GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 107, 9 May 1927, Page 12

GOOD-NIGHT STORIES.

MRS. ""WADDLE DUCK Ccfc>D LESSON.

tIoML by for "PETER

The greatest sport Mrs. Waddle had was going down to the old millpond and frightening the baby green frogs who lived there with their mamma and daddy. It was all very, wejl for Mrs. Waddle Duck to go hunting green frogs when she was hungry, but when she learned that' old Red' Fox was on her trail she became very much excited.

"The very idea!" 6he quacked to her family of te: "Why doesn't he go down to the pond and catch frogs like I do? Why should he try to catch me when I have a family to support?" She wiped her eyes with her little white apron. "You children stay right here under the , bushes and I'll go down to tho millpond for a few frogs for your supper. Old Red Fox isn't up for the night yet, and he'll never know I'm down there." | "Do be careful, motner," cried the wee baby ducks, waving goodbye to their mama. Mrs. Waddle Duck was very careful not to make any noise to awaken old Red Fox, should he be sleeping under the bushes. Hurrying down to the old millpond, she waded into the water.. Old Croaker, Green Frog heard her and gave a loud, croak. , "Get out of here and go home, or Red Fox will eat you alive. ' He's not very far away from here." "*ou can't fool me, Mr, Croaker Green Frog," quacked Mrs. Waddle Duck in a whisper. "I've been so quiet he doesn't know. I'm here. My babies are hungry waiting for me." "Catch some of my relatives so they, can be satisfied!" said Mr. Croaker Green Jumped into the water from the log he had been sitting on to warn the baby frogs of the danger they were in. "Please don't make so much noise, Mr. Frog," cried Mrs. Waddle Duck, all excited. "Red Fox will hear you and come and eat me up.- ,

"It works both ways," croaked Croaker Green Frog. "If Bed Fox devours you, then my relatives won't have to worry about you Ating them. If it's bad business for you to be eaten, then it's bad business for you to try to eat us. Once more he plunged into the water \rith more noise than ever. Mrs. Waddle Duck was so frightened she couldn't swim or run. She crept under the low-hanging bushes just as old Red Fox, his eyes still full of sleep, came ambling up to see what the noise was about. . . ,

"Nbtßing "But me takfiig mywterelse,'* " "TliougtiV* it Waddle' Duck fishing," laughed Red Fox. "•'Well, go on \yitfa-yojjr ,ez«rci«fi§. T pld Waddle thrtic Mdm? ■> J

"Thanks, Red Fox," croaked Green Frog. He jumped back into the water Several* times 1 beforfc he had made a mistake, turned and ran away into the woods. "Get back to vour babies as fast as you can," croaked Green Frog. "And don't you ever come to the old miUpond to eat my relatives."

"I give you my word of honour I never will eat from ' the ' millpond," quacked Waddle Duck, and "thanking Green Frog for having saved her life, she, hurried back to the bush where her children were hiding. Dressing them quickly, she moved back to .the -barnyard. That was the last time Mrs. Waddle Duck ever went hunting for green frogs.