see the King!" He hopped away gladly.
He saw the city of Madrid. A cook saw him from a window. "I need a chicken for soup," said the cook. The cook took Medio Pollito.
The cook put him in a pot of water. The water splashed him. "Water, please do not splash me!" he cried.
"Ah," said the water. "You did not help me when I was a stream." Medio Pollito thought of the stream.
Then the pot got hot. "Fire, please do not get so hot!" he cried.
"Ah," said the fire. "You did not help me when I was cold." Medio Pollito thought of the fire.
The cook looked in the pot. "This chicken is all burnt," he said. He threw Medio Pollito out the window.
The wind caught him. "Wind, please do not blow so fast!" he cried.
"Ah," said the wind. "You did not help me when I was stuck." Medio Pollito thought of the tree.
The wind blew him to the top of a church. He is there today. He is a wind vane on the steeple. He stands on one leg and looks over the town.
Being kind helps others. Being selfish can make you sad and stuck.
Original Story
THE HALF-CHICK
Once upon a time there was a handsome black Spanish hen, who had a large
brood of chickens. They were all fine, plump little birds, except the
youngest, who was quite unlike his brothers and sisters. Indeed, he was
such a strange, queer-looking creature, that when he first chipped his
shell his mother could scarcely believe her eyes, he was so different
from the twelve other fluffy, downy, soft little chicks who nestled
under her wings. This one looked just as if he had been cut in two. He
had only one leg, and one wing, and one eye, and he had half a head and
half a beak. His mother shook her head sadly as she looked at him and
said:
'My youngest born is only a half-chick. He can never grow up a tall
handsome cock like his brothers. They will go out into the world and
rule over poultry yards of their own; but this poor little fellow will
always have to stay at home with his mother.' And she called him Medio
Pollito, which is Spanish for half-chick.
Now though Medio Pollito was such an odd, helpless-looking little thing,
his mother soon found that he was not at all willing to remain under her
wing and protection. Indeed, in character he was as unlike his brothers
and sisters as he was in appearance. They were good, obedient chickens,
and when the old hen chicked after them, they chirped and ran back to
her side. But Medio Pollito had a roving spirit in spite of his one leg,
and when his mother called to him to return to the coop, he pretended
that he could not hear, because he had only one ear.
When she took the whole family out for a walk in the fields, Medio
Pollito would hop away by himself, and hide among the Indian corn. Many
an anxious minute his brothers and sisters had looking for him, while
his mother ran to and fro cackling in fear and dismay.
As he grew older he became more self-willed and disobedient, and his
manner to his mother was often very rude, and his temper to the other
chickens very disagreeable.
One day he had been out for a longer expedition than usual in the
fields. On his return he strutted up to his mother with the peculiar
little hop and kick which was his way of walking, and cocking his one
eye at her in a very bold way he said:
'Mother, I am tired of this life in a dull farmyard, with nothing but a
dreary maize field to look at. I'm off to Madrid to see the King.'
'To Madrid, Medio Pollito!' exclaimed his mother; 'why, you silly chick,
it would be a long journey for a grown-up cock, and a poor little thing
like you would be tired out before you had gone half the distance. No,
no, stay at home with your mother, and some day, when you are bigger, we
will go a little journey together.'
But Medio Pollito had made up his mind, and he would not listen to his
mother's advice, nor to the prayers and entreaties of his brothers and
sisters.
'What is the use of our all crowding each other up in this poky little
place?' he said. 'When I have a fine courtyard of my own at the King's
palace, I shall perhaps ask some of you to come and pay me a short
visit,' and scarcely waiting to say good-bye to his family, away he
stumped down the high road that led to Madrid.
'Be sure that you are kind and civil to everyone you meet,' called his
mother, running after him; but he was in such a hurry to be off, that he
did not wait to answer her, or even to look back.
A little later in the day, as he was taking a short cut through a field,
he passed a stream. Now the stream was all choked up, and overgrown with
weeds and water-plants, so that its waters could not flow freely.
'Oh! Medio Pollito,' it cried, as the half-chick hopped along its banks,
'do come and help me by clearing away these weeds.'
