November 25, 2025 • 23 mins
(00:00:00) Welcome to Rest
(00:00:48) Introducing tonight's story
(00:03:21) The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter
(00:11:37) The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter
Fall asleep to two Beatrix Potter stories: The Tale of Two Bad Mice and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.
Read softly and slowly, these tales will calm your mind and help you find rest. Curl up, close your eyes, and let these familiar, nostalgic stories carry you toward sleep.
If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate and leave a comment, it really goes a long way to help the podcast🌞
NEW episodes are released weekly! Every Tuesday at 6PM (GMT).
Watch, listen and comment on this episode on the Rest YouTube channel!
Support us:
https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/gentle-awareness
License code: XXBJ9IXZFRFO8AY9
https://uppbeat.io/t/tranquilium/gentle-resonance
License code: PA3Y2PWHLR5UYXVA
(00:00:48) Introducing tonight's story
(00:03:21) The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter
(00:11:37) The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter
Fall asleep to two Beatrix Potter stories: The Tale of Two Bad Mice and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.
Read softly and slowly, these tales will calm your mind and help you find rest. Curl up, close your eyes, and let these familiar, nostalgic stories carry you toward sleep.
If you enjoy the show, please follow, rate and leave a comment, it really goes a long way to help the podcast🌞
NEW episodes are released weekly! Every Tuesday at 6PM (GMT).
Watch, listen and comment on this episode on the Rest YouTube channel!
Support us:
- Rate the show on Spotify and leave comments on your favourite episodes
- Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel
- Stay up to date with all our latest news on Instagram.
- Got a question or thoughts to share? contact us here.
https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/gentle-awareness
License code: XXBJ9IXZFRFO8AY9
https://uppbeat.io/t/tranquilium/gentle-resonance
License code: PA3Y2PWHLR5UYXVA
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Good evening and welcome to rest, your sanctuary for peaceful
sleep and relaxation. Whether you're escaping daily stresses or seeking
a nightly companion, you're in the right place. My name
is Jessica, and I'll be your host this evening. Before
(00:27):
we begin, why don't you turn off your screens and
turn down your volume. Now that's done, let's unwind and
help you ease into.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
A blessed rest.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Tonight, in the quiet countryside where Peter Rabbit lives with
all his woodland friends, we follow a new adventure. A gentle,
moonlit hush has settled over the fields and hedgerows of
the Lake District. The little blue door of Peter's burrow
(01:14):
is closed for the night, and somewhere beneath the soft earth,
he is already curled up, dreaming of clover and warm sunshine.
But not all of Peter's friends are asleep. Just beyond
the garden gate, where the grass glitters with silver dew,
(01:36):
two curious mice, Tom Thumb and Hunker Monker are tiptoeing
into a world of tiny chairs, tiny plates, and mischief
just waiting to happen. This story begins with a squeak
a scamper, and the kind of trouble only to very
(02:00):
determined little mice can make. And a little further down
the winding country lane, under the whispering pines, and past
the old mill pond, someone else is awake. Jemima, puddled up,
with her soft white feathers and blue bonnet tied neatly
(02:25):
beneath her beak, is wandering through the twilight with a
hopeful heart. She is searching for a quiet, safe place
to lay her eggs, though she may find that not
every kindly gentleman in the woods is quite what he seems.
(02:45):
So settle in, let your breath soften, let your eyes
grow heavy, and let the night carry you gently into
the world of Peter Rabbit. Tonight we drift into two
of Beatrix Potter's beloved bedtime tails, The Tale of Two
(03:07):
Bad Mice and the Tale of Jemima puddle Duck. Told
softly from the sleepy countryside, Peter Rabbit calls home the
Tale of Two Bad Mice. Once upon a time, there
(03:32):
was a very beautiful doll's house. It was red brick
with white windows, and it had real muslin curtains and
a front door and a chimney It belonged to two
dolls called Lucinda and Jane. At least it belonged to Lucinda,
(03:55):
but she never ordered meals. Jane was the cook, but
she never did any cooking because the dinner had been
bought ready made in a box full of shavings.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
There were two.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Red lobsters, and a ham, a fish, a pudding, and
some pears and oranges. They would not come off the plates,
but they were extremely beautiful. One morning, Lucinda and Jane
had gone out for a drive in the doll's perambulator.
