The Duk iz a kind ov short legged hen.
When cooked they are very good means ov nourishment, in fakt, it will do
to call roste duk and apple sass eazy tew contend with.
The duk haz a big foot for the size ov their boddy, but their foot iz
not the right kind ov a foot for digging in the garden.
Their foot iz like a small spider's web, only more substanshul bilt.
They are amphipicuss, and kan sale on the water az natral and eazy az a
grease spot.
They kan div in the water az handy az a hull frog, and never git water
soaked.
Water won't stay quiet on a duk's back no longer than quicksilver will
whare it iz down hill.
Duks hav a broad bill which enables them tew eat their food without enny
spoon.
They are more proffitable tew keep than a hen, bekauze they kan eat so
mutch faster.
Duks are addikted tew a wild state ov natur, but civilizashun haz did
sumthing handsum for duks, and made them the companyuns ov man and old
wimmin.
Next tew her grand children, an old woman thinks most ov her duks.
The duk iz a good hand tew raze feathers, which groze all over their
person simultanously without enny order.
Thare aint any room on the outside ov a duk for enny more feathers.
They shed their feathers by having them pulled out, and these feathers
make a good, tuff bed.
A duk's feather bed iz a good place tew raze nite mares on.
Men often call their wifes their "_dear duks_," this is on ackount ov
their big bills.
The duk don't kro like a rooster, but quaks like a duk.
They do a good deal ov quacking that don't amount tew mutch.
Sumtimes doktors are called quacks, but i never hav bin told whi.
The duk iz not the most profitable bird extant for vittles; for, when yu
hav got oph all the feathers, and pull out their stummuk, thare aint
enny more left on them, than thare iz on the outside ov an eg shel.
They are fust rate feeders, and alwus hav a leetle more appetight left.
Their leggs are lokated on their boddy like a pair ov hind leggs, and i
hav seen them eat till they tipt over forwards.
Duks ought to hav a pair ov before leggs, and then they couldn't eat
themselfs oph from their feet.
Duks la eggs, but don't la them around loose.
Hunting duks' eggs iz a mitey cluss transackshun.
A man couldn't earn 30 cents a day and board himself, hunting duks'
eggs.
The wild duk iz a game bird, and are shot on the wing.
They kan fli next faster tew a wild pigeon, and if yu aim right at them
on the wing, yure shot will hit whare the wild duk just waz.
I hav seen akres ov them git up oph from the water at once; they made az
mutch noize az the breaking up ov a kamp meeting.
I hav often fired into them with a dubble-barrelled gun, when they waz
rizing, with both mi eyes shut, and never injured enny duk, az i kno ov.