'Help you, indeed!' exclaimed Medio Pollito, tossing his head, and
shaking the few feathers in his tail. 'Do you think I have nothing to do
but to waste my time on such trifles? Help yourself, and don't trouble
busy travellers. I am off to Madrid to see the King,' and hoppity-kick,
hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito.
A little later he came to a fire that had been left by some gipsies in
a wood. It was burning very low, and would soon be out.
'Oh! Medio Pollito,' cried the fire, in a weak, wavering voice as the
half-chick approached, 'in a few minutes I shall go quite out, unless
you put some sticks and dry leaves upon me. Do help me, or I shall die!'
'Help you, indeed!' answered Medio Pollito. 'I have other things to do.
Gather sticks for yourself, and don't trouble me. I am off to Madrid to
see the King,' and hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio
Pollito.
The next morning, as he was getting near Madrid, he passed a large
chestnut tree, in whose branches the wind was caught and entangled. 'Oh!
Medio Pollito,' called the wind, 'do hop up here, and help me to get
free of these branches. I cannot come away, and it is so uncomfortable.'
'It is your own fault for going there,' answered Medio Pollito. 'I can't
waste all my morning stopping here to help you. Just shake yourself off,
and don't hinder me, for I am off to Madrid to see the King,' and
hoppity-kick, hoppity-kick, away stumped Medio Pollito in great glee,
for the towers and roofs of Madrid were now in sight. When he entered
the town he saw before him a great splendid house, with soldiers
standing before the gates. This he knew must be the King's palace, and
he determined to hop up to the front gate and wait there until the King
came out. But as he was hopping past one of the back windows the King's
cook saw him:
'Here is the very thing I want,' he exclaimed, 'for the King has just
sent a message to say that he must have chicken broth for his dinner,'
and opening the window he stretched out his arm, caught Medio Pollito,
and popped him into the broth-pot that was standing near the fire. Oh!
how wet and clammy the water felt as it went over Medio Pollito's head,
making his feathers cling to his side.
'Water, water!' he cried in his despair, 'do have pity upon me, and do
not wet me like this.'
'Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the water, 'you would not help me when I
was a little stream away on the fields, now you must be punished.'
Then the fire began to burn and scald Medio Pollito, and he danced and
hopped from one side of the pot to the other, trying to get away from
the heat, and crying out in pain:
'Fire, fire! do not scorch me like this; you can't think how it hurts.'
'Ah! Medio Pollito,' answered the fire, 'you would not help me when I
was dying away in the wood. You are being punished.'
At last, just when the pain was so great that Medio Pollito thought he
must die, the cook lifted up the lid of the pot to see if the broth was
ready for the King's dinner.
'Look here!' he cried in horror, 'this chicken is quite useless.
It is burnt to a cinder. I can't send it up to the royal table;' and
opening the window he threw Medio Pollito out into the street. But the
wind caught him up, and whirled him through the air so quickly that
Medio Pollito could scarcely breathe, and his heart beat against his
side till he thought it would break.
[Illustration]
'Oh, wind!' at last he gasped out, 'if you hurry me along like this you
will kill me. Do let me rest a moment, or----' but he was so breathless
that he could not finish his sentence.
'Ah! Medio Pollito,' replied the wind, 'when I was caught in the
branches of the chestnut tree you would not help me; now you are
punished.' And he swirled Medio Pollito over the roofs of the houses
till they reached the highest church in the town, and there he left him
fastened to the top of the steeple.
And there stands Medio Pollito to this day. And if you go to Madrid, and
walk through the streets till you come to the highest church, you will
see Medio Pollito perched on his one leg on the steeple, with his one
wing drooping at his side, and gazing sadly out of his one eye over the
town.
Spanish Tradition.
Story DNA
Moral
Selfishness and a refusal to help others will eventually lead to one's own downfall and suffering.
Plot Summary
Medio Pollito, a disobedient and half-formed chick, leaves his home for Madrid against his mother's wishes. Along the way, he encounters a choked stream, a dying fire, and a trapped wind, refusing to help any of them. Upon reaching Madrid, he is caught by the King's cook and thrown into a pot, where the water and fire torment him, mirroring his earlier refusals. Finally, he is discarded and caught by the wind, which carries him to a church steeple, transforming him into a weathercock, forever stuck and gazing sadly over the city as a consequence of his selfishness.
