One sunny spring morning, Gregory the Goose was sitting upon his nest. At last the little wee goslings came out of their eggs, and Gregory was so proud of them that he did not know what to do. At last he thought he’d better get his family into the water before the sun dried all their feathers.
“Thrice happy he whose nursling braves
The limpid lake or bubbling waves.”
So off he set for the water, waddling along with all his little family behind him. But when they got to the bank Gregory did not know what to do. He gave a little inquisitive flap of his wings, then he withdrew one precautionary foot — even now he hesitated. The cooling wave lapped temptingly at his feet; and yet Gregory drew back.
“We can do it very easily, papa,” said Gracie; and she hopped upon the water.
She was soon followed by all the others, while Gregory looked on disconsolate. Then, giving himself a shake, he weighted the matter seriously, and waddled forward to enter the water. He flapt his wings helplessly in the air several times, then he positively retreated.
“I can’t do it, I can’t do it,” cried he. “My toes are so webbed, I should be drowned. I don’t know how it is that you children do it; but you can all get out, of course.”
“Oh, yes; of course we can, papa,” said all the children, looking at him as they floated about.
Gregory the Goose gave himself another shake, and looking wistfully across at the green bank, “Still it must be pleasant in the water,” he thought. So he waddled on once more, and Jerling forward threw himself heart and soul into the wave. There was a splash, a flap, a swish of the tail, and all at once Gregory was in the middle of the lake.
“Oh, I see the trick of it now, I see the trick of it now,” said he, as he swam swiftly round and round; but they all came to the bank together. The little welcoming family gathered round to greet them; and Gregory looked about him innocently. There was a bright new house on the other side of the lake. “I wonder who has come into our neighbourhood,” said he — that’s a thing you ought never to say. So off Gregory set to see, but it happened to be the very last place that suited him.
“Will you be my friend?” asked Gregory.