LITTLE DUCK

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

LITTLE DUCK

Just on the edge of the big woods was a little pond and just on the edge of the pond was a little white house with a red chimney and green shutters. In the little white house lived Grampa Ducfc Daddy Duck, Mummy Duck, and Little Duck, all four in the little white house. . "•'

: One spring morning early Grampa Duck was going to see an old friend, Daddy Duck was going to the post office, and Mummy Duck was going to market. Little Duck .was to stay at home all alone and be good. "Now, Little Duck, play near the house, swim round in .the pond, but don't go into the woods. The big animals live in the woods and Busty Fox likes little fat ducks to eat. So, don't go into the woods,' said Mummy Duck. „ • . ~ "No, ma'iria," said Little Duck. "Don't go into, the woods," said Grampa Duck. "No, sir," said Littfe, Duck. "Don't go into the woods," said Daddy Duck. _ . "No, sir," said Little Duck. And they all went waddling down the road, leaving Little Duck teetering on his toes and planning to be good. , „ Little Duck played all round the house and swam all round the pond. Then he dried himself in the sun and straightened his feathers. It was a long morning. The shadows in the woods were blue and cool and sprinkled with yellow flowers. Little Duck teetered on his toes. Then he teetered on his toes again.

Which is the quickest way to Dover? Cross off the "D" and you're over. —MAY -LANG (aged 11), Amberley.

I have just come home from a holiday at Little River. I had a lovely time "bathing and climbing. One day I found some mushrooms and saw some big ones across the creek. I jumped on to a slippery stepping stone and fell:in, but I didn't get* very wet j -»*PHNE PEPPER, * 29 Bilgiw road. I .' Y,^* n *hULs»

i "I'd like some of those flowers for a chain," he said. "They are right on the edge of the wood and I could get them." Off padded Little Duck right over to the yellow flowers in the blue shadows of the trees. He picked and he picked and he picked right through the blue shadows into the big woods. "Well, that's enough for a short chain," said Little Duck, looking round for another patch of flowers. And there he fountf himself in the big woods and he could not see one bit of the little white house or of the pond. "Oh well, I don't care," said he. "I need more flowers for a long chain." Off he padded to another patch of yellow flowers and picked and picked and picked. ,"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed a big voice just behind him. He jumped. round and there stood. Rusty Fox j with a purple bag over his shoulder. ! "Ha, ha, ha!" cried he. "Just the j little fat duckling I need for my ' supper to-night. Into the bag with you," and he plopped Little Duck J right into the purple bag. : "Quack, quack," said Little Duck, ! but there was no one to hear him. "Oh, I wish I hadn't gone into the \ big woods," he said. Then, what does Rusty Fox do but turn right round and run joggity-jog back through the big woods toward the little white house. "Maybe there are some other little fat ducks about, and I shall catch them here, too," said Rusty Fox. Just then up the road came Grampa Duck, Daddy Duck, and Mummy Duck, all three, back from their errands. They saw Rusty Fox peeping in the windows, and they saw the purple bag with some- [ thing wriggling in it. 1 "Where is Little Duck?" cried i Daddy Duck. | "Something has happened to, 'him,* cried Mummy Duck. | ■ •'He's in the bag." said Grampa I Duck. They all looked at the purple bag and did not know what to do. There was Rusty Fox peeking in the windows and getting crosser and crosser because he could not -find any little ducks.

In the holidays I went to the beach and I saw some jelly fish.. I had some ice-creams, too, but they Were cold. On February 1 I went to a party and I had my hair curled. —Tin JAMES, ' 2 Broadhent street ■- * -

"I have a plan." said Grampa Duck, and he whispered to the others. They all nodded and looked at Rusty Fox and looked at the purple bag with something wriggling in it and nodded again. Just then Rusty Fox. with a very cross look on his face, turned round and spied the three ducks nodding together. "Ha. ha. ha!" cried he. "Three fat ducks for my dinners—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday." Just then Mummy Duck ran waddling out to the purple bag, and as she passed by, she said, "Quack, quack, quack," which meant. "Keep still and be ready," and off she ran toward the pond. Of course Rusty Fox began to chase her, but Mummy Duck ran as fast as she could and jumped right into the water and paddled out into the pond. Rusty Fox looked very angry. "There .goes Tuesday's dinner, but I have two other fat ducks." Then Grampa Duck waddled out to the bag and as he passed by, he said, "Quack, quack, quack," Which meant, "Creep up to the opening and be ready," and off he rah toward the pond. Rusty Fox began to chase him, but Grampa Duck ran as fast as he could and jumped right into the water and paddled out into the pond. Rusty Fox looked angrier still. "There goes Monday's dinner, but I have the other fat duck." - And Daddy Duck waddled out to the purple beg, and as he passed

HOW COULD HE?

Twelve pears hung upon a tree, Twelve nights a man goes rid* ing by. Each night he took a pear And yet he left eleven there. The man who took the pear was Mr Eachnight. -JOAN COMER, A.8.H., My pony's name is Silver Tail. Two years ago she won a prize in the Rangiora Show. She is dapple grey and stands about four fecp high* * COUP,

by, he said, "Quack, quick, quack, which meant. "When I tun away, you run quick to the pond." And off he ran as fast as he could towards the pond. Rusty Fox chased him. Little Duck right away crept out of the sack and waddled as fast as he could down towards the pond. Mummy Duck and Grampa Duck said, "Quick, quick, quack," which meant, "Hurry up, hurry up!:' And Daddy Duck jumped into the pond and Little Duck jumped into the pondouid they paddled out into the water. Rusty Fox stared at them in surprise. All his dinners gone! The four ducks paddled round together and said, "Quuck,

quuck, quuck," which is ducklaughing.* « ' ." « . Rusty Fox tossed his head, picked • tip his purple bag and said, "I •wouldn't. eat such skinny tough ducks for anything," and off he marched. Little Duck crept up .to Mummy : puck* M Ob, Til new go into the big jrood* againf- —-<