The Lost Duckling.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 13, 21 August 1930, Page 4

The Lost Duckling.

Such a fuss in the farmyard, with poor Mrs. Hen flurrying here and scurrying there and duckling all the time at the top of her voice! No wonder she was in trouble, because she had lost 'the sauciest and jolliest of her fluffy yellow family. 1 But they weren't ehiek%r-oh no! When they hatched out dif the eggs, Mrs. Hen found that her little family had webbed feet and long,bills. In fact they were siix of the dearest little duckling in the world. She was/surprised, but didn't worry, and loved Ithem and?looked after tjiem. And^now one had strayed away. ■;£ Followed by the other five; Mrs Hen^went OA'er to her frienc|vand neighbour, Mrs. PiggY-wig, t^i'tteU her trouble. But Mrs. Piggy-wig knew all about it, -and was sqtteaking and gruntuig;'vso loudly^'that Mrs; Hen couldn't hear h£rs/ speak. • , ' , . . ~T '• Don't worry! I've got him," cried Mi-s. Piggy-wig. "He jii as bold as brass throughV, the -little hole in my wall, then ran into my house. While he: was indoors, Master put my food-trough in front .of the.hole, and now your .younster can't get out." Andj sure enough, there was the lost duckling waddling about on its little webbed feet insiide the sty. -...•-• ■■'■ _- ■-. ■■ ■ "Oh, my dear friend," cried Mrs. Hen, won }t hurt him, will youT' /'Not if I can help.it," replied Mrs.' Piggy-wig; ;'.'but he's very small, and I'm rather heavy on !my :feet, and iiot as young as I 'used to be. And when I'm tniiiking of sbmething else, as like, as -not 1 might forget> and c-sit on ;^ : •. -~ ■■■~:■ ...;.. ■This-made Mrs/-ECen cluck loud er than "ever. But just at that moment who should come running down the path by Jenny-Jane and Biddy-800, with a big green apple for Mrs. Piggy-wig.'s lxineh.

When Mrsy Piggy-wig^saw; the apple she began grunting, pushing .up land down the paling, and nearlytro<|t on the little lost Sut Jenny-Jane caught sight of.him as she lifted Bidfiy-BoQupto 'giye the apple, and, leaning downy caught hold of the duckling, "arid, gave -him back to Mrs. Hen/ ■