Themes
Emotional Arc
pride to suffering
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects traditional values of obedience, community, and the consequences of pride, common in many European folk traditions.
Plot Beats (15)
- A black Spanish hen hatches a brood, including a strange, half-formed chick named Medio Pollito.
- Medio Pollito is disobedient and self-willed, ignoring his mother's calls and wandering off.
- He announces his intention to go to Madrid to see the King, despite his mother's warnings and family's pleas.
- Medio Pollito leaves, ignoring his mother's advice to be kind and civil.
- He encounters a choked stream and refuses to help clear its weeds, stating he's too busy for such trifles.
- He encounters a dying fire and refuses to add sticks, telling it to help itself.
- Near Madrid, he encounters the wind caught in a chestnut tree and refuses to free it, blaming the wind for its predicament.
- Upon arriving in Madrid, he is spotted by the King's cook, who needs a chicken for broth.
- Medio Pollito is captured and put into a pot of water.
- The water scalds him, reminding him of his refusal to help the stream.
- The fire burns him, reminding him of his refusal to help the dying fire.
- The cook finds him burnt to a cinder and throws him out the window.
- The wind catches Medio Pollito, reminding him of his past refusal to help.
- The wind carries him to the highest church steeple and leaves him there, transformed into a weathercock.
- Medio Pollito remains on the steeple to this day, a sad, permanent fixture.
Characters
Medio Pollito ★ protagonist
Half a chick: one leg, one wing, one eye, half a head and beak
Attire: Downy yellow feathers, sparse tail feathers
Self-willed, disobedient, rude, selfish
Image Prompt & Upload
A small child-sized figure with the head and wings of a fluffy yellow chick, but a human child's body wearing a tiny red vest and brown trousers. The chick head has large, curious black eyes and a small orange beak, slightly tilted in a questioning expression. The left wing is raised slightly as if gesturing, showing soft downy feathers. The posture is upright but slightly off-balance, standing on two small human feet in simple leather shoes. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Mother Hen ◆ supporting
Handsome black Spanish hen, plump
Attire: Typical hen plumage
Anxious, caring, maternal
Image Prompt & Upload
A mature woman with a kind, round face and warm brown eyes, her graying hair neatly pinned up in a bun. She wears a practical, faded blue dress with a white apron tied at the waist. Her posture is upright and welcoming, with her arms slightly outstretched as if ready to gather someone in a comforting hug. She has a gentle, reassuring smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Stream ◆ supporting
Choked up with weeds and water-plants, unable to flow freely
Helpless, pleading
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her early twenties with a serene and gentle expression, her posture relaxed yet attentive as if ready to offer comfort. She has long, flowing hair the color of dark river water, adorned with small, clear crystals that catch the light. She wears a simple, elegant gown of layered silks in shades of soft blue and seafoam green, the fabric seeming to ripple like a current. Her hands are held softly before her, palms up in a gesture of quiet offering. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Fire ◆ supporting
Burning low, about to go out
Weak, wavering, desperate
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult with warm, amber eyes and shoulder-length auburn hair streaked with fiery orange highlights, like glowing embers. They have a determined yet gentle expression. They are wearing a layered outfit of deep red and burnt orange fabrics, with subtle flame-like embroidery along the edges of a fitted vest over a loose shirt. Their posture is alert but not aggressive, one hand slightly raised as if tending to a small, contained flame. They stand at the edge of a twilight forest clearing. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Wind ◆ supporting
Caught and entangled in the branches of a chestnut tree
Uncomfortable, trapped, vengeful
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult figure with an ethereal, androgynous appearance, appearing as if formed from gentle breezes. Long, flowing hair of pale silver whips dynamically around their head and shoulders. They wear layered, lightweight robes in shades of pale blue and white that billow and swirl as if caught in a constant, soft gale. Their expression is calm and focused, with a slight, knowing smile. They stand in a gentle, supportive pose, one hand extended forward as if guiding something unseen, while the other rests near their heart. Their posture is upright yet fluid. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
