let's go for a walk."

"All right," agreed Lulu. "I know where there are some nice pussy willows.
We'll get some to take to our school teacher next Monday."

So they started off up the pond to the place where the pussy willows grew.
They gathered quite a number, breaking off the stems in their strong
yellow bills, and then, putting the willows under their wings, they
started back home again. They didn't have to hurry because, you see, it
was Saturday, and there wasn't any school. Oh, my no! Ducks don't have to
go to school on Saturday any more than you do, even if they are only in
the kindergarten class.

Now, if you please, pay close attention, for something is going to happen
very shortly, if Uncle Wiggily Longears doesn't come along and bother me,
and I don't believe he will. Well, Lulu and Alice and Jimmie got safely
home with the pussy willows, and as they were putting them in water to
keep until Monday, Aunt Lettie came into the room.

"What have you there, my dears?" she asked, wiggling her horns and looking
over the tops of her glasses as easily as you can draw a picture of a
horse. "What have you there, my dears?"

"They are pussy willows, Aunt Lettie," replied Lulu.

"Oh dearie me! oh Sacramento!" cried Aunt Lettie, who was quite excitable
at times. "Why ever did you bring them here, little ones?"

"Why, we want them for teacher," explained Alice.