ChippyHackeewasnottoofat，buthedidnotwanttocome；hestayeddownbelowandchuckled。
ANDsoitwentonforafortnight；tillabigwindblewoffthetopofthetree，andopeneduptheholeandletintherain。
ThenTimmyTiptoescameout，andwenthomewithanumbrella。
BUTChippyHackeecontinuedtocampoutforanotherweek，althoughitwasuncomfortable。
ATlastalargebearcamewalkingthroughthewood。Perhapshealsowaslookingfornuts；heseemedtobesniffingaround。
CHIPPYHACKEEwenthomeinahurry！
ANDwhenChippyHackeegothome，hefoundhehadcaughtacoldinhishead；
andhewasmoreuncomfortablestill。
AndnowTimmyandGoodyTiptoeskeeptheirnut-storefastenedupwithalittlepadlock。
ANDwheneverthatlittlebirdseestheChipmunks，hesings——\"Who\'s-been-
digging-upMY-nuts？Who\'sbeendigging-upMY-nuts？\"
Butnobodyeveranswers！
THEEND
THEPIE
AND
THEPATTY-PAN
Pussy-catsitsbythefire——howshouldshebefair？
Inwalksthelittledog——says\"Pussyareyouthere？
HowdoyoudomistressPussy？MistressPussy，howdoyoudo？\"
\"Ithankyoukindly，littledog，Ifareaswellasyou！\"
OldRhyme。
ONCEuponatimetherewasaPussy-catcalledRibby，whoinvitedalittledogcalledDuchesstotea。
\"Comeingoodtime，mydearDuchess，\"saidRibby\'sletter，\"andwewillhavesomethingsoverynice。
Iambakingitinapie-dish——apie-
dishwithapinkrim。Younevertastedanythingsogood！AndYOU
shalleatitall！_I_willeatmuffins，mydearDuchess！\"wroteRibby。
Duchessreadtheletterandwroteananswer:——\"Iwillcomewithmuchpleasureataquarterpastfour。
Butitisverystrange。_I_wasjustgoingtoinviteyoutocomehere，tosupper，mydearRibby，toeatsomethingMOSTDELICIOUS。\"
\"Iwillcomeverypunctually，mydearRibby，\"wroteDuchess；andthenattheendsheadded——\"Ihopeitisn\'tmouse？\"
Andthenshethoughtthatdidnotlookquitepolite；soshescratchedout\"isn\'tmouse\"andchangeditto\"Ihopeitwillbefine，\"andshegaveherlettertothepostman。
ButshethoughtagreatdealaboutRibby\'spie，andshereadRibby\'sletteroverandoveragain。
\"IamdreadfullyafraiditWILLbemouse！\"saidDuchesstoherself——
\"Ireallycouldn\'t，COULDN\'Teatmousepie。AndIshallhavetoeatit，becauseitisaparty。AndMYpiewasgoingtobevealandham。Apinkandwhitepie-dish！
andsoismine；justlikeRibby\'sdishes；theywerebothboughtatTabithaTwitchit\'s。\"
Duchesswentintoherlarderandtookthepieoffashelfandlookedatit。
\"Itisallreadytoputintotheoven。Suchlovelypie-crust；andIputinalittletinpatty-pantoholdupthecrust；andImadeaholeinthemiddlewithaforktoletoutthesteam——OhIdowishI
couldeatmyownpie，insteadofapiemadeofmouse！\"
DuchessconsideredandconsideredandreadRibby\'sletteragain——
\"Apinkandwhitepie-dish-andYOUshalleatitall。\'You\'meansme——thenRibbyisnotgoingtoeventastethepieherself？Apinkandwhitepie-dish！Ribbyissuretogoouttobuythemuffins……
Ohwhatagoodidea！Whyshouldn\'tIrushalongandputmypieintoRibby\'sovenwhenRibbyisn\'tthere？\"
Duchesswasquitedelightedwithherowncleverness！
RibbyinthemeantimehadreceivedDuchess\'sanswer，andassoonasshewassurethatthelittledogwouldcome——shepoppedHER
