e the seven little fellows who had blown Nibble and
Brighteyes to China, and they whispered, "Dear little Heavy-Ones; will
you take another flying-trip with us?" but the children did not hear nor
heed them, so nothing further was said.

When the feast was over, there was a grand washing of spoons and forks,
and a putting away of what was good and throwing away of what was bad.
Then came blind-man's-buff, and hide-and-seek, and all manner of games;
and then more paddling and tumbling in the brook, splashing and dashing,
"for all the world like the forty little ducklings!" Uncle Jack said.
"Oh! tell us about the little ducklings!" cried all the mice. And they
climbed up the bank and sat down in a circle round their uncle, holding
up their wet feet to dry in the sun. "About the ducklings, eh?" said
Uncle Jack, "well, let me see if I can remember."

The forty little ducklings who lived up at the farm,
They said unto each other, "oh! the day is _very_ warm!"
They said unto each other, "oh! the river's _very_ cool!
The duck who did not seek it now would surely be a fool!"

The forty little ducklings they started down the road,
And waddle, waddle, waddle, was the gait at which they goed,
The same it is not grammar, you may change it if you choose!
But one cannot stop for trifles when inspired by the Muse.

They waddled and they waddled, and they waddled on and on,
Till one remarked, "oh! deary me, where _is_ the river gone?
We asked the Ancient Gander, and he said 'twas very near,
He must have been deceiving us, or else himself, I fear."

They waddled and they waddled, till no further they could go,
Then down upon a mossy bank they sat them in a row.
They took their little handkerchiefs and wept a little weep,
And then they put away their heads, and then they went to sleep.

There came along a farmer, with a basket on his arm,
And all those little ducklings he took back to the farm,
He put them in their little beds and wished them sweet repose,
And fastened mustard plasters on their little webby toes.

Next day those little ducklings were very, very ill,
Their mother sent for Dr. Quack, who gave them each a pill,
But soon as they recovered, the first thing that they did
Was to peck the