THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. 



world going well with her, when suddenly in came Dame 

 Scratchard and Goody Kertarkut to make a morning call. 



&quot;Let s see the chicks,&quot; said Dame Scratchard. 



&quot;Goodness me,&quot; said Goody Kertarkut, &quot;what a likeness 

 to their dear papa ! &quot; 



&quot; Well, but bless me, what s the matter with their bills ? &quot; 

 said Dame Scratchard. &quot; Why, my dear, these chicks are 

 deformed ! I m sorry for you, my dear, but it s all the result 

 of your inexperience ; you ought to have eaten pebble-stones 

 with your meal when you were setting. Don t you see, 

 Dame Kertarkut, what bills they have ? That 11 increase, 

 and they ll be frightful!&quot; 



&quot; What shall I do ? &quot; said Mrs. Feathertop, now greatly 

 alarmed. 



&quot;Nothing, as I know of,&quot; said Dame Scratchard, &quot;since 

 you did n t come to me before you set. I could have told 

 you all about it. Maybe it won t kill em, but they 11 al 

 ways be deformed.&quot; 



And so the gossips departed, leaving a sting under the 

 pin-feathers of the poor little hen mamma, who began to 

 see that her darlings had curious little spoon-bills, different 

 from her own, and to worry and fret about it. 



&quot;My dear,&quot; she said to her spouse, &quot;do get Dr. Pepper 

 corn to come in and look at their bills, and see if anything 

 can be done.&quot; 



&quot; Dr. Peppercorn came in, and put on a monstrous pair 



