THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. 13 



At this moment a quack was heard, and at a distance 

 the whole tribe were seen coming waddling home, their 

 feathers gleaming in green and gold, and they themselves 

 in high good spirits. 



&quot; Such a splendid day as we have had ! &quot; they all cried 

 in a breath. &quot;And we know now how to get our own 

 living ; we can take care of ourselves in future, so you 

 need have no further trouble with us.&quot; 



&quot; Madam,&quot; said the doctor, making a bow with an air 

 which displayed his tail-feathers to advantage, &quot;let me con 

 gratulate you on the charming family you have raised. A 

 finer brood of young, healthy ducks I never saw. Give 

 claw, my dear friend,&quot; he said, addressing the elder son. 

 &quot;In our barn-yard no family is more respected than that 

 of the ducks.&quot; 



And so Madam Feathertop came off glorious at last ; 

 and when after this the ducks used to go swimming up 

 and down the river like so many nabobs among the ad 

 miring hens, Doctor Peppercorn used to look after them 

 and say, &quot; Ah ! I had the care of their infancy ! &quot; and Mr. 

 Gray Cock and his wife used to say, &quot;It was our system 

 of education did that ! &quot; 



