The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-11
Little Stories For Bedtime
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Peter Secs Tho Quack Family


 A T THE the slap of Paddy the Beav- A CTS tail on the water the shad-
 ow in the moonlight, which Peter knew was really no shadow at all, but Hooty the Owl, turned and passed over Paddy so slow that it seemed almost to touch Paddy.
 You mind your own affairs and stop spelling my hunting" hissed Hooty. "I won't stand it." He snap ped his beak in way that made Peter Rabbit tremble, for Peter was near enough to hear, thought you may be sure he was holding his breat hand taking care not to make the teeniest sound. Peter was very thankful that Hooty had no such sense of smell as had Paddy.
 When Hooty had finally disappeared Paddy rejoined Peter and Paddy was chuckling.
 "Hooty grows shorter tempered every night" said he. Ever since he found out that Mir. and Mrs. Quack were making their home here and have a whole family of little Quacks he has done his best to catch one of them. I suspect he dreams all day about duck dinner at night, but so far he hasn't had one, and he won't get one if I can help it. MT. and Mrs. Quack are old friends a1H I'm too proud and pleased to have them make their home in my pond to let eevrything happen to them if I can help it. They learned long ago to be on the watch for dam ger whenever they hear me slap the water with my tail, and they've taught all the little Quacks the same thing. So when they hear the sound of that slap they wake up with all their wits working and all ready to dive under water the instant they see HoOty, and they are looking for him with all their eyes. It may be kind of hard on Hooty to have me spoil his chances for good dinner that way, but this is my pond and I don't intend to have any trouble or sadness here if can help it"
 "I suppose the little Quacks have grown some" Peter ventured.
 Paddy chuckled. "A little, Peter, just a little," he replied. You ought to see them before you go back. When did you see them laSt?"
 "Just after they were matched. They were funny little fuzzy things then,' said Peter. T suppose they have some feathers now"
 "Yes," Paddy returned, "they have few feathers, just few" He chuck led again and Peter wondered why "They are very likely looking young, sters and MT. and Mrs. Quack are very proud of them"
 "Where are they now" asked Peter staring out on the pond.
 That's telling" replied Paddy That's a secret. But if you will wait right here until daylight l promise you sight worth seeing"
 II promised Mrs. Peter to be home early" replied Peter.
 "The Quack family are early risers They will be out before jolly, round Mir. Sun has kicked off his bed clothes You can see them and then if your legs are as good as they used to be you can get back to the dear Old BrieI Patch before most people have got the sleepy winks out of their eyes"
 So Peter stayed. He knew he ought not to, but he did. You see he wanted so very much to see the Quack family Paddy stayed with him to keep him com pany and they had so much to talk about that time fairly flew. Che Black Shadows were just beginning to leave the pond of Paddy the Beaver when from the far side a low "Quack, Quack" reached Peter. He looked ea- gerly in the direction from which the sound had come. Presently he saw a black form moving out where 1t wal