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Updated: May 27, 2025
Scratchard was envious, because she had lost all her own tail-feathers, and looked more like a worn- out old feather-duster than a respectable hen, and that therefore she was filled with sheer envy of anybody that was young and pretty. So young Mrs. Feathertop cackled gay defiance at her busy rubbishy neighbour, as she sunned herself under the bushes on fine June afternoons.
"Well, Mrs. Feathertop, this is a dispensation!" said Mrs. Scratchard. "Your children are all drowned at last, just as I knew they'd be. The old music-teacher, Master Bullfrog, that lives down in Water-Dock Lane, saw 'em all plump madly into the water together this morning. That's what comes of not knowing how to bring up a family!" Mrs.
"Nothing, as I know of," said Dame Scratchard, "since you didn't come to me before you sat. I could have told you all about it. Maybe it won't kill 'em, but they'll always be deformed."
"I understand it's affecting their feet so that they can't walk, and a dreadful sort of net is growing between their toes. What a shocking visitation!" "She brought it on herself," said Dame Scratchard. "Why didn't she come to me before she sat? She was always an upstart, self-conceited thing; but I'm sure I pity her." Meanwhile the young ducks throve apace.
"Yes, yes," said Dame Scratchard, "she'll know what real life is now, and she won't go about holding her head so high, and looking down on her practical neighbours that have raised families." "Poor thing! what'll she do with a family?" said Goody Kertarkut. "Well, what business have such young flirts to get married?" said Dame Scratchard.
Scratchard looked out of her coop and called to Goody Kertarkut, "Look how Mr. Gray Cock is flirting with that widow. I always knew she was a baggage." "And his poor wife left at home alone," said Goody Kertarkut. "It's the way with 'em all!"
So their bills grew larger and larger, as did the rest of their bodies, and family government grew weaker and weaker. "You'll wear me out, children, you certainly will," said poor Mrs. Feathertop. "You'll go to destruction, do ye hear?" said Master Gray Cock. "Did you ever see such frights as poor Mrs. Feathertop has got?" said Dame Scratchard.
Feathertop began to feel the world going well with her, when suddenly in came Dame Scratchard and Goody Kertarkut to make a morning call. "Let's see the chicks," said Dame Scratchard. "Goodness me," said Goody Kertarkut, "what a likeness to their dear papa!" "Well, but bless me, what's the matter with their bills?" said Dame Scratchard. "Why, my dear, these chicks are deformed!
Scratchard, living in the neighbouring yard, assured all the neighbourhood that Gray Cock was a fool for thinking so much of that flighty young thing; THAT she had not the smallest notion how to get on in life, and thought of nothing in the world but her own pretty feathers. "Wait till she comes to have chickens," said Mrs. Scratchard; "then you will see.
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