gold, and they themselves in high good spirits.

"Such a splendid day as we have had!" they all cried in a breath.
"And we know now how to get our own living; we can take care of
ourselves in future, so you need have no further trouble with us."

"Madam," said the doctor, making a bow with an air which displayed
his tail-feathers to advantage, "let me congratulate you on the
charming family you have raised. A finer brood of young, healthy
ducks I never saw. Give me your claw, my dear friend," he said,
addressing the eldest son. "In our barn-yard no family is more
respected than that of the ducks."

And so Madam Feathertop came off glorious at last. And when after
this the ducks used to go swimming up and down the river like so many
nabobs among the admiring hens, Dr. Peppercorn used to look after
them and say, "Ah, I had the care of their infancy!" and Mr. Gray
Cock and his wife used to say, "It was our system of education did
that!"



THE NUTCRACKERS OF NUTCRACKER LODGE



Mr. and Mrs. Nutcracker were as respectable a pair of squirrels as
ever wore gray brushes over their backs. They were animals of a
settled and serious turn of mind, not disposed to run after vanities
and novelties, but filling their station in life with prudence and