The Old Woman and Her Maids

191. THE OLD WOMAN AND HER MAIDS A thrifty old Widow kept two Servant-Maids, whom she used to call up to their work at cock-crow. The Maids disliked exceedingly this early rising, and determined between themselves to wring off the Cock’s neck, as he was the cause of all their trouble by waking their mistress so early. They had no sooner done this, than the old lady missing her usual alarum, and afraid of oversleeping herself, continually mistook the time of day, and roused them up at midnight.
Too much cunning overreaches itself. [more info]