Puss Junior and Robinson Crusoe Part 10

"There is a quiet little stream, That runs into the moat, Where tall green sedges spread their leaves And water lilies float."

"Close by the margin of the brook The old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered gra.s.s, And down from her own breast."

"And there she sat for four long weeks, In rainy days and fine, Until the ducklings all came out-- Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine."

"So this is your home," said Puss, Junior, as Mrs. Duck stepped into her nest, followed by her brood.

"One peeped out from beneath her wing, One scrambled on her back; "That's very rude," said old Mrs. Duck; "Get off! quack, quack, quack, quack!"

"What do you do when it rains?" asked Puss, Junior.

"What do we do when it rains?" repeated Mrs. Duck, "why, what do you suppose a duck's feathers are good for? They shed the water as well as a barn roof. Yes, even better, for feathers are water-proof and s.h.i.+ngles are not."

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"Well, my good Mrs. Duck, of course it's all right for you and your family, but should it rain, what would I do? I couldn't possibly crawl under your wings."

"Not very well," laughed Mrs. Duck.

"But it's not going to rain," cried one little duck, peering out from between her feathers. "I know it's not going to rain, for there isn't a cloud in the sky."

Then all the little ducklings poked their heads out and cried, "It's not going to rain, it's not going to rain!"

"If it should, and there's no telling lately, for the weather has been so unsettled, I could take you up to the barnyard and introduce you to Molly Head," said Mrs. Duck, turning to Puss, Junior. "She has charge of all the poultry and is a very kind woman, very kind indeed."

"If I knew where to buy an umbrella," said Puss, after a pause, "I wouldn't mind a little shower, but you know how a cat hates to get wet."

"Yes, they make as much fuss over a little water as a hen does," laughed good Mrs. Duck.

A LESSON IN WADDLING

PUSS, JUNIOR, was very tired with his journey, so he cuddled up in the long gra.s.s close to Mrs. Duck's nest and he was soon fast asleep. Then Mrs. Duck tucked in her yellow ducklings and they were soon dreaming of nice fat worms and little silver fishes. By and by Mrs. Duck closed first one eye and then the other, and pretty soon she was asleep.

The wind played little lullabys in the tall gra.s.s and the brook close by murmured over its pebbly bottom. The crickets in the meadow made sleepy little noises, so that it must have been over an hour before anybody woke up.

"'Tis close," said Mrs. Duck, shoving out The eggsh.e.l.ls with her bill, "Besides, it never suits young ducks To keep them sitting still."

So, rising from her nest, she said, "Now, children, look at me: A well bred duck should waddle so, From side to side--d'ye see?"

"I'll play duck too," said Puss, jumping to his feet and imitating Mrs.

Duck. The ducklings looked at Puss in wonder.

"He'd make a fine duck," said one little duckling.

"If he had feathers instead of fur," laughed Mrs. Duck.

"If he had yellow stockings like ours," said another duckling, "instead of red-topped boots."

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"Stop your quacking," cried Mrs. Duck. "Did you hear what I said about waddling just now?"

"Yes," said the little ones, and then She went on to explain: "A well bred duck turns in his toes As I do--try again."

Puss, Junior, turned in his toes exactly the way they did, which made them laugh; even Mrs. Duck chuckled. "Look out," she cried, "or Puss, Junior, will do it better than you."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Puss with a grin.

"Won't you try to do better?" said Mrs. Duck, turning to her brood with an anxious expression on her kind face.

"Yes," said the Ducklings, waddling on, "That's better," said their mother; "But well bred ducks walk in a row, Straight, one behind the other."

"I wish I had a drum," cried Puss, "I'd beat time. We could make believe we were soldiers." But Mrs. Duck did not answer. "Do your best," she said to her little brood.

"Yes," said the little ducks again, All waddling in a row.

"Now to the pond," said old Mrs. Duck.

Splash, splas.h.!.+ and in they go.

"I wish I could swim," cried Puss; "it looks like great sport!"

HOW TO BE A DUCK

"LET me swim first," said old Mrs. Duck, "To this side, now to that; There, snap at those great brown-winged flies, They make young ducklings fat."

"See who can swim the fastest," cried Puss. "Why don't you have a race?"

The nine little ducklings stopped.

"Line up in a row," cried Puss, "and when I cry 'Go!' swim as fast as you can, and the one who reaches this bank first wins. I'll give a bright penny to the winner."

All the ducklings arranged themselves in a row, and when Puss cried "One, two, three, go!" they paddled away as hard as they could. Back and forth went their little yellow feet. Such a splas.h.i.+ng! Nearer and nearer they came. One little duck flapped his wings upon the water and in this way managed to get ahead. He was the first to land.

"Here is your penny," cried Puss.

"What can I do with it, mother?" he asked.

"You can get a stick of candy to-morrow," replied his mother. "Not this afternoon, for it is time now to go home to the farm.

"Now when you reach the poultry yard The hen-wife, Molly Head, Will feed you with the other fowls On bran and mashed-up bread."

Mrs. Duck came out of the water and shook herself well, sending quite a shower of water in little drops all about her. Puss jumped back to avoid a shower bath. The ducklings stood up on their toes and flapped their small wings. Then off they all went, Mrs. Duck in the lead. Puss followed behind, taking care not to step on the yellow toes of the last duckling.