A prickly blackberry leaf placed directly over Pokey 's nose caused her to sneeze so violently that her little legs flew into the air ; Jamie gave a startled `` Ow ! '' and the pitying fowls fled giggling . After some discussion it was decided that the syllable must be `` strew or strow '' and then they waited to see if it was a good guess . This scene discovered Annette Snow in bed , evidently very ill ; Miss Jenny was her anxious mamma , and her merry conversation amused the audience till Mac came in as a physician , and made great fun with his big watch , pompous manner , and absurd questions . He prescribed one pellet with an unpronounceable name , and left after demanding twenty dollars for his brief visit . The pellet was administered , and such awful agonies immediately set in that the distracted mamma bade a sympathetic neighbour run for Mother Know-all . The neighbour ran , and in came a brisk little old lady in cap and specs , with a bundle of herbs under her arm , which she at once applied in all sorts of funny ways , explaining their virtues as she clapped a plantain poultice here , put a pounded catnip plaster there , or tied a couple of mullein leaves round the sufferer 's throat . Instant relief ensued , the dying child sat up and demanded baked beans . The grateful parent offered fifty dollars ; but Mother Know-all indignantly refused it and went smiling away , declaring that a neighbourly turn needed no reward , and a doctor 's fee was all a humbug . The audience were in fits of laughter over this scene , for Rose imitated Mrs. Atkinson capitally , and the herb cure was a good hit at the excellent lady 's belief that `` yarbs '' would save mankind if properly applied . No one enjoyed it more than herself , and the saucy children prepared for the grand finale in high feather . This closing scene was brief but striking , for two trains of cars whizzed in from opposite sides , met with a terrible collision in the middle of the stage , and a general smash-up completed the word catastrophe . `` Now let us act a proverb . I 've got one all ready , '' said Rose , who was dying to distinguish herself in some way before Uncle Alec . So everyone but Mac , the gay Westerner , and Rose , took their places on the rocky seats and discussed the late beautiful and varied charade , in which Pokey frankly pronounced her own scene the `` bestest of all . '' In five minutes the curtain was lifted ; nothing appeared but a very large sheet of brown paper pinned to a tree , and on it was drawn a clock-face , the hands pointing to four . A small note below informed the public that 4 A.M. was the time . Hardly had the audience grasped this important fact when a long waterproof serpent was seen uncoiling itself from behind a stump . An inch-worm , perhaps , would be a better description , for it travelled in the same humpy way as that pleasing reptile . Suddenly a very wide-awake and active fowl advanced , pecking , chirping , and scratching vigorously .
A tuft of green leaves waved upon his crest , a larger tuft of brakes XXXXX an umbrageous tail , and a shawl of many colours formed his flapping wings .
administered appeared came clapped imitated made set strow took whizzed