pieintotheoven。Thereweretwoovens，oneabovetheother；someotherknobsandhandleswereonlyornamentalandnotintendedtoopen。Ribbyputthepieintotheloweroven；thedoorwasverystiff。
\"Thetopovenbakestooquickly，\"
saidRibbytoherself。\"Itisapieofthemostdelicateandtendermousemincedupwithbacon。AndIhavetakenoutallthebones；
becauseDuchessdidnearlychokeherselfwithafish-bonelasttimeI
gaveaparty。Sheeatsalittlefast——ratherbigmouthfuls。ButamostgenteelandelegantlittledoginfinitelysuperiorcompanytoCousinTabithaTwitchit。\"
Ribbyputonsomecoalandsweptupthehearth。Thenshewentoutwithacantothewell，forwatertofillupthekettle。
Thenshebegantosettheroominorder，foritwasthesitting-roomaswellasthekitchen。Sheshookthematsoutatthefront-doorandputthemstraight；thehearth-rugwasarabbit-skin。Shedustedtheclockandtheornamentsonthemantelpiece，andshepolishedandrubbedthetablesandchairs。
Thenshespreadaverycleanwhitetable-cloth，andsetoutherbestchinatea-set，whichshetookoutofawall-cupboardnearthefireplace。Thetea-cupswerewhitewithapatternofpinkroses；andthedinner-plateswerewhiteandblue。
WhenRibbyhadlaidthetableshetookajugandablueandwhitedish，andwentoutdownthefieldtothefarm，tofetchmilkandbutter。
Whenshecameback，shepeepedintothebottomoven；thepielookedverycomfortable。
Ribbyputonhershawlandbonnetandwentoutagainwithabasket，tothevillageshoptobuyapacketoftea，apoundoflumpsugar，andapotofmarmalade。
Andjustatthesametime，DuchesscameoutofHERhouse，attheotherendofthevillage。
RibbymetDuchesshalf-wayownthestreet，alsocarryingabasket，coveredwithacloth。Theyonlybowedtooneanother；theydidnotspeak，becausetheyweregoingtohaveaparty。
AssoonasDuchesshadgotroundthecorneroutofsight——shesimplyran！StraightawaytoRibby\'shouse！
Ribbywentintotheshopandboughtwhatsherequired，andcameout，afterapleasantgossipwithCousinTabithaTwitchit。
CousinTabithawasdisdainfulafterwardsinconversation——
\"AlittleDOGindeed！JustasiftherewerenoCATSinSawrey！
AndaPIEforafternoontea！Theveryidea！\"saidCousinTabithaTwitchit。
RibbywentontoTimothyBaker\'sandboughtthemuffins。
Thenshewenthome。
Thereseemedtobeasortofscufflingnoiseinthebackpassage，asshewascominginatthefrontdoor。
\"ItrustthatisnotthatPie:thespoonsarelockedup，however，\"
saidRibby。
ButtherewasnobodythereRibbyopenedthebottomovendoorwithsomedifficulty，andturnedthepie。Therebegantobeapleasingsmellofbakedmouse！
Duchessinthemeantime，hadslippedoutatthebackdoor。
\"ItisaveryoddthingthatRibby\'spiewasNOTintheovenwhenIputminein！AndIcantfinditanywhere；Ihavelookedalloverthehouse。IputMYpieintoanicehotovenatthetop。Icouldnotturnanyoftheotherhandles；
Ithinkthattheyareallshams，\"
saidDuchess，\"butIwishIcouldhaveremovedthepiemadeofmouse！Icannotthinkwhatshehasdonewithit？IheardRibbycomingandIhadtorunoutbythebackdoor！\"
Duchesswenthomeandbrushedherbeautifulblackcoat；andthenshepickedabunchofflowersinhergardenasapresentforRibby；
andpassedthetimeuntiltheclockstruckfour。
Ribby——havingassuredherselfbycarefulsearchthattherewasreallynoonehidinginthecupboardorinthelarder——wentupstairstochangeherdress。
