The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Once upon a time, a duck named Jemima Puddle-Duck lived on a farm. Jemima was very eager to lay her eggs and hatch them herself, but the farmer’s wife would not let her do so. “You are not a good sitter,” she would say. “You cannot keep your eggs warm enough.”
Feeling frustrated and determined, Jemima decided to find a secret place where she could lay her eggs in peace. One day, she flew off in search of a suitable nesting spot.
While wandering through the woods, she came across a charming gentleman with sandy whiskers sitting by a log. He was very polite and introduced himself as Mr. Fox.
“Good afternoon, dear lady,” said Mr. Fox with a sly grin. “What brings you to my woods?”
“I am looking for a place to lay my eggs,” replied Jemima. “I want to hatch them myself.”
“Why not use my lovely woodshed?” suggested Mr. Fox. “It’s warm and cosy, perfect for hatching ducklings! I shall take great care of your nest while you are away.”
“Oh, thank you!” said Jemima, feeling quite pleased with this idea. She followed Mr. Fox to his woodshed, filled with soft feathers.
“This is wonderful!” exclaimed Jemima as she settled into the nest he had prepared for her.
“Now, you must gather some herbs for my famous omelette,” said Mr. Fox. “Be quick about it!”
Jemima waddled off to collect herbs, unaware that Mr. Fox had other plans in mind. Meanwhile, Kep, the wise sheepdog from the farm, noticed that Jemima was missing and grew worried.
“Where has that silly duck gone?” he thought. Kep decided to follow her trail and soon found her at Mr. Fox’s woodshed.
“What are you doing here, Jemima?” asked Kep, looking concerned.
“I’m going to lay my eggs here! Mr. Fox has promised to help me!” replied Jemima excitedly.
Kep’s ears perked up at the mention of Mr. Fox. “Be careful! He is not to be trusted! You should come back home!”
But Jemima was too excited about her plan to listen. She continued gathering herbs while Kep watched from outside.
As night fell, Mr. Fox grew impatient waiting for Jemima to return with the herbs. He locked the door behind her and said sharply, “Now that you’re here, I shall prepare my feast!”
Horrified by his true intentions, Jemima quacked loudly in alarm. Just then, Kep burst through the door with two foxhound puppies at his heels.
“Let her go!” he barked fiercely at Mr.. Fox.
In the chaos that followed, Kep managed to free Jemima while the puppies chased Mr.. Fox away from the woodshed. Unfortunately, they rushed inside and gobbled up all of Jemima’s precious eggs before anyone could stop them.
Feeling sad but relieved to be safe, Jemima returned home with Kep by her side. Although she had lost her eggs, she learned an important lesson about trusting those who genuinely care for her.
Moral Of The Story
“Trust wisely and listen to those who care.” This story teaches us that naivety can lead us into dangerous situations if we are not careful about whom we trust. It also emphasises the value of true friendship; Kep’s loyalty helps save Jemima from a perilous fate.
