The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-03-30
REBECcA's STRATEGY.


Rachel was a very large black ana
white duck. She lived on Hill TOP
farm, away up in Vermont. BeckeS
and key also lived On Hill Top farm
Beckey was O brown speckled duck
and key was a drake whose feathers
were white and tan color.
Beckey was lame and sometimes she
would lie down in the cool grass to
rest and key and Rachel would De
so interested in talking they would not
miss her. Suddenly Rachel would look
behind and not seeing her friend she
would quack to key, who would
stretch his neck and look all around.
Then both would waddle back quack-
ing as they went. Beckey would wait
until they almost reached the spot
where she was resting and then she
would slowly rise and limp toward
them.
But one day all this changed. A
big box arrived and Solomon and 10
ducks took up their abode at Hill Top
farm.
key, Rachel end Beckey watched
them as they waddled in a line around
the farm, looking over their new home.
Those ducks are skinny looking
creatures" remarked Rachel, who was
almost as large as two ordinary ducks.
larger than any of them"
Solomon is rather q handsome TEL
low" said Beckey. who had heard
Farmer Henry call Solomon by name
when he flew out of the box.
HE isn't any handsomer than key
retorted Rachel.
key all this time had maintained
q dignified silence, but he kept his
eyes on the pretty little ducks that had
arrived with Solomon, and as soon as
he could he slipped away from Beckey
and Rachel and joined the newcom-
ers.
AS have told you, Rachel was old
and Beckey was lame, and when from
under a currant bush where they were
resting they saw key waddling along
with Solomon and his young family
they felt a pang shoot through their
feathered breasts.
Anyway, 1 don't believe any one
of them can lay such fine eggs as you
can. Rachel" said Beckey, who looked
the morning an egg Of extra size and
been found in RachePs nest.
Rachel stood up, stretched her
wings and shook out her tail feathers.
mo, do not expect they can" she
said, and I'll show them a larger one
than the one you saw.
They needn't think they can come
they are younger than we. They will
soon fine out that the duck that can
lay the largest egg is the one who
holds sway here"
A few days later key, Rachel and
Beckey were taking a walk. In the
distance Rachel saw Solomon and his
young family. Don't you think we
had better speak to them" she asked
key. I'VE do not need to associate
with them, but I think it would be
wise to be on bowling terms"
as Solomon and his family waddled
along Rachel remarked: isn't this
beautiful weather."
Solomon and his family stopped and
they gathered around Rachel, who was
much the largest Of the group.
But Rachel saw key on the outside
Of the group talking to one Of the new
ducks. Here, key" she said with a
good natured Quack, you talk to Solo
mon. want to talk to the ducks
about the eggs they are laying. Such
giving FARM Henry q nice lot Of
eggs"
key waddled over to Solomon, and
the ducks drew closer to Rachel Sud-
denly she said in q very loud voice:
Come with me and let me show you
just what Farmer Henry expects"
key and Soloman lifted their heads
and saw Rachel with all the new ducks
following her leading the way to the
place where Rachel had her nest.
Solomon and key followed, and
when they were all around the nest
Rachel pushed aside some straw that
was over it and displayed the largest
duck egg any Of them had ever seen.
The young ducks were speeches.