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. 



" Such a splendid day as we have had ! " they all cried 

 in a breath. "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." 



"Madam," said the doctor, making a bow with an air 

 which displayed his tail-feathers to advantage, "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," he said, addressing the elder son. 

 "In our barn-yard no family is more respected than that 

 of the ducks." 



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, " Ah ! I had the care of their infancy ! " and Mr. 

 Gray Cock and his wife used to say, "It was our system 

 of education did that!" 



