HOW TO BE A DUCK
Reading edition
"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 splashing! 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.
As they neared the barnyard Mrs. Duck turned and said:
"The hens will peck and fight, but mind, I hope that all of you Will gobble up the food as fast As well bred ducks should do."
The woman who took care of the poultry yard was already there. From a well filled pan she was scattering handfuls of corn in all directions. There were a great many chickens, who darted hither and thither, picking up the grains of corn. When the corn was all gone she set down a dish of food. No sooner had she done this than Mrs. Duck exclaimed:
"You'd better get into the dish Unless it is too small; In that case, I should use my foot And overturn it all." The ducklings did as they were bid, And found the plan so good That from that day the other fowls Got hardly any food.
"My, but she's a wise old duck," said Puss to himself with a grin.