The little ducks were swimming
about in the pond, looking just like a lot of yellow canaries, and
their mother, who was pure white with real red legs, was trying to
teach them how to stand on their heads in the water.
"You will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your
heads," she kept saying to them; and every now and then she showed
them how it was done. But the little ducks paid no attention to
her. They were so young that they did not know what an advantage
it is to be in society at all.
"What disobedient children!" cried the old Water-rat; "they really
deserve to be drowned."
"Nothing of the kind," answered the Duck, "every one must make a
beginning, and parents cannot be too patient."
"Ah! I know nothing about the feelings of parents," said the Water-
rat; "I am not a family man. In fact, I have never been married,
and I never intend to be. Love is all very well in its way, but
friendship is much higher. Indeed, I know of nothing in the world
that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship.
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