Show 1 o l f 4 w r THE SINGING NG SCHOOL Aunt Polly Duck decided one morning morning morn morn- morn 1 toward the I ing as she walked along pond that the barnyard animals were quite behind the times and that a singing singing singing sing sing- ing school ought school ought to be started in the barnyard So she called all the barnyard dwellers dwell dwell- ers together and told them she was going to start a singing school scho l. l Everybody thought that would be a afine afine afine fine thing and they decided it shoud be held in the field behind the barn barn- When they were assembled Mr Dog asked Who Is to lead the singing 1 Why I had not thought of that that said Aunt Polly Perhaps I had better lead it myself I used to be quite a asinger asinger asinger singer in my day That all may be Aunt Polly said Mr Dog DoS but your day was long ago and times have changed I think Im I'm ImI better fitted to lead the singing than I you are are I dont don't want to sing like you Mr Dog said Miss Henry Black I have heard you sing at night and it sounds very distressing I I think Id I'd better settle this by leading leading leading lead lead- ing the singing m myself Self said the Gobbler Gobbler Gob Gob- bler strutting in front of them allWell allWell all Well Veil if I have to gobble I wont won't stay hissed Miss 1 Goosey Gray My voice is not so loud as some but if I Ido Ido Ido do say so it is very soft and fine toned and I do not intend to to have it spoiled by any Gobbler Mr Gobbler threw Miss liss Goosey a aI alook alook look of disdain and strutted off oft I I have a a good bass voice said Mr 11 Pig but I dont don't know very much about teaching I think however I could grunt so you could all follow if 1 tried Well if anyone is to teach I J think I should said Mr Donkey with his ears standing up straight I can make more noise than anyone in the barnyard barnyard barnyard barn barn- yard That you ou can canve we ve will all agree said Mr l Rooster but hut my dear fellow fellow fel fel- fel- fel I low it isn't the sort of music we like to hear Now if you want a leader for j your our singing school said Aunt Polly Duck I why not let me teach the singing ing My for tones are far reaching and as sweetness no one can deny that my notes are far sweeter than any around I here If you are looking for a leader orthis of or this singing school I will take charge said the Peacock You need dignity and grace and beauty is not a bad trait in one ohe who leads If you want a leader firm on his feet Peacock is the one whisp whispered red Tommy Cat Look at those feet But just then Mr Peacock spread his beautiful tail tall and all else was forgotten for for- gotten He certainly was a beautiful creature and before Tommy Cat couX cout cou couget i get in a word about his own lovely voice and how ha ho was used to leading a chorus it had been decided that the Peacock should lead the singing school Mr Peacock strutted up in front of the wall taking care to stand b behind a astone astone stone large enough to hide his feet teet and with his tail tall spread out full fun width he said Now I 1 will give you a few tones Pones and then all sing as I do One shrill harsh and awful tone did Mr Peacock gi give gie e and when it was over he found himself alone for not a creature creature creature crea crea- ture was near him When they all an felt safe they peeped out to see seo what had really happened and ana there stood Mr Peacock looking all around for his vanished pupils What V hat is the matter with you all all all' he called out Are my tones too high for you I can make them lower I I should have known you would not be beable beable beable able to sing as well as I do at the first but dont don't get discouraged disco You will beable be beable beable able to sing sing if vou practice But no one went back and after a awhile awhile awhile while Mr Peacock walked away When he was well out of sight all the animals came out from their hiding places that just awful said Miss Goosey Gray Awful Is not bad enough said another an an- other I r thought at first a hawk or orsome orsome orsome some terrible animal was upon us alland all alland alland and everybody was screaming I And the worst of it is he thinks he I Ican can sing laughed Tommy Cat and he ha does not know he cant can't He thinks we were discouraged because of his fine tones ar ar feared we never could I sing like him Let him think so said Aunt Polly Duck It wont won't hurt us us I Yes let him think but dont don't let him him sing said Mr Dog If ever he begins i ito to sing around here again Ill I'll chase him himoff i off oft the place I guess my singing school is a failure failure failure fail fail- I ure said Aunt Polly Duck to herself as she waddled away The trouble is i that each one thinks Just as the Peacock Peacock Pea Pea- Peat cock does None of us can sing but I r Ican I Ican t can quack and I will will and off oft she went quacking as loudly as she could I Copyright 1317 1911 by the Met lure N I w paper I 1 Nea York rits I I II I |