Sometimes, wanting something very badly can blind us to danger. This is a story about a naive duck and a deceptive fox, and how a true friend appears just at the right time.
Jemima Puddle-duck and the Foxy Gentleman
Jemima Puddle-duck was annoyed. The farmer's wife would never let her hatch her own eggs; she always gave them to a hen to sit on. "I wish to hatch my own eggs!" Jemima quacked with determination. "I will hatch them all by myself!"
She decided to find a secret nesting place far away from the farm. Wearing her shawl and bonnet, she set off. After a short flight, she saw a quiet spot in the middle of a wood and landed there.
As she searched for a good spot, she was startled to find an elegantly dressed gentleman sitting on a tree stump, reading a newspaper. He had black, pointy ears and sandy-colored whiskers.
The gentleman looked up. "Madam, have you lost your way?" he asked politely. He had a long, bushy tail that he was sitting on. Jemima thought he was very civil and handsome, and explained that she was looking for a safe place to lay her eggs.
"How interesting!" said the gentleman with sandy whiskers. "There is no difficulty at all. I have a shed full of soft feathers in the back of my summer house. You may stay there as long as you like."
He led her to a strange-looking house and opened the door to the shed. It was full of feathers—so many it was almost suffocating—but it was warm and comfortable. Jemima made her nest easily. The gentleman promised he would guard it well. He said he loved eggs and ducklings very much.
Jemima came every day until she had laid nine large eggs. At last, she told the gentleman she would start sitting on them the next day.
"Wonderful!" said the gentleman with a sly smile. "But before you begin your long sit, I insist on giving you a dinner party! May I ask you to bring some herbs from the farm to make a savory omelette? Bring sage, thyme, mint, and two onions."
Jemima was a simple duck, so she didn't find this request suspicious (even though those are the very same herbs used for stuffing a roast duck!). As she was coming out of the kitchen with the onions, she met the wise collie dog, Kep.
"What are you doing with those onions, Jemima? And where do you go every day?" Kep asked. Jemima was a little afraid of the dog, so she told him the whole story. Kep listened carefully, and he grinned when she described the polite gentleman with sandy whiskers.
After finding out the exact location of the house, Kep ran off and got two young fox-hound puppies.
Meanwhile, Jemima arrived at the fox's house for the last time. He seemed nervous. "Get inside quickly!" he said sharply. While Jemima was inside, she heard footsteps, a black nose sniffed under the door, and then the door was locked!
Suddenly, there were awful noises outside: barking, growling, and howling. After that, the foxy-whiskered gentleman was never seen again. Kep opened the door for Jemima, but unfortunately, the puppies had rushed in and gobbled up all the eggs.
Jemima returned to the farm crying over her lost eggs, but she was later allowed to keep her next batch, and she successfully hatched four little ducklings.
🎯 Enrichment & Learning
Values and Lessons Learned
- Be wary of overly friendly strangers: The fox used his politeness as a trap. Kindness that seems too good to be true might be hiding bad intentions.
- Listen to wise friends: Jemima ignored her sister-in-law, but the wise dog Kep was the one who saved her life.
- Trust your instincts: Jemima felt uncomfortable with the fox's final sharp tone. This was a warning sign of danger.
- Naivety can be dangerous: Jemima's simple and trusting nature almost cost her her life.
Comprehension Questions
- Why did Jemima Puddle-duck want to leave the farm?
- Who did she meet in the woods?
- Where did the gentleman offer her a place to nest?
- What ingredients did he ask her to bring for the "omelette"?
- Who saved Jemima in the end?
Critical Thinking Questions
- Why didn't Jemima realize the gentleman was a fox with bad intentions?
- What were some of the clues that he was dangerous?
- Do you think Kep was a good friend? Why?
Practical Application Questions
- If a stranger offered you something that seemed too good to be true, what should you do?
- Who are the "wise friends" in your life that you can trust for good advice?
- Think of a time you had a bad feeling about a situation. What did you do?
🎨 Interactive Content
Fun Activities
- Herb Identification: Look at pictures (or real herbs) of sage, thyme, and mint. Talk about what they are used for in cooking.
- "Spot the Clues" Game: Reread the story and list all the clues that the gentleman was a fox planning something bad.
- Drawing Game: Draw the polite foxy gentleman reading his newspaper on the tree stump, with his bushy tail showing.
Short Description for Sharing (150 characters)
A simple duck named Jemima wants to hatch her eggs in secret. She trusts a polite foxy gentleman, but is he really a friend? A classic tale of danger.
AI Image Generation Prompt
A Disney 3D style cinematic shot of a naive, bonnet-wearing white duck (Jemima Puddle-duck) looking curiously at a very dapper, well-dressed fox sitting on a tree stump in a forest clearing. The fox is pretending to read a newspaper but is peeking over the top with a cunning smile. The scene is charming but with a hint of suspense. 16:9 aspect ratio.