An Upside Down House

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 7 December 1940, Page 9

An Upside Down House

MR MUSKRAT COMES TO TIMOTHY | TURTLE’S AID LAUGH TOGETHER MERRILY Timothy Turtle was plodding along in the manner of turtles one fine September morning. He was looking for some soft brown mud to lie in. and his head stuck far out of his shell. It was so that Mr Muskrat saw him just at the edge of tne marsh. "Good morning, Timothy Turtle,” Mr Muskrat said. Timothy Turtle stopped and drew in his head ever so little. “Hello.” he said, "how is the mud?” "Very wet and very soft,” Mr Muskrat answered. He had just come from his house built of roots and stems of plants mixed with mud. Mr Muskrat was a clever little fellow. He had built his house himself. “You should know,” Timothy Turtle answered. Mr Muskrat sat upon his haunches and looked at Timothy Turtle. "Yes, I should know all about mud," he said, "for I live in the marsh and I use mud in building my house.” Timothy Turtle began to laugh. He laughed so hard that he shook all over. Even his shell shook. Mr Muskrat was puzzled. "What are you laughing at?” he asked. "At you.” Timothy Turtle answered. “anH at all the little animals who have tr. build their houses. Now look at me! My house is on my back. I don’t iave to build it. It’s there, and all I have to do is pull in my head and tail and feet.” Mr Muskrat started at the hard shell tnat covered Timothy Turtle. "R’ght-o,” he cried, "but that’s no reason for you to make fun of me and my house in the marsh!” And off he walked with his nose high in the air. Timothy Turtle followed after, plodding along, in the manner of turtles. Now he could smell the soft wet mud. “1 must be very close to the marsh,” he thought Something long and round and brown lay across his path. Just ahead of him it lay. “By my shell,” thought Timothy Turtle, ‘I must get over it somehow.” He came close, thrusting his head far out of his shell. A log.” he said aloud. “I’ll climb over it.” LOST HIS BALANCE Up he crowled slowly, feeling his way. When he had got almost on the top of the log he lost his balance, did Timothy Turtle, and over he went backwards with a bump. The log did not move, but Timothy Turtle, flat on his baok. waved his feet in the air. Timothy Turtle could not get up. It was so Mr Muskrat found him with his house upside down. ‘Timothy Turtle,” cried Mr Muskrat. ‘whoever heard of an unside down house? Let me set you right.” He began to laugh. He laughed so hard that he had all he could do to get Timothy Turtle right side up. ‘What are you laughing at?” Timothy Turtle asked. ‘At you.” Mr Muskrat cried, "and at all the little turtles who carry their houses on their backs. Now look at me. My house is in the marsh. It never turns upside down!” Timothy Turtle stuck his head out very far. Timothy Turtle looked very silly Timothy Turtle said : “I laughed at you. You laughed at me, Let’s ’augh together Merrily!”