(04:33):
There was no one in the nursery and it was
very quiet. Presently, there was a little scuffling, scratching noise
in a corner near the fireplace, where there was a
hole under the skirting board. Tom Thumb put out his
head for a moment and then popped it in again.
(04:56):
Tom Thumb was a mouse, a minut it. Afterwards, Hunker Munker,
his wife, put her head out too, and when she
saw that there was no one in the nursery, she
ventured out on the oil cloth under the coal box.
The doll's house stood at the other side of the fireplace.
(05:20):
Tom Thumb and Hunker Monker went cautiously across the hearth rug.
They pushed the front door. It was not fast. Tom
Thumb and Hunker Monker went upstairs and peeped into the
dining room. Then they squeaked with joy. Such a lovely
(05:44):
dinner was laid out upon the table. There were tin spoons,
and lead knives and forks, and two dolly chairs, all
so convenient. Tom Thumb set to work at once to
carve the ham. It was a beautiful, shiny yellow streaked
(06:08):
with red.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
The knife crumpled up and hurt him.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
He put his finger in his mouth. It is not
boiled enough. It is hard. You have a try, Hunker Mounker.
Hunker Monker stood up in her chair and chopped at
the ham with another lead knife. It's as hard as
the ham at the cheesemonger's, said Hunker Monker. The ham
(06:39):
broke off the plate with a jerk and rolled under
the table let it alone, said Tom Thumb. Give me
some fish, Hunker Monker. Hunker Munker tried every tin spoon
in turn. The fish was glued to the dish. Then
(06:59):
to Thumb lost his temper. He put the ham in
the middle of the floor and hit it with the tongs,
and with the shovel bang bang, smash, smash, the ham
flew all into pieces, for underneath the shiny paint it
(07:23):
was made of nothing but plaster. Then there was no
end to the rage and disappointment of Tom Thumb and
Hunker Monker. They broke up the pudding, the lobsters, the pears.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And the oranges.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
As the fish would not come off the plate, they
put it in the red hot, crinkly paper fire in
the kitchen, but it would not burn either. Tom Thumb
went up the kitchen chimney and looked out at the top.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
There was no soot.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
While Tom Thumb was up the chimney, Hunker Munker had
another disappointment. She found some tiny canisters upon the dresser
labeled rice coffee Sago, But when she turned them upside down,
there was nothing inside except red and blue beads. Then
(08:28):
those mice set to work to do all the mischief
they could, especially Tom Thumb. He took Jane's clothes out
of the chest of drawers in her bedroom and he
threw them out of the top floor window. But Hunker
Munker had a frugal mind. After pulling half the feathers
(08:51):
out of Lucinda's bolster, she remembered that she herself was
in want of a feather bed. With Tom Thumb's assistance,
she carried the bolster downstairs and across the hearth rug.
It was difficult to squeeze the bolster into the mousehole,
(09:11):
but they managed it somehow. Then Hunker Monker went back
and fetched a chair, a bookcase, a bird cage, and
several small odds and ends. The bookcase and the bird
cage refused to go into the mousehole. Hunker Manka left
(09:33):
them behind the call box and went to fetch a cradle.
Hunker Monker was just returning with another chair when suddenly
there was a noise of talking outside upon the landing.
The mice rushed back to their hole, and the dolls
came into the nursery. What a sight met the eyes
(09:58):
of Jane and Luke Cinder. Lucinda sat upon the upset
kitchen stove and stared, and Jane leant against the kitchen
dresser and smiled, but neither of them made any remark.
