STEPHENS DUCK

Evening Star, Issue 23421, 11 November 1939, Page 6

STEPHENS DUCK

A GOOD-NIGHT TALE They were all ready for the match to begin. n Come on, Steve! We want you to bat!” cried Harry when he saw his churn crossing the village green, Steve hurried to the pitch and took up the bat. The bowler was waiting, and he sent up a nice fast ball. It seemed too fast for Steve. To the great surprise of all, Steve sprang away from the wicket, dropped the bat, and clapped his hand over his eide. “ What’s the matter?” cried the wicket-keeper in astonishment. “ The only time I’ve seen anything like it was when one of our side was stung by a bee just as the ball came up to the wicket,” said the bowler thoughtfully. Steve put his hand into his pocket and carefully brought out a duck’s egg. The other players crowded round to look at it. “ 1 remembered it just in time,” he said, with a rather shamefaced grin.' “ Mrs Hawkins at the farm gave it to me, so that mother could put it in the incubator. I’m terribl.v sorry, but I didn’t want to risk getting it broken.” “ You’ve got your duck already!” laughed the wicket-keeper, jerking his thumb towards the spot where the bails lay on the grass. “ Out first ball, eh?” “ Yes, 1 must give way to another fellow,” said Steve, “ but I’ll come back and field when I’ve taken the egg home.” “ Put it in a safe place, and have vour innings all the same,” suggested Harry. “We won’t count that ball.” So Steve went back to the wicket and put up a very good show. The egg was duly hatched, and the duckling became.a great favourite, not only with Steve, but with his chums as well. It used to follow Steve, first round the garden and then on to the green.