The Gray Gooses Story | Page 5

being taken in by one of the goose
family."
While Mrs. Gray Goose was talking, Mr. Gander had been running at
full speed in pursuit of Mr. Frog, who was so busy trying to keep his
hat on that he didn't pay any attention to what was happening behind
him.
A moment later Mr. Gander had overtaken the foppish young Frog, and
your Aunt Amy did not have time to call Mrs. Goose's attention to what
was going on, before Mr. Frog disappeared down Mr. Gander's throat.
[Illustration: How Young Mr. Frog Disappeared.]
"Well, I never before believed that Mr. Gander would be so piggish!"
Mrs. Goose exclaimed as her friend's bill closed upon the end of Mr.
Frog. "To think that he hadn't the politeness to offer me a taste!"
"He really didn't have the time," your Aunt Amy said laughingly, and
then, to take Mrs. Goose's attention from what was really a greedy act,
she asked about Mr. Crow's poetry concerning the likeness of one
animal to another of its kind.

SEARCHING FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE.
"It's only a nonsense rhyme," Mrs. Goose replied with a sigh as she

turned her eyes from Mr. Gander, who was twisting and squirming as if
he had something inside of him which caused considerable pain. "I'll
repeat it if you wish, and it wouldn't make me feel badly if old Mr.
Gander came within an inch of dying. A whole frog is far too big a
mouthful for a goose of his age."
"It's certain he is being punished for his greediness," your Aunt Amy
replied; "but it isn't well to rejoice while others are in trouble, even
when they brought it upon themselves, as did Mr. Gander. Suppose you
repeat Mr. Crow's poetry?"
Mrs. Goose snapped her bill together sharply as she turned her back on
the suffering gander, and recited the following jingle:
I'd love a goose that wears a shawl, Or a gander in coat and hat; I'd just
adore a tamed giraffe, Or a literary cat. I'd like a goat with graceful
curves, Or a bear with manners neat; A chimpanzee in a cutaway, I
think would be just sweet.
[Illustration: What Would be Hard to Find.]
I'd appreciate a gentle snake, Or a dove whose ways were wild. A
bluefish draped in petticoats, Or a tiger nice and mild. A mackintosh
upon an owl To me would be just fine. I'd like to know a kangaroo
Who'd ask me out to dine.
An elk dressed up in uniform, I'd love beyond compare. I'd even like a
flying lynx, Or an educated hare. There's many more I'd love to have,
But never can I find An animal but what he's like The others of his
kind.
"There's a deal of truth in the last three lines of that poetry," Mrs.
Goose said with a sigh, casting one more reproachful glance at the
suffering Mr. Gander. "I was up near Mr. Man's barn the other day, and
there I saw two kittens making a most disgraceful spectacle of
themselves; but yet they were exactly like all other cats I have ever
seen.
"It seems that their mother had caught a nice fat rat, and instead of
eating it all herself, as Mr. Gander did the frog, she brought it to her
kittens. Now there was plenty of meat for both, and neither could have
devoured the whole of it, yet those two youngsters stood there and
snarled, and spit, and scratched at each other, instead of enjoying
themselves in a friendly manner.
"They made a most dreadful noise, therefore, of course, everybody oil

the farm knew what was being done, and then the foolish things began
to fight. Just then, Mr. Brown Owl, who spends a good deal of his time
on our shed watching for mice, flew down and picked up the rat.
[Illustration: The Selfish Kittens.]
"When the kittens made up their minds that it might be better to eat
dinner than tear each other to pieces, Mr. Owl was eating the rat, and
they were obliged to go hungry for that day at least. If a person is not
only a glutton, but has beside a bad temper, he is very likely to miss
many good things which he might enjoy without much labor. Yet I
don't like to see people too soft, and smiling too sweetly, for then I
always think of the time when Mr. Wolf called on Mrs. Hog, professing
to be such a great friend."

A SUSPICIOUS-LOOKING VISITOR.
"That is a story I have never heard," your Aunt Amy said, and Mrs.
Goose looked up in surprise, as she replied:
"Why, it's as old as the hills, almost; I'll tell it because it may do you
some good. Once upon a time