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And I think that some day I shall have to make another； larger book； to tell you more about Tom Kitten！
As for the Puddle…ducksthey went into a pond。
The clothes all came off directly； because there were no buttons。
And Mr。 Drake Puddle…duck； and Jemima and Rebeccah； have been looking for them ever since。
THE TALE OF JEMIMA PUDDLE…DUCK
＇A Farmyard Tale for Ralph and Betsy＇
What a funny sight it is to see a brood of ducklings with a hen！
Listen to the story of Jemima Puddle…duck； who was annoyed because the farmer's wife would not let her hatch her own eggs。
Her sister…in…law； Mrs。 Rebeccah Puddle…duck； was perfectly willing to leave the hatching to someone else 〃I have not the patience to sit on a nest for twenty…eight days； and no more have you； Jemima。 You would let them go cold； you know you would！ 〃
〃I wish to hatch my own eggs； I will hatch them all by myself；〃 quacked Jemima Puddle…duck。
She tried to hide her eggs； but they were always found and carried off。
Jemima Puddle…duck became quite desperate。 She determined to make a nest right away from the farm。
She set off on a fine spring afternoon along the cart road that leads over the hill。
She was wearing a shawl and a poke bonnet。
When she reached the top of the hill； she saw a wood in the distance。
She thought that it looked a safe quiet spot。
Jemima Puddle…duck was not much in the habit of flying。 She ran downhill a few yards flapping her shawl； and then she jumped off into the air。
She flew beautifully when she had got a good start。
She skimmed along over the treetops until she saw an open place in the middle of the wood； where the trees and brushwood had been cleared。
Jemima alighted rather heavily and began to waddle about in search of a convenient dry nesting place。 She rather fancied a tree stump amongst some tall foxgloves。
Butseated upon the stump； she was startled to find an elegantly dressed gentleman reading a newspaper。 He had black prick ears and sandy colored whiskers。
〃Quack？〃 said Jemima Puddle… duck； with her head and her bonnet on the one side〃Quack？〃
The gentleman raised his eyes above his newspaper and looked curiously at Jemima
〃Madam； have you lost your way？〃 said he。 He had a long bushy tail which he was sitting upon； as the stump was somewhat damp。
Jemima thought him mighty civil and handsome。 She explained that she had not lost her way； but that she was trying to find a convenient dry nesting place。
〃Ah！ is that so？ Indeed！〃 said the gentleman with sandy whiskers； looking curiously at Jemima。 He folded up the newspaper and put it in his coattail pocket。
Jemima complained of the superfluous hen。
〃Indeed！ How interesting！ I wish I could meet with that fowl。 I would teach it to mind its own business！
〃But as to a nestthere is no difficulty： I have a sackful of feathers in my woodshed。 No； my dear madam； you will be in nobody's way。 You may sit there as long as you like；〃 said the bushy long…tailed gentleman。
He led the way to a very retired； dismal…looking house amongst the foxgloves。
It was built of faggots and turf； and there were two broken pails； one on top of another； by way of a chimney。
〃This is my summer residence； you would not find my earthmy winter houseso convenient；〃 said the hospitable gentleman。
There was a tumbledown shed at the back of the house； made of old soap boxes。 The gentleman opened the door and showed Jemima in。
The shed was almost quite full of feathersit was almost suffocating； but it was comfortable and very soft。
Jemima Puddle…duck was rather surprised to find such a vast quantity of feathers。 But it was very comfortable； and she made a nest without any trouble at all。
When she came out； the sandy… whiskered gentleman was sitting on a log reading the newspaperat least he had it spread out； but he was looking over the top of it。
He was so polite that he seemed almost sorry to let Jemima go home for the night。 He promised to take great care of her nest until she came back again the next day。
He said he loved eggs and ducklings； he should be proud to see a fine nestful in his woodshed。
Jemima Puddle…duck came every afternoon； she laid nine eggs in the nest。 They were greeny white and very large。 The foxy gentleman admired them immensely。 He used to turn them over and count them when Jemima was not there。
At last Jemima told him that she intended to begin to sit next day〃and I will bring a bag of corn with me； so that I need never leave my nest until the eggs are hatched。 They might catch cold；〃 said the conscientious Jemima。
