Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-22
THE HAPPY DUCKS
A STRAY SHOT
By Farmer Smith

wild ducks are accustomed to danger
all their lives Even when Mr.. Drake goes
out to find his sweetheart and coax her
TO be his dear little wife. he has a hard
time for he likes to begin his married life
when the year Is new, so that they will
grow old together. very pretty idea.
but the weather is cold and dreary and
often the home for the little family is
started after many hardshps.
Father Duck had seen a good many ad.
ventures in his short life and knew the
tricks by which thousands Of his friends
were killed every year. He knew all about
the decoys with which the hunters deceive
the unsuspecting ducks They caught him
once clipped his wings and made him
swim about to attract the other birds. who,
seeing him. iocked down looking for food.
only to be shot by these same hunters.
But he had managed to get away and
warn all his friends, so the traps were
useless that day.
This narrow escape had made Father
Duck watchful all the way down the Big
River He was constantly looking on every
side keeping his little family close to him.
ready for the signal to dive out Of sight.
So Won can imagine his terror when a loud
"Rane-Bang" raised every feather on their
little bodies until they looked like lot
of porcupines. and instantly bullet
whistled over their heads. just grazing
Baby June's right wing. Down they went
;nto the water and swan long way be-
fore Father Duck ventured to come up and
look all around. Quickly he called "Quack.
ouack :" and when his frightened family
gathered around him he pointed to black
smack M the river, moving very slowly the
other way.
"Oh Daddy" gasped Baby June, what
WAS that awful noise? And look some OF
my very prettiest feathers are gone from
NV wing and 1t feels so queer
.Ea,her I never can go much farther il
u,a are TO have any more frights," said poor
Nother Duck II thought you said II was
nerfectly safe to move now, but we have
nearIv lost our lives. wish we had stayed
at home
.con,e right over here to the bank and
10, me show YOU the incest place for a
home YOU have ever seen, replied good
Rather Duck But first. look at that black
speck In the distance and be thankfui that
no orc all here and have left the old home,
Co.. n is going back where we came from
No moved not an hour too soon. That is a
h,,n,ar In his boat and 1t was a bullet from
NC Gun that nearly killed our Baby June.
lie is out Of season and has no right TO
h,,nt vet and would be arrested IL he were
nsmght So he is not In a motorboat which
I'D attract attention, but is rowing along
,'s,.y ouietly with his gun in the bottom
20 ;ha boat and his slowness Is what saved
our lives.
"I saw that man but he seemed to be
astipg through the ice over on the farther
side Of the Big River, and I did not think
ws were In any danger. You see how con-
stantly we must be on the watch he evil
ssn,,v saw us and thought he would take
chance. but did not venture to shoot a
s.cond time. ] am more than thankful we
ars ali here safe and sound. Baby June's
ssa,bers will come In again and that man
hss done us a kindness by warning US not
30 no up the river again this season. Now
- some fun, settling the house"
~: They all waddied up the bank in single
Al. into the nice long grasses. Tomorrow
m,s ,',',, win hear what new friends they made
snd an about "Rig Jim. The Frog