The bookcase and the birdcage were rescued from under the
(10:21):
call box, but Hunker Munker has got the cradle and
some of Lucinda's clothes. She also has some useful pots
and pans and several other things. The little girl that
the doll's house belonged to said, I will get a
(10:41):
doll dressed like a policeman. But the nurse said, I
will set a mouse trap. So that is the story
of the two bad mice. But they were not so
very very naughty after all, because Tom Thumb paid for
(11:03):
everything he broke. He found a crooked sixpence under the hearthrug,
and upon Christmas Eve he and Hunker Monker stuffed it
into one of the stockings of Lucinda and Jane. And
very early every morning, before anybody is awake, Hunker Monker
(11:28):
comes with her dust pan and her broom to sweep
the dolly's house.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
What a funny sight it is to see a brood
of ducklings with a hen. Listen to the story of
Jemima puddle Duck, who was annoyed because the farmer's wife
would not let her hatch her own eggs. Her sister
in law, missus Rebecca puddle Duck, was perfectly willing to
(12:07):
leave the hatching to someone else. I have not the
patience to sit on a nest for twenty eight days,
and no more have you, Jemima, you would let them
go cold, you know you would. I wish to hatch
my own eggs. I will hatch them all by myself,
(12:31):
quacked Jemima puddle duck. She tried to hide her eggs,
but they were always found and carried off. Jemima puddle
Duck became quite desperate. She determined to make a nest
right away from the farm. She set off on a
(12:51):
fine spring afternoon along the cart road that leads over
the hill. She was wearing a shawl and a poke bonnet.
When she reached the top of the hill, she saw
a wood in the distance. She thought that it looked
a safe quiet spot. Jemima puddle Duck was not much
(13:16):
in the habit of flying.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
She ran downhill a.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Few yards, flapping her shawl, and then she jumped off
into the air. She flew beautifully. When she had got
a good start, she skimmed along over the treetops until
she saw an open place in the middle of the
wood where the trees and brushwood had been cleared. Jemima
(13:44):
alighted rather heavily and began to waddle about in search
of a convenient dry nesting place. She rather fancied a
tree stump amongst some tall fox gloves, but seated upon
the stump, she was startled to find an elegantly dressed
(14:06):
gentleman reading a newspaper. He had black prick ears and
sandy colored whiskers. Quack, said Jemima, puddled up with her
head and her bonnet on one side.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Quack.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
The gentleman raised his eyes above his newspaper and looked
curiously at Jemima. Madam, have you lost your way? Said he.
He had a long bushy tail, which he was sitting upon,
as the stump was somewhat damp. Jemima thought him mighty
(14:48):
civil and handsome. She explained that she had not lost
her way, but that she was trying to find a
convenient dry nesting place. Ah is that so, indeed, said
the gentleman with sandy whiskers, Looking curiously at Jemima. He
(15:11):
folded up the newspaper and put it in his coat
tail pocket. Jemima complained of the superfluous hen. Indeed, how
interesting I wish I could meet with that fowl. I
would teach it to mind. Its own business. But as
(15:33):
to a nest, there is no difficulty. I have a
sack full of feathers in my woodshed. No, my dear madam,
you will be in nobody's way. You may sit there
as long as you like, said the bushy long tailed gentleman.
(15:55):
He led the way to a very retired, dismal looking
house amongst the fox gloves. It was built of sticks
and turf, and there were two broken pails, one on
top of another by way of a chimney.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
This is my summer residence.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
You would not find my earth my winter house so convenient,
said the hospitable gentleman. There was a tumble down shed
at the back of the house made of old soap boxes.
The gentleman opened the door and showed Jemima in. The
(16:38):
shed was almost quite full of feathers. It was almost suffocating,
but it was comfortable and very soft. Jemima puddle Duck
was rather surprised to find such a vast quantity of feathers,
but it was very comfortable, and she made a nest
(17:00):
without any trouble at all. When she came out, the
sandy whiskered gentleman was sitting on a log reading the newspaper.
At least he had it spread out, but he was
looking over the top of it. He was so polite
that he seemed almost sorry to let Jemima go home
(17:23):
for the night. He promised to take great care of
her nest until she came back again next day. He
said he loved eggs and ducklings. He should be proud
to see a fine nestful in his woodshed. Jemima Puddle
(17:44):
duck came every afternoon. She laid nine eggs in the nest.
