Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-01-05

ing for the water. don't believe il is going
to hurt meat any rate, here goes ;"-and in
he pumped, 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 nsalias,
through reeds and rushes, and, arrOw-heads
and pickerel-weed, the happiest ducks that ev-
er were borny and soon they were quite out Of
sight.
"Well, Mrs fealhertop, this is dispensa-
ton |" said Mrs. Scralchard. "Your children
are all drowned at last, just as knew they'd
he. The old music teacher, Master Bullirog,
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 II family"
Mrs. Feathertop gave only one shrek and
tainted dead away, and was carried home on Il
cabbage-leaf and Mr.. Gray Cock was sent for,
where he was wsitog on Mrs. Red Comb
through the squash-vines.
"lt's n serious time in your family sir" said
Goody Kertarkut, "and you ought TO be at
home supporting your wife. Send for Doctor
peppercorn without delay.
Now MS the case was very dreadful one,
Doctor Peppercorn called a council from the
barn-yard of the Squire, two miles off. and n
]
suit of brown and gold, with tail-fealhers like
meteors. A fine Young fellow he was, lately
from Paris. with all the modern scientific i'm
provements fresh in his head
When he had listened TO the whole story, he
clapped his spur into the ground, and, leaning
back, laughed so loud that all the cocks in the
neghborhood crowed.
Mrs. Feathertop rose up out of her swoon,
and Mr.. Gray Cock was greatly enraged
"Whit do you mean, sir, by such behavior
in the house of mourning?"
"My dear sir, pardon me.-but there is no
occasion for mourning. My dear madam, let
me congratulate you. There is no harm done.
The simple matter is, dear madam, you have
been under hallucinaliou all along The
neighhorhood and my learned friend the doc.
tor have all made a mistake in thinking that
these children of yours were hens at ali. They
are ducks, moan evidently ducks, and very
finely formed ducks dare say"
AT this moment quack was heard, and al
distance the whole tribe were seen coming
waddling home, their feathers cleaning in
green and gold, and they themselves in hyt
good spirits.
"Such splendid day as we have had ~ they
all cried in breath. "And we know now how
to get our own living we can take care ofour.
selves in future, SO you need have no further
trouble with u.s."
"Madam," said the doctor, making bow
with an air which displayed his tai-feathers tt
advantage, "let me congratulate you on thu
charming family you have raised. fine
, brood of young, healthy ducks l never saw
Give claw, my dear FRIEND" he said addressin!
/ the elder son. In our barn-yard no family i
more respected than that of the ducks"
And so Madam Fealhertop came off elori
Gus at las. and when after this the ducks uset
to go swimming up and the river own liked 5,
many nabobs among the admiring hens, Docto
Peppercorn used to look after them and say
"Ah had the care of them in their infancy !!
| and Mr.. Gray Cock and his wife used to sa,
ait was our system of education did that
Harriet Beecher Stotce.