The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-07
BURGESS BED-
 TIME STORIES
By THORNTON w. BURG Ess
BRINGING UP A FAMILY

BRINGING UP A FAMILY It never seems to me quite fair A mother should have all the care.
 Mrs. Quack.
 Of course. in many cases she doesn't have all the care of properly raising the children, but more often she does than doesn't, or at least so much of Tt that 1t seems like all. Mrs Quacx IS one of these. MT. Quack has little to do with the proper bringing up of his family. It is only when they are almost fully grown and ready for the long journey to the Sunny South that he shares in the care
 Did you raise all your children 2" asked Peter Rabbit as he sat gossip ing with Mir. Quack the Mallard Duck on the shore of the pond of Paddy the Beaver, deep in the Green Forest.
 Mrs. Quaek's bright eyes grew a lit- tie dim. -'Not all." said she sadly. Accidents will happen, no matter how watehful a mother may be, and 1t Is very hard work to keep an eye on every one of such a big, lively family us mine You have no idea, Peter Rabbit. what an anxious time it Is for a mother Duck when her babies are small"
 hICHt SdlQ IeIeT. nave mad big family myself Children are a great care, a great care.n-
 "Pooh!" sniffed Mrs. Quack. "A lot you know about it. You know well enough that 1t was little Mrs. Peter who did all the worrying about those children of yours. sI'll venture to say that you were not home half the time"
 Peter looked guilty. Mrs. Quack tossed her head and continued: T don't doubt Mrs. Peter had worries a-plenty, but If she kept her eyes open she could always see any dan ger that might threaten her babies It would he~ either in the air or on the ground. But there were dangers to my babies that couldn't be seen and they were never off my mind. l --I lost two of the darlings that way A tear shone in one of Mrs. Quack's eyes.
 Peter was both interested and pug zled. How could there be a danger you louidn't seer" he demanded.
 Tt came from underneath" replied Mrs Quack.
 This puzzled Peter more than ever He thought it over and to help him think he scratched first one long ear with long hind foot and then the other long ear with the other long hind foot. But for all his thinking and scratching he was no wiser than before. Mrs. Quack watched him and understood.
 "You see" said she, "my babie. took to the water just as soon as they were out of their shells, eight oi the cutest. softest, prettiest babies you can imagine. For few days they kept close together and close tc me. Most of the time I kept then hidden in the reeds and grass grow ing in the water. There they were safe from Hawks. by day and Owls by night. But it wasn't long before they began to scatater little and venture outside the reeds and grass to swim in the open water.
 'One day I led them across tht pond to the othsr side. At first the, followed close to me. for 1t was a great adventure to them. Then one began to drop behind. He was ven turesome. Twice I waited for him and seoided him well. Then he did il again and-and--weli. the next time ] looked around he was gone.s Mrs ouack choked little when she said this.
 " HSi1 nau He Eones asked feIer after a pause.
 "A Muskrat had followed us under water and had seized him from un- derneath." sobbed Mrs. Quack. "It was a danger I couldn't see"
 "Did-did the same thing happen to the other one you lost7" asked Peter.
 Mrs Quack nodded. "Yes." said she, 'only 1t vas a Mink this time They were very little, those babies or it wouldn't have happened. Bring. Ing up a family on the water is a great care. But 1t Is worth all il costs" she added, glancing with pride at the six handsome young Ducks playing out in the middle of the pond Again Peter nodded.
 Copyright. 1921. by T. W. Burgess.
 The next story-"Blacky the Crow Makes a Call"