Peter Mink was going to give a lecture. He had invited everybody.
"It's something you all ought to hear," he said. "And it will cost you nothing to come. Another time," he explained, "whoever hears my lecture will have to pay. But this one is free."
Old Mr. Crow remarked that he supposed Peter Mink was going to tell people how to catch ducks. And since he never cared anything at all about ducks, he said he didn't expect to be present.
"I'm glad you're not coming," Peter Mink answered, "because I'm afraid there[p. 26] won't be room for all the people who intend to hear me. As for ducks—I'd no more think of giving a lecture about ducks than I would about crows."
Old Mr. Crow pretended not to hear what Peter said. He did not care even to be seen talking with such a worthless fellow.
But there were many other people living in Pleasant Valley and on Blue Mountain who decided to go to Peter Mink's lecture—when they learned that they might get in free.
And when the night of the lecture arrived even Peter himself was surprised to see how many were present.
To be sure, Peter noticed that some of the audience were smiling; and some of them were nudging one another, as if they thought the whole thing was nothing but a joke. And when the full moon climbed[p. 27] over the top of Blue Mountain, and Peter Mink climbed on top of an old stump and faced the gathering, a few rude persons laughed aloud.