8 THE HEN THAT HATCHED DUCKS. 



world going well with her, when suddenly in came Dame 

 Scratchard and Goody Kertarkut to make a morning call. 



" Let 's see the chicks," said Dame Scratchard. 



" Goodness me," said Goody Kertarkut, " what a likeness 

 to their dear papa ! " 



" Well, but bless me, what 's the matter with their bills ? " 

 said Dame Scratchard. " 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'll increase, 

 and they'll be frightful!" 



" What shall I do ? " said Mrs. Feathertop, now greatly 

 alarmed. 



"Nothing, as I know of," said Dame Scratchard, "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." 



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. 



"My dear," she said to her spouse, "do get Dr. Pepper- 

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

 can be done." 



"Dr. Peppercorn came in, and put on a monstrous pair 



