DAME DUCK'S LESSON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

DAME DUCK'S LESSON.

Old iMother Duck has hatched a brood Of ducklings, small and callow; Their little wings aro short, their down Is mottled grey and yellow. Close by the margin of a bay Tho old duck made her nest, Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass. And down from her own breast. And there she sat foi four long weeks, In rainy days and fine, Until the ducklings all came out— Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. " 'Tis close," said Dame Duck shoving out 4 The egg-snells with her bill, " Besides, it never suits young ducks To keep them sitting still." ' So, rising from her nest, she said: " Now, children, look at me, A well-bred duck should waddle so, From side to side—d'ye see?"

" Yes," said the little ducks. AIJ waddling in a row. " Now to the pond," said old Dame Duck— Splash, splash! And in they go. " Let mp swim first," said old Dame Duck, "To this side, now to that; There, snap at those great brown-winged . flies, They make young ducklings fat." " Now when you reach the poultry-yard, Then Hen-wife, Molly Head, .Will feed you, with tho other fowls, On bran and mashed-up bread. You'd better get into the dish, Unless it is too small; In that case I should lift my foot And overturn it all." The dacklings did as they were bid, And found the plan so good, That from that day the other fowls Got hardly any food. —From Res Orr, Pukekawa.