King's Cook ○ minor
Not described, but likely stout from his profession
Attire: White apron, cook's uniform
Opportunistic, practical
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged man with a kind, round face and warm smile, wearing a tall white chef's hat and a clean white apron with gold trim over simple brown tunic and trousers. He holds a large wooden spoon, standing proudly in a relaxed pose. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Farmyard
Dull, with a dreary maize field nearby
Mood: boring, safe
Medio Pollito expresses his desire to leave for Madrid
Image Prompt & Upload
Overcast dusk settles over a neglected farmyard, casting flat, grey light on weathered wooden fences and a dilapidated barn with peeling red paint. The ground is patchy with dry dirt and overgrown weeds. A dreary, withered maize field stretches to the horizon, the stalks dry, brown, and brittle under a heavy, colorless sky. The atmosphere is still, silent, and melancholic, with muted tones of grey, brown, and desaturated green. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Choked Stream
Overgrown with weeds and water-plants, preventing the water from flowing freely
Mood: distressed
Medio Pollito refuses to help the stream
Image Prompt & Upload
A murky, stagnant stream choked with dense overgrowth of cattails, bulrushes, and tangled waterweeds in various shades of deep green and brown. Thick layers of duckweed and algae coat the water's surface, creating a still, mirror-like reflection of the overcast twilight sky. Fallen branches and decomposing logs are half-submerged, wrapped in creeping ivy and moss. The banks are crowded with wild ferns, brambles, and drooping willow branches that hang low into the sluggish water. Mist rises gently from the tepid surface, diffusing the dim golden light of a setting sun barely visible through heavy clouds. The water, where visible between the plants, appears dark and tea-colored, barely moving. Small mushrooms grow on rotting wood near the water's edge. The atmosphere feels humid, heavy, and silent except for the implied presence of hidden creatures beneath the vegetation. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Dying Fire in the Woods
Burning low, about to go out without more fuel
Mood: desperate
Medio Pollito refuses to help the fire
Image Prompt & Upload
A dying campfire in a dark, ancient forest at midnight. The last embers glow weakly in a small stone ring, casting a faint, warm orange light on the surrounding moss and fallen leaves. Thin wisps of grey smoke curl upwards into the cold, still air. The surrounding woods are dense with towering, shadowy pine trees, their trunks lost in deep blue-black darkness. The ground is damp with dew, and a gentle mist hangs low between the roots. The only light is the fire's feeble pulse, creating a small pool of fading warmth in the vast, silent, and cool-toned wilderness. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
King's Kitchen
A broth-pot standing near the fire
Mood: dangerous, scalding
Medio Pollito is caught and thrown into the broth-pot
Image Prompt & Upload
In the grand, shadowed kitchen of a forgotten castle, a massive black iron broth-pot hangs over a roaring stone hearth. The fire casts a warm, flickering glow across the flagstone floor, illuminating swirling steam that rises from the simmering, golden broth. Copper pots and dried herbs dangle from the dark, timber-beamed ceiling. The atmosphere is cozy and ancient, with the deep orange light contrasting against cool blue shadows in the corners. Evening light filters through a high, arched window, dust motes dancing in the beams. Rich colors of firelight, aged wood, and dark iron dominate the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration
Church Steeple in Madrid
The highest church in town, with Medio Pollito perched on top
Mood: lonely, exposed
Medio Pollito is placed on the steeple by the wind as punishment
Image Prompt & Upload
Sunset bathes Madrid's tallest church steeple in golden light, its intricate baroque spire piercing a sky of tangerine and lavender. Below, a labyrinth of terracotta rooftops and narrow cobblestone streets glow warmly. The steeple's weathered stone facade is detailed with carved saints and gargoyles, its peak adorned with a simple iron weather vane. A few early stars glimmer above, while the last rays of sun catch the gilded cross, casting a long, dramatic shadow across the plaza below. The atmosphere is serene and majestic, with a soft, warm breeze suggested by the gentle sway of a lone cypress tree in a distant courtyard. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
