The Wonderful Bed

id afterward she had thought at first it was a Miss Spriggins who came sometimes to sew for her mother, but it was not; it was only a very large gray

y, thank you,"

se-" bega

ake tins, no life insurance-" rattled the Goose so rapidly that the c

ing," Ann cried, "w

slammed it one of her broad apron-strings caught in the crack, and Rudolf seized the end of

, are you the Wa

d immensely pleased,

r who, as I hope you are aware, was a Dutch-Oven, having run away with a cousin of my mother's uncle's stepfather, who was three times married, numbers one, two and three all having children but none of 'em resembling one another i

h snow, and when the door was closed behind them, they were surprised to feel that it was snowing even harder inside the house than it was out. For a moment they stood half blinded by the storm, unable t

hers to be multiplied by two-sevenths of a pound.

e replied. "I've tried the back and the co

ite feathers sent whirling through the house, out of the windows, and up the chimney by some disturbance in the midst of a great heap in one corner of the room as high as a haystack. From the middle of this heap of feathers stuck up two very thin yellow legs with shabby boots that gave one last despairing kick and then

Ann to Rudolf, "but what do you suppose is the matter with the othe

t a pound. She now brought forward chairs for them all. As the children looked around more closely they saw that the room they were in was a very cozy sort of place, long and low and neatly furnished with a white deal table, a shiny black cook-stove, a great many bri

gh, as is generally known, a Roman nose is characteristic in our family, having develo

don," he interrupted, "but would you mind if we helped the little one

said the Gray Goose kindly. "Squawke

he ran ahead of Rudolf to catch hold of one of

's roasted. Very good indeed'll Squawker be-with apple sauce!" And he smacked his lips a

id: "I likes currant jelly on my d

Squealer, who never by any chance caught them as he turned his back at every throw. "I suppose," said the Gentleman Goose to Peter in a hesitating, anxious sort of voice, "you believe along with all the rest,

as he had breath enough he began calling pitifully for some one to brush the down off his Sunday trousers. The Gray Goose came good-naturedly to his assistance, but as she brushe

w ones?" he asked the Lady Goose

e of us, Squawker,

three children open

Rudolf angrily,

f the Gentleman Goose, who spoke without turnin

e we ar

e, "you and the little one. But this one's feathers seem in nice condition." As she spok

his apron, the Gentleman Goose advanced toward Ann in a businesslike fa

rs," she screamed. "They're curls. I'm not

o the stove to stir the contents of the iron pot. "Well, now, did you ever! M

ckled Squawker. "You're a perfect

chimed in

so much as by your leave, set them crookedly on his own, and looked over them long and earnestly at Ann

er, when at that moment a new voice was heard. Looking in at the little window over the top of the red

overcoat and checked trousers, and wore gaiters over his patent-leather boots. He had a thick gold watch-chain, gold studs and cuff b

er here?" he inq

has no feathers, which you can see for yourself is not the case. It has feathers, therefore it is

ng curls nearest them. Rudolf stepped forward but the Hare was before him. He only needed to stare at the two ducks th

n. "What did you say you call those

ekly, for she was too f

d Rudolf and

ss-suit case, and little umbrella from the floor where he had dropped them. "Be sure you don't follow me," he said, nodding pleasant

, Squealer-at 'em, Squ

ren behind him, got to the door in safety. Peter, however, had to be dragged along by Ann and Rudolf, for the Lady Goose had just removed the great pot from the stove in time to prevent its contents from boilin

ed Peter, eagerly

-with a wee bit of a grasshopper here and there for flavoring. Mother had the recipe handed down in her family-her side-you

t. Even then, I am ashamed to say, Peter kept calling out that he would like "just a taste", and he didn'