THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. II 



though they would not take the doctor's medicine, and 

 would waddle in the mud and water, for which they al- 

 ways felt themselves to be very naughty ducks, yet they 

 grew quite . vigorous and hearty. At last one day the 

 whole little tribe waddled off down to the K ank of the 

 river. It was a beautiful day, and the river was dancing 

 and dimpling and winking as the little breezes shook the 

 trees that hung over it. 



" Well," said the biggest of the little ducks, rt in spite of 

 Dr. Peppercorn, I can't help longing for the water. I don't 

 believe it is going to hurt me, at any rate, here goes " ; 

 and in he plumped, and in went every duck after him, 

 and they threw out their great brown feet as cleverly as 

 if they had taken rowing lessons all their lives, and sailed 

 off on the river, away, away among the ferns, under the 

 pink azalias, through reeds and rushes, and arrow-heads 

 and pickerel-weed, the happiest ducks that ever were born ; 

 and soon they were quite out of sight. 



" Well, Mrs. Feathertop, this is a dispensation ! " said 

 Mrs. Scratchard. "Your children are all drowned at last, 

 just as I knew they'd be. The old music-teacher, Master 

 Bullfrog, that lives down in Water-Dock Lane, saw 'em all 

 plump madly into the water together this morning ; that 's 

 what comes of not knowing how to bring up a family." 



Mrs. Feathertop gave only one shriek and fainted dead 

 away, and was carried home on a cabbage-leaf, and Mr. 