Sheputonalilacsilkgown，fortheparty，andanembroideredmuslinapronandtippet。
\"Itisverystrange，\"saidRibby，\"IdidnotTHINKIleftthatdrawerpulledout；hassomebodybeentryingonmymittens？\"
Shecamedownstairsagain，andmadethetea，andputtheteapotonthehob。ShepeepedagainintotheBOTTOMoven，thepiehadbecomealovelybrown，anditwassteaminghot。
Shesatdownbeforethefiretowaitforthelittledog。\"IamgladIusedtheBOTTOMoven，\"saidRibby，\"thetoponewouldcertainlyhavebeenverymuchtoohot。I
wonderwhythatcupboarddoorwasopen？Cantherereallyhavebeensomeoneinthehouse？\"
Verypunctuallyatfouro\'clock，Duchessstartedtogototheparty。
Sheransofastthroughthevillagethatshewastooearly，andshehadtowaitalittlewhileinthelanethatleadsdowntoRibby\'shouse。
\"IwonderifRibbyhastakenMYpieoutoftheovenyet？\"saidDuchess，\"andwhatevercanhavebecomeoftheotherpiemadeofmouse？\"
Ataquarterpastfourtotheminute，therecameamostgenteellittletap-tappity。\"IsMrs。Ribstonathome？\"inquiredDuchessintheporch。
\"Comein！andhowdoyoudo，mydearDuchess？\"criedRibby。
\"IhopeIseeyouwell？\"
\"Quitewell，Ithankyou，andhowdoYOUdo，mydearRibby？\"
saidDuchess。\"I\'vebroughtyousomeflowers；whatadelicioussmellofpie！\"
\"Oh，whatlovelyflowers！Yes，itismouseandbacon！\"
\"Donottalkaboutfood，mydearRibby，\"saidDuchess；\"whatalovelywhitetea-cloth！……Isitdonetoaturn？Isitstillintheoven？\"
\"Ithinkitwantsanotherfiveminutes，\"saidRibby。\"Justashadelonger；Iwillpouroutthetea，whilewewait。Doyoutakesugar，mydearDuchess？\"
\"Ohyes，please！mydearRibby；andmayIhavealumpuponmynose？\"
\"Withpleasure，mydearDuchess；
howbeautifullyyoubeg！Oh，howsweetlypretty！\"
Duchesssatupwiththesugaronhernoseandsniffed——
\"Howgoodthatpiesmells！I
dolovevealandham——Imeantosaymouseandbacon——\"
Shedroppedthesugarinconfusion，andhadtogohuntingunderthetea-table，sodidnotseewhichovenRibbyopenedinordertogetoutthepie。
Ribbysetthepieuponthetable；
therewasaverysavourysmell。
Duchesscameoutfromunderthetable-clothmunchingsugar，andsatuponachair。
\"Iwillfirstcutthepieforyou；
Iamgoingtohavemuffinandmarmalade，\"saidRibby。
\"Doyoureallyprefermuffin？
Mindthepatty-pan！\"
\"Ibegyourpardon？\"saidRibby。
\"MayIpassyouthemarmalade？\"
saidDuchesshurriedly。
Thepieprovedextremelytoothsome，andthemuffinslightandhot。Theydisappearedrapidly，especiallythepie！
\"Ithink\"——（thoughttheDuchesstoherself）——\"ITHINKitwouldbewiserifIhelpedmyselftopie；
thoughRibbydidnotseemtonoticeanythingwhenshewascuttingit。
Whatverysmallfinepiecesithascookedinto！IdidnotrememberthatIhadminceditupsofine；Isupposethisisaquickeroventhanmyown。\"
\"HowfastDuchessiseating！\"thoughtRibbytoherself，assheabutteredherfifthmuffin。
Thepie-dishwasemptyingrapidly！Duchesshadhadfourhelpsalready，andwasfumblingwiththespoon。
\"Alittlemorebacon，mydearDuchess？\"saidRibby。
\"Thankyou，mydearRibby；I
wasonlyfeelingforthepatty-pan。\"
\"Thepatty-pan？mydearDuchess？\"
