Anonymous

“ The poor ladies, I know, never look out of window or get a breath of air till the middle of the day in summer, and I believe they have no rick-pen to go to, and are obliged to wait till Betsy Chopper chooses to get up and feed them. The Queen may very likely not be as late as Betsy Chopper; but it is ten to one if she is as early as old David, so there can be no occasion to hurry oneself.”
So Miss Peck walked on in a leisurely manner, picking her way along the dirty lane, as well as the darkness would allow, and every now and then stopping a minute or two to rest her poor legs by turns. ”

“ For goodness’ sake go home as fast as you can, and make their minds easy, or Mrs. Cockielockie will be setting off in search of you, with all the family. If there should be anything that you do not wish mentioned, you may depend, Mr. Cockielockie, on my keeping it to myself, for I always say, the best of us would sometimes get into trouble, if our friends made a point of repeating every little thing that they might happen to know about us, that seemed to them contrary to one’s duty, and all that! ”

“ It was in vain that she struggled, and screamed, and scrambled along the ground. She was soon in old Simon’s clutches, who was quickly sitting in his cart again, with the reins in his hand, as if nothing had happened. ”

“ At any rate, madam, here are no giants, I assure you, for the truth is that the old woman leads such a dull life that no giant ever comes near the place, and I have not seen so much as the face of Tim Scamp, the little pedlar, for the last six months. It is very sad to live so out of the world, and I must confess that I should like a little more society. The old woman is so particular and old-fashioned ”

“ Indeed, I really feel very lonely, travelling all by myself, and am very much in want of protection, which is just what I am sure, sir, you are always ready to afford to a poor weak young creature, like myself, though whenever one complains of helplessness, it seems to make some people, that I could mention, more spiteful and tyrannical than ever! ”

“ Goosiepoosie’s story is soon told. She first flew over the hedge, and nearly frightened a red cow, who was lying in the grass on the other side, into fits; and then, recovering her own senses, set off home as fast as she could go. When she arrived there, she called all her companions around her, and told them that, after travelling a long way, and inquiring everywhere, she found that the Queen’s house was not in any part of this country, and she was afraid that they should never be able to reach it ”

“ Scarcely daring to look round, and expecting every instant to be swallowed up alive, or torn to pieces by one of the giants, Miss Peck wished herself safe at home again, with all her might, in spite of Cock-a-doodle’s tyranny, when, luckily, 9there came a faint gleam of light, and she saw, as she thought, Cock-a-doodle himself sitting on the top of the little wicket-gate between the two yew-trees. ”

“ It is quite a different thing, and so I shall tell Jem, the carter, since he has not the sense to know it already. Pray can you swim, Mrs. Topknot? Can you earn an independent living in a gutter? Can you eat slugs? You know that you, and all your family, are poor, helpless, delicate creatures, afraid of getting your feet wet, and obliged to live on the charity of Jem, the carter. How should 20you be able to bring up young ducklings to do their duty in their own station? You are quite mistaken if you expect ever to make chickens of them. ”

“ If they had but thought less of themselves, they would not have been so discontented with their condition, but there is an old proverb that, “to a crazy ship all winds are contrary,” and as, according to another homely saying, “Every path has a puddle,” those who spend their time in complaining, and turning this way 35and that, to escape from things that they do not like, and to better themselves in the world, are neither likely to be very useful to others, or to lead happy and prosperous lives themselves. ”

“ If you are tired of white, why do you not ask leave to wear brown and red coats like ours, which have always been very much admired, and are so much handsomer than black ones?”
“Why, sir,” rejoined Mrs. Goosiepoosie, “I do not see that your coats are any better than our own; and it is not very likely that Father Gander and all the heads of the family would have sent me off on such a long journey to Her Majesty just to ask her 25leave to change our dress, for no reason at all.” ”

“ It is not likely that persons of our rank in life should not know where our gracious Sovereign lives, having, of course, often heard the bells ring on her birthday, and also assisted Betsy Chopper in clearing away the crumbs, after a feast that was given 26us in honour of it, on a large table, under the chestnut trees, not very long ago. ”

“ My name is Miss Peck, and I and my friend Mr. Cockielockie are on our way to Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, to tell her that the stars are all falling out of the sky.”
“And I think, Mrs. Daddles,” interrupted Cockielockie, “that you cannot do better than come along with us, and then you will have an opportunity of laying your melancholy case before Her Majesty, who very likely will order Mrs. Topknot and Jem the carter’s heads to be sent to her immediately ”

“ Topknot,’ I answered: ‘I see you think yourself wiser than everybody else, as usual; but depend upon it, though you may bring up very good chickens, you will never make good ducklings as long as you live. ”

“ You are aware that I and all my family have been accustomed from generation to generation, to dress in white, and have hitherto allowed our young ones to wear coats of the same colour as soon as they are old enough to take care of them. ”

“ She told me that if I went on so I should be good for nothing, and might as well be boiled at once; and the last thing she said to me, before she disappeared, and I fear was boiled herself, was, ‘Cockie, mind your crows.’ To tell the truth, however, now, my dear Miss Peck, I am afraid of waking the ladies in the yew-tree. Mrs. Cockielockie would make such a fuss, and then the old woman might be disturbed, for though she is very deaf, I have heard the cat say that she 14always hears when you most wish she should not ”