The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly by Reg Down Page B

in the east, so every day he flew as far east as he could so
that he could greet her first thing in the evening. But, at last, he came to a
great sea that he could not cross and that is where fireflies live to this
day.”
    Jeremy Mouse looked at Tiptoes and smiled. Then he
closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Tiptoes and Jeremy Mouse visit Lucy Goose
    It’s time to visit Lucy Goose,” said Tiptoes to Jeremy
Mouse one morning. “Her eggs must be hatched by now.”
    They followed Running River down to Soggy Mire.
    “I can’t come to the island with you,” said Jeremy
Mouse. “I’d love to see what her half-egg hatched into, but I can’t swim.”
    “Let’s ask the Swan King if he’ll carry you over,”
suggested Tiptoes. So they went to the House of Swan.
    “Dear Swan King,” said Jeremy in his best voice, “I
really want to go to Lucy Goose Island to see how the half-egg hatched, but I
can’t swim. Will you carry me over?”
    “Is the half-egg hatched already?” he asked.
    “We think so,” said Tiptoes. “All her eggs should be
hatched by now.”
    “Everybody’s talking about the half-egg and I’d like
to see for myself,” said the Swan King. “Climb on my back Jeremy Mouse.”
    So he climbed onto his back and over the waters of
Soggy Mire they sailed. Jeremy Mouse nestled in the Swan King’s feathers and
Tiptoes sat beside him for company.

    “It’s like sailing with a king,” said Jeremy Mouse in
a hushed voice. “See how majestic he looks.”
    “You’re lucky,” said Tiptoes. “I’ve never seen a mouse
riding on a swan’s back.”
    As they came close to the island the Swan King honked
three times—honk, honk, honk. That was to let Lucy Goose know who was coming,
and Lucy honked back.
    “It’s me too,” called Tiptoes.
    “And me,” said Jeremy Mouse. “Are your eggs hatched?”
    “They are,” said Lucy Goose proudly. “Come and see.”
    Sure enough, she had three beautiful goslings. They
peeped loudly and looked around from under her wings. They were still very
small.
    “Oh, they’re so fluffy,” said Tiptoes.
    “But what about the half-egg?” asked Jeremy Mouse. He
was so curious he could hardly stand still.
    “Yes, he hatched,” said Lucy. “He’s a little odd, and
doesn’t have feathers, but I love him anyway. Perhaps he’ll grow feathers when
he needs to fly.”
    “But where is he?” asked the Swan King, who was also
very curious.
    “He’s underneath me,” said Lucy Goose.
    “Let’s see, let’s see,” said Tiptoes.
    Lucy the Goose slowly stood up in her nest. Tiptoes,
Jeremy Mouse and the Swan King strained their necks to see—and there was the
cutest, most adorable baby turtle you have ever seen.
    “A TURTLE !” they exclaimed.

A Telling Tale

    A TURTLE!” exclaimed Pine Cone and Pepper Pot. Jeremy
Mouse and Tiptoes had rushed to tell them the news as soon as they got back to
shore.
    “Yes! A turtle,” said Tiptoes. “A baby turtle.
Every-body in Soggy Mire is talking about it.”
    “And he can swim already,” said Jeremy Mouse. “We saw
him.”
    “I never heard of such a thing,” said Pine Cone. “Does
he seem happy?”
    “Oh, yes,” said Tiptoes, “he can swim whenever he
wants and has a warm place to sleep at night. He’s very happy. And Mother
Turtle won’t mind where he grows up. She just lays her eggs in the mud, and
when they hatch the turtle babies look after themselves.”
    “By my beard,” said Pepper Pot, pulling his beard.
“What’s his name?”
    “Feathers,” said Jeremy Mouse. “Lucy Goose called him
‘Feathers’. She thinks he’ll grow feathers when he needs to fly.”
    “This will make a good Telling Tale,” said Pine Cone,
rubbing his hands together. “I can hardly wait till winter to tell it round the
fire.”
    “Let’s cook pancakes to celebrate,” said Pepper Pot.
    So they did, and they were happy to have such a good
Telling Tale for the long nights of winter.

    THE END
The Author’s Tale
    These