Elsie was the daughter of poor parents, who lived on the borders of a
lake. Once, when she was very ill with a fever, a good neighbor made her
a present of three young ducks. Elsie was much pleased, and she soon
began to get well.
Her mother would bring a large tub of water into the room where the
little invalid lay; and the three ducks would swim about, and swallow
the crumbs which Elsie threw to them.
As soon as she got well, she would drive the ducks down to the lake, and
let them swim. They were so tame, that they would come out of the water
at her call.
Sometimes her father and the rest of the family would get into a boat,
and he would row across the lake to the opposite side, where some
families lived who employed Elsie's mother to wash clothes for them.
[Illustration]
At these times, the three ducks would follow the boat. Perhaps they did
not like to trust their dear Elsie on the water, unless they were by to
help her in case of need.
Sometimes old and young would join in a song; and then far over the lake
would be heard the words:
"Come to the sunset tree, the day is past and gone,
The woodman's axe lies free, and the reaper's task is done."
It was a very pretty sight, on a summer evening, when the bright clouds
over the setting sun threw their tints on the water, to see the ducks
swimming by the side of the little boat which contained Elsie and the
rest of the family. It was so pretty a sight, that a good artist made a
picture of the scene. We give you a copy of it here.