Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-23
THE HAPPY DUCKS-THE HOUSE
WARMING
BY Farmer Smith

IL OIteH happens tndt n great MISFORTUNE
proves the best thing that could come to
any one at least, that is the way the Crow
family thought.
Mrs. Crows broken leg soon healed.
thanks to the sklful care of Father Duck.
while the two families became the very
best Of friends
Soon, however, Mrs. Crow began to get
uneasy. so she said: ,
David l am very anxious to have YOU
select a nice place for our new house. Win
ter will soon be here and we have no time
to lose. ! hope this time you will find
good strong branch for our nest in tree
that Is not quite so tall SO that we may
never have an accident of this kind again."
'I will go right out now my dear, and
decide where to build, and II will be as
near our friends, the Ducks as possible. |
do not see what we would have done had
1t not been for their Kindness, replied
Mr.. Crow.
Crow gratefully. land I hope the time will
| come when we can prove our friendship"
| That time did come sooner than they ex-
| pected, but In the meanwhile their new
| home was decided upon. A fine strong
| young oak tree was selected and soon the
| Duck and Crow families except Mrs. Crow,
were busy building the house. Even the
| babies could gather leaves and tiny sticks.
The greatest excitement of all was watch
ing Mrs. Crow try to walk on her lame leg
| for the first time. followed by the surprise
| at seeing her fly as we'll ever up to
| her pretty new home.
| II am just as happy as 1 was In the
| old home, only | miss my former neighbors
| she said. 1--WE do not know any Of the
woodland people here"
| Mr.. Crow winked at Mr. Duck and Mr.
| Duck waddled home to see Mrs. Duck and
| that very afternoon something happened
| And this is what it was:
How happy the Crows were in their new
| home and how glad everybody was to be
at the housewarming, which was quite 9
surprise party. Many were the good wishe:
and words of welcome spoken by the guests
to their new neighbors.
After while Mrs. Grow gave an anxiou:
nod to her husband, and after they hat
talked together a few minutes, they sem
for Mrs. Duck.
ut will not do to let all these people gc
home without something to eat" whispered
Mrs Crow to Mrs. Duck. but we haven
half enough to go around today. Do tel
me what to do"
Don't let that worry you for one minute
my dear" whispered Mrs. Duck cheerily
did you think would invite such
crowd as this to meet you and forget th
refreshments? You Just go ahead and lool
your prettest-do keep, everybody singing
| for Mr.. Duck has gone over to the farm
Our good friends Blly-sBumpus and iona
than Goose are over there and they are t.
send us bag of grain and-oh lots ant
lots of good things.
| "Oh. N.Y. exclaimed Mrs. Crow
81 will have all the children set the tabl
down by the brook and we will feed then
there while we older ones have our re
freshment right here under the trees" sal
Mrs. Duck.
Mrs. Crow was unable to speak, she wa
} so full of gratitude. and try as she coul
| to stop it, a little tear Of thankfuness stol
into her eye.
Soon Mr.. Duck appeared with a big bal
| of grain and everybody had a wonderful
feast Of the choicest things the farm pro
ii vided.
, Billy Bumpus and Jonathan Goose wer
unable to attend, but sent little note o.
an oak leaf telling how very sorry the
were.
AS Father Duck went among the guest
he was laughing and laughing, but no on
could make him say wnat he was laugh
ing at
The feast was a great success-such
, cawine and auacking the Crows wer
blissfully happy and the Ducks had enoug
, to eat for once.
lust as the sun went down back of tn
: hills the whole chorus Of birds sang "Aul
! Lang Syne" for many would begin the
I tourney south the next day
5 "My. what wonderful music the bird
are making tonight ~ cried Miss Lucy. dow
, at the big farm. II wonder what it's a
about?"
> After all was quiet and the Ducks wer
| home once more, Mother Duck said:
.Father, what were you laughing abor
1 when YOU came back from the farm?
. "I was wondering how long it would b
before YOU asked me that" replied Fathe
puck, laughing. "Well, 1t was the funnies
. thing l ever saw in my life-if it hadn
| heen for Jonathan Goose the joke woul
have been on u.s..
Tomorrow night Father Duck VIII te
s ;rst what happened at the farm. and don
YOU miss a good laugh.