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。