HOW A WILD DUCK SAVED HER CHILDREN.
D
EAR Mr. Editor,—Our river is so shallow that in some parts reeds grow in it, where wild ducks are very fond of building their nests. Once, shepherds who were with the cattle, near that river, saw a wild duck, with eighteen little ones swimming about, and as the little ducks were so small they thought it would be very easy to catch them. So accordingly they got into the water, and were trying to catch the young ones, when they perceived that the old duck, instead of flying away, as they expected she would do, was turning over in the water as if she were hurt. The shepherds seeing this, thought it would be very well to catch her first, as it seemed a very easy thing to do, so they went over to where she was. Meanwhile the little ducks got safely hidden in the rushes, and the old one seeing that her children were out of their enemies' reach, flew into the air and left the shepherds standing with nothing.
The Princess Sophie Gagarine
(Aged 12½.)
8, Place Catharine, Odessa.