“At the time he was squatting at the very edge of the Smiling Pool.  Presently he noticed a funny water bug crawling on the bottom where the water was only an inch or two deep.  ’I wonder if that fellow is good to eat,’ thought he, and almost without thinking he plunged his head under water and caught the bug.  It was good.  Grandfather Quack at once started to look for more, and while doing this he discovered that there were a great many seeds from the rushes scattered about in the mud at the bottom of the Smiling Pool, and that these also were good to eat.  Then quite by accident he got hold of a tender root in the mud and found that this was especially good.

“This was enough for Grandfather Quack.  He had found that he could get plenty to eat without leaving the Smiling Pool.  Moreover, he didn’t have to share it with anybody, because there was no one else who thought of looking for food there.  He knew when he was well off.  So Grandfather Quack grew fat and was happy.  The only things that bothered him were the slowness with which he had to pick up seeds, one at a time, and the slowness with which he could paddle about, for you couldn’t really call it swimming.  But in spite of these things he was happy and made the best of his lot.

“One day he tugged and tugged at a root with his head under water.  When at last he had to bring his head up for a breath, whom should he discover but Old Mother Nature watching him from the opposite bank.  ‘Come over here, Mr. Quack, and tell me all about it,’ she commanded.

“Grandfather Quack started across the Smiling Pool, but because his feet were not made for swimming, it took him a long time to get there.  Old Mother Nature smiled as she watched him.  ’You look better on the water than you do on land,’ said she.  ’In fact, I believe that is just where you belong.  Now tell me how you happened to take to the water.’

“Grandfather Quack told her the whole story and how Old Mother Nature did laugh when he described how frightened he was when he fell in that time.  Suddenly she reached out and caught him by the bill.  ’I don’t think much of that bill for poking about in the mud,’ said she.  ’How will this do?’ She let go, and Grandfather Quack found he had a broad bill just suited for getting food out of the mud.  Then Old Mother Nature bade him hold forth first one foot and then the other.  Between the toes she stretched a tough skin clear to the toe nails.  ’Now let me see you swim,’ said she.

“Grandfather Quack tried.  He kicked one foot and then the other, and to his great joy he shot along swiftly.  When he drew his feet back for another kick his toes closed together, and so his feet came through the water easily.  But when he kicked back they were wide spread, and the skin between them pushed against the water, and drove him ahead.  It was wonderful!  It was splendid!  He hurried over to Old Mother Nature, and with tears of joy in his eyes he thanked her.  And from that day to this members of my family have had the same broad bills and webbed feet, and have lived on the water,” concluded Mr. Quack.