LESSON 2 DAME DUCK'S FIRST LESSONS

DAME DUCK'S FIRST LESSONS

be-neath duck-lings ex-plain

quack with-ered scram-bled

straight poul-try wad-dling

1. Close by a cool and shady creek

　　An old duck made her nest

　Of straw, and leaves, and withered grass,

　　And down from her own breast.

2. And there she sat for four long weeks,

　　In rainy days and fine,

　Until the ducklings all came out—

　　Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine.

3. One peeped out from beneath her wing,

　　One scrambled on her back;

　"That's very rude," said old Dame Duck,

　　"Get off! quack, quack, quack, quack!"

4. "'Tis close," said Dame Duck, pushing out

　The egg-shells with her bill;

　"Besides, it never suits young ducks

　　To keep them sitting still."

5. So, rising from her nest, she said,

　　"Now, children, look at me;

　A well-bred duck should waddle so,

　　From side to side—you see!"

6. "Yes," said the little ones, and then

　　She went on to explain—

　"A well-bred duck turns in its toes

　　As I do—try again."

7. "Yes," said the ducklings, waddling on;

　　"That's better," said their mother,

　"But well-bred ducks walk in a row,

　　Straight one behind another."

8. "Yes," said the little ducks again,

　　All waddling in a row;

　"Now to the pond," said old Dame Duck—

　　Splash, splash, and in they go.

9. "Let me swim first," said old Dame Duck,

　　"To this side, now to that;

　There, snap at those great brown-winged flies,

　　That make young ducklings fat.

10. "Now when you reach the poultry-yard,"

　Dame Duck then wisely said,

　　"They'll feed you, with the other fowls,

　On bran and mashed-up bread.

11. "The hens will peck and fight, but mind,

　I hope that all of you

　　Will gobble up the food in baste

　As well-bred ducks should do.

12. "You'd 'better get into the dish,

　Unless it is too small;

　　In that case I should use my feet,

　And overturn it all."

13. The ducklings did as they were bid,

　And found the plan so good,

　　That, from that day, the other fowls

　Got hardly any food.