Sandman's Goodnight Stories

E-text prepared by Al Haines



Dicky Duck was a very wise young fellow. He swam about the pond alone long before his brothers left their mother, and such worms and bugs and things of that sort as he found made all the other young ducks quite green with envy.
But one day Dicky Duck almost lost his life by thinking he was so wise, for he was swimming around the pond when he came to the woods where Mr. Fox was hiding back of some bushes.
Dicky did not go near enough for Mr. Fox to catch him, but Mr. Fox could see that he was a nice plump duck and it made his eyes shine with longing to look at him.
Ah me, he sighed as Dicky swam by, if only I knew some wise creature to ask! I am far too dull to know anything myself.
When Dicky heard the word wise he felt sure that meant him, for was not he the wisest duck of his size and age? So he stopped swimming and looked around.
Mr. Fox had hidden himself well under the bushes now. Not even the tip of his nose could be seen and he made his voice sound very weak, as if he were a very small animal.
Who is it that wants to know a wise creature? asked Dicky Duck.
Oh, a poor little animal called Eatyoup, answered Mr. Fox, laughing so at his joke that he could hardly speak. I am very stupid and do not know much and I have no wise friends.