They were greeny white and very large. The foxy gentleman
admired them immensely. He used to turn them over and
count them when Jemima.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Was not there.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
At last, Jemima told him that she intended to begin
to sit next day, and I will bring a bag
of corn with me, so that I need never leave
my nest until the eggs are hatched. They might catch cold,
said the conscientious Jemima. Madam, I beg you not to
(18:31):
trouble yourself with a bag. I will provide oats. But
before you commence your tedious sitting, I intend to give
you a treat. Let us have a dinner party all
to ourselves. May I ask you to bring up some
herbs from the farm garden to make a savory omelet.
(18:55):
Sage and time and mint, and two two onions and
some parsley.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
I will provide lard for the stuff.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Lard for the omelet, said the hospitable gentleman with sandy whiskers.
Jemima puddle Duck was a simpleton. Not even the mention
of sage and onions made her suspicious. She went round
the farm garden nibbling off snippets of all the different
(19:30):
sorts of herbs that are used for stuffing roast duck.
And she waddled into the kitchen and got two onions
out of a basket. The collie dog Kep met her
coming out. What are you doing with those onions? Where
do you go every afternoon by yourself, Jemima puddle duck.
(19:56):
Jemima was rather in awe of the collie. She told
him the whole story. The collie listened with his wise
head on one side. He grinned when she described the
polite gentleman with sandy whiskers. He asked several questions about
(20:19):
the wood and about the exact position of the house
and shed. Then he went out and trotted down the village.
He went to look for two foxhound puppies who were
out at walk with the butcher. Jemima puddle Duck went
up the cart road for the last time on a
(20:43):
sunny afternoon. She was rather burdened with bunches of herbs
and two onions in a bag. She flew over the
wood and alighted opposite the house of the bushy long
tailed jedientlemen.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
He was sitting on a log.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
He sniffed the air and kept glancing uneasily round the wood.
When Jemima alighted, he quite jumped. Come into the house,
as soon as you have looked at your eggs, give
me the herbs for the omelet be sharp. He was
(21:26):
rather abrupt. Jemima puddle Duck had never heard him speak
like that. She felt surprised and uncomfortable. While she was inside,
she heard pattering feet round the back of the shed.
Someone with a black nose sniffed at the bottom of
(21:47):
the door and then locked it.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Jemima became much alarmed.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
A moment afterwards, there were most awful noises barking, baying,
growls and howls, squealing and groans, and nothing more was
ever seen of that foxy whiskered gentleman. Presently, Kep opened
(22:18):
the door of the shed and let out Jemima puddle Duck. Unfortunately,
the puppies rushed in and gobbled up all the eggs
before he could stop them. He had a bite on
his ear, and both the puppies were limping. Jemima Puddle
(22:39):
Duck was escorted home in tears on account of those eggs.
She laid some more in June, and she was permitted
to keep them herself, but only four of them hatched.
Jemima puddle Duck said that it was because of her nerves,
(23:00):
but she had always been a bad sitter.
Good evening and welcome to rest, your sanctuary for peaceful
sleep and relaxation. Whether you're escaping daily stresses or seeking
a nightly companion, you're in the right place. My name
is Jessica, and I'll be your host this evening. Before
(00:27):
we begin, why don't you turn off your screens and
turn down your volume. Now that's done, let's unwind and
help you ease into.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
A blessed rest.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Tonight, in the quiet countryside where Peter Rabbit lives with
all his woodland friends, we follow a new adventure. A gentle,
moonlit hush has settled over the fields and hedgerows of
the Lake District. The little blue door of Peter's burrow
(01:14):
is closed for the night, and somewhere beneath the soft earth,
he is already curled up, dreaming of clover and warm sunshine.
But not all of Peter's friends are asleep. Just beyond
the garden gate, where the grass glitters with silver dew,
(01:36):
two curious mice, Tom Thumb and Hunker Monker are tiptoeing
into a world of tiny chairs, tiny plates, and mischief
just waiting to happen. This story begins with a squeak
a scamper, and the kind of trouble only to very
(02:00):
determined little mice can make. And a little further down
the winding country lane, under the whispering pines, and past
the old mill pond, someone else is awake. Jemima, puddled up,
with her soft white feathers and blue bonnet tied neatly
(02:25):
beneath her beak, is wandering through the twilight with a
hopeful heart. She is searching for a quiet, safe place
to lay her eggs, though she may find that not
every kindly gentleman in the woods is quite what he seems.
