“It was the funny little song that cured me,” said Billie.  Then he got out of bed and began frisking around; the doctor went home, and the little squirrel was all well.  After a while Jimmie, Lulu and Alice had to leave, and they went home, feeling very happy for the good they had done to Billie Bushytail, for it always makes you feel happy to help some one.  Now, if you promise not to whisper in school next week you shall hear to-morrow night how Jimmie tried to become a flying machine.

[Illustration:]

STORY VI

JIMMIE AS A FLYING MACHINE

One day, I think it must have been about three-and-a-half-quacks past cornmeal time, there was a great commotion in the yard, and around the pond where Jimmie Wibblewobble and his two sisters and his papa and mamma lived.  There was a great fluttering in the air, and something, colored in beautiful tints, flew down and settled on the water with a little splash.

“My goodness, what is that?” asked Alice Wibblewobble, who was easily frightened.  At first no one knew, for, though the creature was shaped just like a duck, it was not colored like any duck Jimmie had even seen.  It was gold and bronze and green, with little patches of red and blue here and there, and was a most beautiful creature.

“Maybe that is a fairy,” suggested Lulu, who sometimes read fairy stories.

“Oh, if it only might be one, and could tell me where the fairy prince is!” exclaimed Alice, with a sigh.

“Nonsense!” cried Jimmie, who was just going off to see his friend Bully, the frog.  “Stuff and nonsense!”

“That’s what I say, too,” called out the strange creature.  “Nonsense!  I’m not a fairy at all.  I’m a duck like yourselves, only I am a wild duck.”  Then its wings beat the air and water, and the wild duck arose and flew right over the pond and back again, as quickly as could be.

“My goodness!  How do you do that?” asked Jimmie, who never could fly more than a few feet.

“Why,” answered the wild duck, “I just did it, that’s all.”

“Snippery, snappery snails!” cried Jimmie, “you’re just like a flying machine that my papa read about in the paper.”

“Well, somewhat like one, perhaps,” admitted the wild duck.  “I can fly a long distance.  Did you ever try?”

“No,” answered Jimmie; “I never did.”

“Perhaps you would like to try now,” suggested the other.  “I will stay here a little while, and show you.  It is very easy.  You can just as well become a flying machine as not.  Come, I will fly up on the fence.  You come up here, too, and when I say ‘Go!’ why start off, and, who knows? perhaps you will do as well as I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Of course, I’ll try,” said Jimmie, very bravely, for he was always wanting to try new things.

“So will I,” cried Lulu.  “I want to fly, too.”

“Oh, you had better be careful,” warned Alice, who was a very cautious duckling, never getting into danger if she could help it.