The Devoted Friend

           OnemorningtheoldWater-ratputhisheadoutofhishole.Hehadbrightbeadyeyesandstiffgreywhiskersandhistailwaslikealongbitofblackindia-rubber.Thelittleduckswereswimmingaboutinthepond,lookingjustlikealotofyellowcanaries,andtheirmother,whowaspurewhitewithrealredlegs,wastryingtoteachthemhowtostandontheirheadsinthewater.

           "Youwillneverbeinthebestsocietyunlessyoucanstandonyourheads,"shekeptsayingtothem;andeverynowandthensheshowedthemhowitwasdone.Butthelittleduckspaidnoattentiontoher.Theyweresoyoungthattheydidnotknowwhatanadvantageitistobeinsocietyatall.

           "Whatdisobedientchildren!"criedtheoldWater-rat;"theyreallydeservetobedrowned."

           "Nothingofthekind,"answeredtheDuck,"everyonemustmakeabeginning,andparentscannotbetoopatient."

           "Ah!Iknownothingaboutthefeelingsofparents,"saidtheWater-rat;"Iamnotafamilyman.Infact,Ihaveneverbeenmarried,andIneverintendtobe.Loveisallverywellinitsway,butfriendshipismuchhigher.Indeed,Iknowofnothingintheworldthatiseithernoblerorrarerthanadevotedfriendship."

           "Andwhat,pray,isyourideaofthedutiesofadevotedfriend?"askedagreenLinnet,whowassittinginawillow-treehardby,andhadoverheardtheconversation.

           "Yes,thatisjustwhatIwanttoknow,"saidtheDuck;andsheswamawaytotheendofthepond,andstooduponherhead,inordertogiveherchildrenagoodexample.