〃Madam； I beg you not to trouble yourself with a bag； I will provide oats。 But before you commence your tedious sitting； I intend to give you a treat。 Let us have a dinner party all to ourselves！
〃May I ask you to bring up some herbs from the farm garden to make a savory omelet？ Sage and thyme； and mint and two onions； and some parsley。 I will provide lard for the stufflard for the omelet；〃 said the hospitable gentleman with sandy whiskers。
Jemima Puddle…duck was a simpleton： not even the mention of sage and onions made her suspicious。
She went round the farm garden； nibbling off snippets of all the different sorts of herbs that are used for stuffing roast duck。
And she waddled into the kitchen and got two onions out of a basket。
The collie dog Kep met her coming out； 〃What are you doing with those onions？ Where do you go every afternoon by yourself； Jemima Puddle…duck？〃
Jemima was rather in awe of the collie； she told him the whole story。
The collie listened； with his wise head on one side； he grinned when she described the polite gentleman with sandy whiskers。
He asked several questions about the wood and about the exact position of the house and shed。
Then he went out； and trotted down the village。 He went to look for two foxhound puppies who were out at walk with the butcher。
Jemima Puddle…duck went up the cart road for the last time； on a sunny afternoon。 She was rather burdened with bunches of herbs and two onions in a bag。
She flew over the wood； and alighted opposite the house of the bushy long…tailed gentleman。
He was sitting on a log； he sniffed the air and kept glancing uneasily round the wood。 When Jemima alighted he quite jumped。
〃Come into the house as soon as you have looked at your eggs。 Give me the herbs for the omelet。 Be sharp！〃
He was rather abrupt。 Jemima Puddle…duck had never heard him speak like that。
She felt surprised and uncomfortable。
While she was inside she heard pattering feet round the back of the shed。 Someone with a black nose sniffed at the bottom of the door； and them locked it。
Jemima became much alarmed。
A moment afterward there were most awful noisesbarking； baying； growls and howls； squealing and groans。
And nothing more was ever seen of that foxy…whiskered gentleman。
Presently Kep opened the door of the shed and let out Jemima Puddle… duck。
Unfortunately the puppies rushed in and gobbled up all the eggs before he could stop them。
He had a bite on his ear； and both the puppies were limping。
Jemima Puddle…duck was escorted home in tears on account of those eggs。
She laid some more in June； and she was permitted to keep them herself： but only four of them hatched。
Jemima Puddle…duck said that it was because of her nerves； but she had always been a bad sitter。
THE ROLY…POLY PUDDING
＇In Remembrance of 〃Sammy；〃 the Intelligent Pink…Eyed Representative of a Persecuted （But Irrepressible） Race。 An Affectionate Little Friend； and Most Accomplished Thief！＇
Once upon a time there was an old cat； called Mrs。 Tabitha Twitchit； who was an anxious parent。 She used to lose her kittens continually； and whenever they were lost they were always in mischief！
On baking day she determined to shut them up in a cupboard。
She caught Moppet and Mittens； but she could not find Tom。
Mrs。 Tabitha went up and down all over the house； mewing for Tom Kitten。 She looked in the pantry under the staircase； and she searched the best spare bedroom that was all covered up with dust sheets。 She went right upstairs and looked into the attics； but she could not find him anywhere。
It was an old； old house； full of cupboards and passages。 Some of the walls were four feet thick； and there used to be queer noises inside them； as if there might be a little secret staircase。 Certainly there were odd little jagged doorways in the wainscot； and things disappeared at night especially cheese and bacon。
Mrs。 Tabitha became more and more distracted and mewed dreadfully。
While their mother was searching the house； Moppet and Mittens had got into mischief。
The cupboard door was not locked； so they pushed it open and came out。
They went straight to the dough which was set to rise in a pan before the fire。
They patted it with their little soft paws〃Shall we make dear little muffins？〃 said Mittens to Moppet。
But just at that moment somebody knocked at the front door； and Moppet jumped into the flour barrel in a fright。
Mittens ran away to the dairy and hid in an empty jar on the stone shelf where the milk pans stand。
The visitor was a neighbor； Mrs。 Ri