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Show -Story for the Children at Bedtime ! By MARY GRAHAM BONNER $ GEESE WAYS "Good morning, Mrs. Goose," cackled Mrs. Duck. "How are you today?" "I'd be better," said Mrs. Goose, In a shrill voice, "if you left me alone." "I'm sure you don't mean that," said Mrs. Duck. "Your feelings are hurt because none of us have paid you any attention. "Yes, you've grown bitter." "Nonsense," said Mrs. Goose, "I love the quiet." "You can't say so," said Mrs. Duck pleasantly, "because I feel sure that It Isn't true." "It's quite true," said Mrs. Goose, snapping crossly. "I love to be left alone. "It's not only a pig I don't like. I don't care about any outsiders. Geese are good enough for me." "I think," said Mrs. Duck, "that you have been alone so long that you don't know how it is to have friends. "I'll be your friend, and we'll be so happy calling on each other." "I don't want you for a friend," said Mrs. Goose. "I have Mr. Gander Gan-der and the little Goslings. They are such precious children." . "I'm glad you like some creatures," said Mrs. Duck. She was losing patience. pa-tience. She had tried so hard to be friendly with Mrs. Goose, and Mrs. Goose was simply a cross old thing. "I like creatures worthy to be liked," said Mrs. Goose, sticking out her hind toe, which is her great pride. "How are you any better than any of us?" asked Mrs. Duck. "We are perfect," said Mrs. Goose. "I don't think so," said Mrs. Duck. "That's because you don't know any better," said Mrs. Goose. "In the first place we have shorter necks than the swans." "The swans are beautiful," said Mrs. Duck. "You can't pretend that you Mrs. Goose, Snapping Crossly. think it fine to have shorter necks, I hope. "I should hate to think you were as conceited as that." "Don't think, then," said Mrs. Goose, "if you hate to think we might be conceited. con-ceited. "We are! It's true. And we have something about which to be conceited." con-ceited." "People often say 'as stupid as a goose,' " said Mrs. Duck, "and now I know the reason why." "Poor Ducky," said Mrs. Goose, "you care so much about what Is nice and what isn't and what is pleasant and what Isn't. "I think you are so foolish." "Well, good-day," said Mrs. Duck. She had found It was quite useless to try to be friendly with Mrs. Goose. She had tried It before and It hadn't worked out, and she had tried It now, and It still hadn't worked. Mrs. Goose Just didn't want to bother with Mrs. Duck, so Mrs. Duck left. ((E). 1931. Western Newspaper Union.) |
