The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
Beatrix Potter
A duck wants to hatch her own eggs. A friendly gentleman with a bushy tail offers her a quiet place to do it.
About the book
From 1908. Jemima Puddle-duck wants to hatch her own eggs, but the farmer's wife keeps taking them away. So she flies off in her shawl and poke bonnet to find a nest somewhere quiet. In the wood she meets an elegantly dressed gentleman with sandy whiskers who is reading a newspaper. He is very kind, offers her a shed full of feathers, and asks her to bring some sage, thyme and onions for an omelette.
Reading it as a learner
1,255 words, about twelve minutes, B1. The gentleman's speech is extremely polite, and that politeness is worth studying: civil, hospitable and superfluous are all his kind of words. The plain narration around him uses everyday verbs like hatch, waddle and escort. The tension comes from what the reader understands and Jemima does not, so read slowly and enjoy it. Kep, the farm collie, is worth watching.
Contents
Chapter 1