(02:45):
So settle in, let your breath soften, let your eyes
grow heavy, and let the night carry you gently into
the world of Peter Rabbit. Tonight we drift into two
of Beatrix Potter's beloved bedtime tails, The Tale of Two
(03:07):
Bad Mice and the Tale of Jemima puddle Duck. Told
softly from the sleepy countryside, Peter Rabbit calls home the
Tale of Two Bad Mice. Once upon a time, there
(03:32):
was a very beautiful doll's house. It was red brick
with white windows, and it had real muslin curtains and
a front door and a chimney It belonged to two
dolls called Lucinda and Jane. At least it belonged to Lucinda,
(03:55):
but she never ordered meals. Jane was the cook, but
she never did any cooking because the dinner had been
bought ready made in a box full of shavings.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
There were two.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Red lobsters, and a ham, a fish, a pudding, and
some pears and oranges. They would not come off the plates,
but they were extremely beautiful. One morning, Lucinda and Jane
had gone out for a drive in the doll's perambulator.
(04:33):
There was no one in the nursery and it was
very quiet. Presently, there was a little scuffling, scratching noise
in a corner near the fireplace, where there was a
hole under the skirting board. Tom Thumb put out his
head for a moment and then popped it in again.
(04:56):
Tom Thumb was a mouse, a minut it. Afterwards, Hunker Munker,
his wife, put her head out too, and when she
saw that there was no one in the nursery, she
ventured out on the oil cloth under the coal box.
The doll's house stood at the other side of the fireplace.
(05:20):
Tom Thumb and Hunker Monker went cautiously across the hearth rug.
They pushed the front door. It was not fast. Tom
Thumb and Hunker Monker went upstairs and peeped into the
dining room. Then they squeaked with joy. Such a lovely
(05:44):
dinner was laid out upon the table. There were tin spoons,
and lead knives and forks, and two dolly chairs, all
so convenient. Tom Thumb set to work at once to
carve the ham. It was a beautiful, shiny yellow streaked
(06:08):
with red.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
The knife crumpled up and hurt him.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
He put his finger in his mouth. It is not
boiled enough. It is hard. You have a try, Hunker Mounker.
Hunker Monker stood up in her chair and chopped at
the ham with another lead knife. It's as hard as
the ham at the cheesemonger's, said Hunker Monker. The ham
(06:39):
broke off the plate with a jerk and rolled under
the table let it alone, said Tom Thumb. Give me
some fish, Hunker Monker. Hunker Munker tried every tin spoon
in turn. The fish was glued to the dish. Then
(06:59):
to Thumb lost his temper. He put the ham in
the middle of the floor and hit it with the tongs,
and with the shovel bang bang, smash, smash, the ham
flew all into pieces, for underneath the shiny paint it
(07:23):
was made of nothing but plaster. Then there was no
end to the rage and disappointment of Tom Thumb and
Hunker Monker. They broke up the pudding, the lobsters, the pears.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And the oranges.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
As the fish would not come off the plate, they
put it in the red hot, crinkly paper fire in
the kitchen, but it would not burn either. Tom Thumb
went up the kitchen chimney and looked out at the top.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
There was no soot.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
While Tom Thumb was up the chimney, Hunker Munker had
another disappointment. She found some tiny canisters upon the dresser
labeled rice coffee Sago, But when she turned them upside down,
there was nothing inside except red and blue beads. Then
(08:28):
those mice set to work to do all the mischief
they could, especially Tom Thumb. He took Jane's clothes out
of the chest of drawers in her bedroom and he
threw them out of the top floor window. But Hunker
Munker had a frugal mind. After pulling half the feathers
(08:51):
out of Lucinda's bolster, she remembered that she herself was
in want of a feather bed. With Tom Thumb's assistance,
she carried the bolster downstairs and across the hearth rug.