\"Thepatty-panthatheldupthepie-crust，\"saidDuchess，blushingunderherblackcoat。
\"Oh，Ididn\'tputonein，mydearDuchess，\"saidRibby；\"I
don\'tthinkthatitisnecessaryinpiesmadeofmouse。\"
Duchessfumbledwiththespoon——\"Ican\'tfindit！\"shesaidanxiously。
\"Thereisn\'tapatty-pan，\"saidRibby，lookingperplexed。
\"Yes，indeed，mydearRibby；
wherecanithavegoneto？\"saidDuchess。
\"Theremostcertainlyisnotone，mydearDuchess。Idisapproveoftinarticlesinpuddingsandpies。Itismostundesirable——（especiallywhenpeopleswallowinlumps！）\"
sheaddedinalowervoice。
Duchesslookedverymuchalarmed，andcontinuedtoscooptheinsideofthepie-dish。
\"MyGreat-auntSquintina（grandmotherofCousinTabithaTwitchit）——diedofathimbleinaChristmasplum-pudding。_I_neverputanyarticleofmetalinMY
puddingsorpies。\"
Duchesslookedaghast，andtiltedupthepie-dish。
\"Ihaveonlyfourpatty-pans，andtheyareallinthecupboard。\"
Duchesssetupahowl。
\"Ishalldie！Ishalldie！Ihaveswallowedapatty-pan！Oh，mydearRibby，Idofeelsoill！\"
\"Itisimpossible，mydearDuchess；therewasnotapatty-pan。\"
Duchessmoanedandwhinedandrockedherselfabout。
\"OhIfeelsodreadful。Ihaveswallowedapatty-pan！\"
\"TherewasNOTHINGinthepie，\"
saidRibbyseverely。
\"YesthereWAS，mydearRibby，IamsureIhaveswallowedit！\"
\"Letmepropyouupwithapillow，mydearDuchess；wheredoyouthinkyoufeelit？\"
\"OhIdofeelsoillALLOVERme，mydearRibby；Ihaveswallowedalargetinpatty-panwithasharpscallopededge！\"
\"ShallIrunforthedoctor？I
willjustlockupthespoons！\"
\"Ohyes，yes！fetchDr。Maggotty，mydearRibby:heisaPiehimself，hewillcertainlyunderstand。\"
RibbysettledDuchessinanarmchairbeforethefire，andwentoutandhurriedtothevillagetolookforthedoctor。
Shefoundhimatthesmithy。
Hewasoccupiedinputtingrustynailsintoabottleofink，whichhehadobtainedatthepostoffice。
\"Gammon？ha！HA！\"saidhe，withhisheadononeside。
Ribbyexplainedthatherguesthadswallowedapatty-pan。
\"Spinach？ha！HA！\"saidhe，andaccompaniedherwithalacrity。
HehoppedsofastthatRibby——
hadtorun。Itwasmostconspicuous。
AllthevillagecouldseethatRibbywasfetchingthedoctor。
\"IKNEWtheywouldover-eatthemselves！\"saidCousinTabithaTwitchit。
ButwhileRibbyhadbeenhuntingforthedoctor——acuriousthinghadhappenedtoDuchess，whohadbeenleftbyherself，sittingbeforethefire，sighingandgroaningandfeelingveryunhappy。
\"HowCOULDIhaveswallowedit！
suchalargethingasapatty-pan！\"
Shegotupandwenttothetable，andfeltinsidethepie-dishagainwithaspoon。
\"No；thereisnopatty-pan，andIputonein；andnobodyhaseatenpieexceptme，soImusthaveswallowedit！\"
Shesatdownagain，andstaredmournfullyatthegrate。Thefirecrackledanddanced，andsomethingsizz-z-zled！
Duchessstarted！SheopenedthedooroftheTOPoven；——outcamearichsteamyflavourofvealandham，andtherestoodafinebrownpie，——andthroughaholeinthetopofthepie-crusttherewasaglimpseofalittletinpatty-pan！
Duchessdrewalongbreath——
\"ThenImusthavebeeneatingMOUSE！……NOwonderIfeelill……ButperhapsIshouldfeelworseifIhadreallyswallowedapatty-
