Evening star., 1948-12-15
This and That
By Charles E. Tracevell


MIR. aid Mrs. Tempeton Jones probably
are the only midnight duck feeders in or
around Washington.
1t was this way:
For. long time they had been carrying
bread to band of ducks in Rock Creek Park
Not to the very public group at the old
Pierce Mill pool No, their gang of ducks Cor
whatever it is ducks belong to- Is located off
little-traveled road.
The Joneses keep the rendezvous q secret
They did not want the multitudes to take
over what they claimed as their own.
It was not until recently, however, that
they visited their friends at night
Always before they came along the old road
in daylight.
And then there would be such running and
Tapping OF wings and such quacking as
would delight the hearts of true friends Of
animals
The Joneses always had bag of goodies for
the big fellows
Just as soon as their car stopped and drew
little of the road, the ducks would come
a-quacking.
One night recently, after visiting some
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Jones happened to think
of their ducks, as they glided along the old
road on their way home.
Wonder where those ducks sleep?" Temple
ton Jones mused.
Now, wonder?' chimed in Mrs Jones.
Suppose we go see"
1t was daring thought, for steady folks
to go duck hunting at midnight.
There was something very surreptitious
about it. The Joneses hoped no one ever
would know.
They stopped the car at the little path that
ran down toward the stream.
Were their friends asleep on the water or
on the shore?
The Joneses never were able to answer that
one, because the moment their car stopped,
here came the ducks.
There was such a Tapping OF wings and
such a quacking as never were heard before
at 11:30 pm.
1t wasn't the witching hour of midnight
quite yet.
These fellows are making such q racket,
they will attract a park policeman" hushed
Jones.
They think we are going to feed them,"
replied Mrs. Jones.
Sure enough, the hungry birds crowded
around.
They tore hole In Mrs, Jones stocking.
pecked at her big toes and ran across the road
IF another car comes along" said Jones,
they will all be run over"
1t was necessary to get them off the road,
but they wouldn't go.
They were waiting for a sight of that bag
of bread.
II know just the thing" cried Mrs Jones
Those old biscuits at home"
The car roared away, leaving the puzzled
ducks standing by the side of the road
The couple lost no time. The biscuits came
out Of the bread box and into large paper
sack.
clock somewhere was striking midnight
when the Templeton Joneses, Christmas cheer
already in their hearts, drew up alongside the
road again.
The ducks were waiting for them.
They came quacking up the slope and sur
rounded the car.
And the moment they saw the bag Of bis
cults they quacked louder than ever.
Keep quiet" whispered Mrs. JONES' but the
winged ones would have none of 1t.
They wanted biscuits
The bread was pretty hard, and slightly
rubbery, too, so that when a duck bill struck
q biscuit the bread began to bounce.
Soon the ducks were fighting biscuits all
over the place -.
They will get run over sure" said Jones'
/ We'll throw them into the water" sug-
gested Mrs. Jones.
Splash, splash splash, went the biscuits, and
splash, splash, splash, went the ducks until
not a one was left on the road.
That was how Mr.. and Mrs. Templeton Jones
fed the park ducks ut midnight.