It was difficult to squeeze the bolster into the mousehole,
(09:11):
but they managed it somehow. Then Hunker Monker went back
and fetched a chair, a bookcase, a bird cage, and
several small odds and ends. The bookcase and the bird
cage refused to go into the mousehole. Hunker Manka left
(09:33):
them behind the call box and went to fetch a cradle.
Hunker Monker was just returning with another chair when suddenly
there was a noise of talking outside upon the landing.
The mice rushed back to their hole, and the dolls
came into the nursery. What a sight met the eyes
(09:58):
of Jane and Luke Cinder. Lucinda sat upon the upset
kitchen stove and stared, and Jane leant against the kitchen
dresser and smiled, but neither of them made any remark.
The bookcase and the birdcage were rescued from under the
(10:21):
call box, but Hunker Munker has got the cradle and
some of Lucinda's clothes. She also has some useful pots
and pans and several other things. The little girl that
the doll's house belonged to said, I will get a
(10:41):
doll dressed like a policeman. But the nurse said, I
will set a mouse trap. So that is the story
of the two bad mice. But they were not so
very very naughty after all, because Tom Thumb paid for
(11:03):
everything he broke. He found a crooked sixpence under the hearthrug,
and upon Christmas Eve he and Hunker Monker stuffed it
into one of the stockings of Lucinda and Jane. And
very early every morning, before anybody is awake, Hunker Monker
(11:28):
comes with her dust pan and her broom to sweep
the dolly's house.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
What a funny sight it is to see a brood
of ducklings with a hen. Listen to the story of
Jemima puddle Duck, who was annoyed because the farmer's wife
would not let her hatch her own eggs. Her sister
in law, missus Rebecca puddle Duck, was perfectly willing to
(12:07):
leave the hatching to someone else. I have not the
patience to sit on a nest for twenty eight days,
and no more have you, Jemima, you would let them
go cold, you know you would. I wish to hatch
my own eggs. I will hatch them all by myself,
(12:31):
quacked Jemima puddle duck. She tried to hide her eggs,
but they were always found and carried off. Jemima puddle
Duck became quite desperate. She determined to make a nest
right away from the farm. She set off on a
(12:51):
fine spring afternoon along the cart road that leads over
the hill. She was wearing a shawl and a poke bonnet.
When she reached the top of the hill, she saw
a wood in the distance. She thought that it looked
a safe quiet spot. Jemima puddle Duck was not much
(13:16):
in the habit of flying.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
She ran downhill a.
Speaker 1 (13:20):
Few yards, flapping her shawl, and then she jumped off
into the air. She flew beautifully. When she had got
a good start, she skimmed along over the treetops until
she saw an open place in the middle of the
wood where the trees and brushwood had been cleared. Jemima
(13:44):
alighted rather heavily and began to waddle about in search
of a convenient dry nesting place. She rather fancied a
tree stump amongst some tall fox gloves, but seated upon
the stump, she was startled to find an elegantly dressed
(14:06):
gentleman reading a newspaper. He had black prick ears and
sandy colored whiskers. Quack, said Jemima, puddled up with her
head and her bonnet on one side.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
Quack.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
The gentleman raised his eyes above his newspaper and looked
curiously at Jemima. Madam, have you lost your way? Said he.
He had a long bushy tail, which he was sitting upon,
as the stump was somewhat damp. Jemima thought him mighty
(14:48):
civil and handsome. She explained that she had not lost
her way, but that she was trying to find a
convenient dry nesting place. Ah is that so, indeed, said
the gentleman with sandy whiskers, Looking curiously at Jemima. He
(15:11):
folded up the newspaper and put it in his coat
tail pocket. Jemima complained of the superfluous hen. Indeed, how
interesting I wish I could meet with that fowl. I
would teach it to mind. Its own business. But as
(15:33):
to a nest, there is no difficulty. I have a
sack full of feathers in my woodshed. No, my dear madam,
you will be in nobody's way. You may sit there
as long as you like, said the bushy long tailed gentleman.