pan！\"Duchessreflected——\"WhataveryawkwardthingtohavetoexplaintoRibby！IthinkIwillputmypieintheback-yardandsaynothingaboutit。WhenIgohome，Iwillrunroundandtakeitaway。\"Sheputitoutsidetheback-door，andsatdownagainbythefire，andshuthereyes；whenRibbyarrivedwiththedoctor，sheseemedfastasleep。
\"Gammon，ha，HA？\"saidthedoctor。
\"Iamfeelingverymuchbetter，\"
saidDuchess，wakingupwithajump。
\"Iamtrulygladtohearit！\"
Hehasbroughtyouapill，mydearDuchess！\"
\"IthinkIshouldfeelQUITEwellifheonlyfeltmypulse，\"saidDuchess，backingawayfromthemagpie，whosidledupwithsomethinginhisbeak。
\"Itisonlyabreadpill，youhadmuchbettertakeit；drinkalittlemilk，mydearDuchess！\"
\"Gammon？Gammon？\"saidthedoctor，whileDuchesscoughedandchoked。
\"Don\'tsaythatagain！\"saidRibby，losinghertemper——\"Here，takethisbreadandjam，andgetoutintotheyard！\"
\"Gammonandspinach！
hahaHA！\"
shoutedDr。
Maggottytriumphantlyoutsidethebackdoor。
\"Iamfeelingverymuchbetter，mydearRibby，\"saidDuchess。
\"DoyounotthinkthatIhadbettergohomebeforeitgetsdark？\"
\"Perhapsitmightbewise，mydearDuchess。Iwilllendyouanicewarmshawl，andyoushalltakemyarm。\"
\"Iwouldnottroubleyouforworlds；Ifeelwonderfullybetter。
OnepillofDr。Maggotty——\"
\"Indeeditismostadmirable，ifithascuredyouofapatty-pan！I
willcalldirectlyafterbreakfasttoaskhowyouhaveslept。\"
RibbyandDuchesssaidgood-
byeaffectionately，andDuchessstartedhome。Half-wayupthelaneshestoppedandlookedback；
Ribbyhadgoneinandshutherdoor。Duchessslippedthroughthefence，andranroundtothebackofRibby\'shouse，andpeepedintotheyard。
Upontheroofofthepig-styesatDr。Maggottyandthreejackdaws。
Thejackdawswereeatingpie-
crust，andthemagpiewasdrinkinggravyoutofapatty-pan。
\"Gammon，ha，HA！\"heshoutedwhenhesawDuchess\'slittleblacknosepeepingroundthecorner。
Duchessranhomefeelinguncommonlysilly！
WhenRibbycameoutforapailfulofwatertowashupthetea-
things，shefoundapinkandwhitepie-dishlyingsmashedinthemiddleoftheyard。Thepatty-panwasunderthepump，whereDrMaggottyhadconsideratelyleftit。
Ribbystaredwithamazement——
\"Didyoueverseethelike！sotherereallyWASapatty-pan？……Butmypatty-pansareallinthekitchencupboard。WellIneverdid！……
NexttimeIwanttogiveaparty——IwillinviteCousinTabithaTwitchit！\"
THEEND
THETALEOF
JEMIMAPUDDLE-DUCK
AFARMYARDTALE
FOR
RALPHANDBETSY
WHATafunnysightitistoseeabroodofducklingswithahen！——
ListentothestoryofJemimaPuddle-duck，whowasannoyedbecausethefarmer\'swifewouldnotletherhatchherowneggs。
HERsister-in-law，Mrs。
RebeccahPuddle-duck，wasperfectlywillingtoleavethehatchingtosomeoneelse——\"Ihavenotthepatiencetositonanestfortwenty-eightdays；andnomorehaveyou，Jemima。Youwouldletthemgocold；youknowyouwould！\"
\"Iwishtohatchmyowneggs；Iwillhatchthemallbymyself，\"quackedJemimaPuddle-duck。
SHEtriedtohidehereggs；
buttheywerealwaysfoundandcarriedoff。
JemimaPuddle-duckbecamequitedesperate。Shedeterminedtomakeanestrightawayfromthefarm。
SHEsetoffonafinespringafternoonalongthecart-
roadthatleadsoverthehill。
Shewaswearingashawlandapokebonnet。