(15:55):
He led the way to a very retired, dismal looking
house amongst the fox gloves. It was built of sticks
and turf, and there were two broken pails, one on
top of another by way of a chimney.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
This is my summer residence.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
You would not find my earth my winter house so convenient,
said the hospitable gentleman. There was a tumble down shed
at the back of the house made of old soap boxes.
The gentleman opened the door and showed Jemima in. The
(16:38):
shed was almost quite full of feathers. It was almost suffocating,
but it was comfortable and very soft. Jemima puddle Duck
was rather surprised to find such a vast quantity of feathers,
but it was very comfortable, and she made a nest
(17:00):
without any trouble at all. When she came out, the
sandy whiskered gentleman was sitting on a log reading the newspaper.
At least he had it spread out, but he was
looking over the top of it. He was so polite
that he seemed almost sorry to let Jemima go home
(17:23):
for the night. He promised to take great care of
her nest until she came back again next day. He
said he loved eggs and ducklings. He should be proud
to see a fine nestful in his woodshed. Jemima Puddle
(17:44):
duck came every afternoon. She laid nine eggs in the nest.
They were greeny white and very large. The foxy gentleman
admired them immensely. He used to turn them over and
count them when Jemima.
Speaker 2 (18:04):
Was not there.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
At last, Jemima told him that she intended to begin
to sit next day, and I will bring a bag
of corn with me, so that I need never leave
my nest until the eggs are hatched. They might catch cold,
said the conscientious Jemima. Madam, I beg you not to
(18:31):
trouble yourself with a bag. I will provide oats. But
before you commence your tedious sitting, I intend to give
you a treat. Let us have a dinner party all
to ourselves. May I ask you to bring up some
herbs from the farm garden to make a savory omelet.
(18:55):
Sage and time and mint, and two two onions and
some parsley.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
I will provide lard for the stuff.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
Lard for the omelet, said the hospitable gentleman with sandy whiskers.
Jemima puddle Duck was a simpleton. Not even the mention
of sage and onions made her suspicious. She went round
the farm garden nibbling off snippets of all the different
(19:30):
sorts of herbs that are used for stuffing roast duck.
And she waddled into the kitchen and got two onions
out of a basket. The collie dog Kep met her
coming out. What are you doing with those onions? Where
do you go every afternoon by yourself, Jemima puddle duck.
(19:56):
Jemima was rather in awe of the collie. She told
him the whole story. The collie listened with his wise
head on one side. He grinned when she described the
polite gentleman with sandy whiskers. He asked several questions about
(20:19):
the wood and about the exact position of the house
and shed. Then he went out and trotted down the village.
He went to look for two foxhound puppies who were
out at walk with the butcher. Jemima puddle Duck went
up the cart road for the last time on a
(20:43):
sunny afternoon. She was rather burdened with bunches of herbs
and two onions in a bag. She flew over the
wood and alighted opposite the house of the bushy long
tailed jedientlemen.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
He was sitting on a log.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
He sniffed the air and kept glancing uneasily round the wood.
When Jemima alighted, he quite jumped. Come into the house,
as soon as you have looked at your eggs, give
me the herbs for the omelet be sharp. He was
(21:26):
rather abrupt. Jemima puddle Duck had never heard him speak
like that. She felt surprised and uncomfortable. While she was inside,
she heard pattering feet round the back of the shed.
Someone with a black nose sniffed at the bottom of
(21:47):
the door and then locked it.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Jemima became much alarmed.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
A moment afterwards, there were most awful noises barking, baying,
growls and howls, squealing and groans, and nothing more was
ever seen of that foxy whiskered gentleman. Presently, Kep opened
(22:18):
the door of the shed and let out Jemima puddle Duck. Unfortunately,
the puppies rushed in and gobbled up all the eggs
before he could stop them. He had a bite on
his ear, and both the puppies were limping. Jemima Puddle
(22:39):
Duck was escorted home in tears on account of those eggs.
She laid some more in June, and she was permitted
to keep them herself, but only four of them hatched.
Jemima puddle Duck said that it was because of her nerves,
(23:00):
but she had always been a bad sitter.
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