IthappeneduponaNovembereveningwhenIwasaboutfifteenyearsold，andout-growingmystrengthveryrapidly，mysisterAnniebeingturnedthirteen，andadealofrainhavingfallen，andallthetroughsintheyardbeingflooded，andthebarkfromthewood-rickswasheddownthegutters，andevenourwater-shootgoingbrownthattheducksinthecourtmadeaterriblequacking，insteadofmarchingofftotheirpen，onebehindanother。ThereuponAnnieandIranouttoseewhatmightbethesenseofit。Therewerethirteenducks，andtenlily-whiteasthefashionthenofduckswas，notImeantwenty-threeinall，buttenwhiteandthreebrown-stripedones；andwithoutbeingniceabouttheircolour，theyallquackedverymovingly。Theypushedtheirgold-colouredbillshereandthereyetdirty，asgoldisapttobe，andtheyjumpedonthetrianglesoftheirfeet，andsoundedoutoftheirnostrils；andsomeoftheover-excitedonesranalonglowontheground，quackinggrievouslywiththeirbillssnappingandbending，andtheroofoftheirmouthsexhibited。
Anniebegantocry’Dilly，dilly，einy，einy，ducksey，’
accordingtotheburdenofatunetheyseemtohaveacceptedasthenationalduck’santhem；butinsteadofbeingsoothedbyit，theyonlyquackedthreetimesashard，andranroundtillweweregiddy。Andthentheyshooktheirtailstogether，andlookedgrave，andwentroundandroundagain。NowIamuncommonlyfondofducks，bothroastedandroastingandroystering；anditisafinesighttobeholdthemwalk，poddlingoneafterother，withtheirtoesout，likesoldiersdrilling，andtheirlittleeyescockedallwaysatonce，andthewaythattheydibwiththeirbills，anddabble，andthrowuptheirheadsandenjoysomething，andthentelltheothersaboutit。ThereforeIknewatonce，bythewaytheywerecarryingon，thattheremustbesomethingorothergonewhollyamissintheduck-world。SisterAnnieperceivedittoo，butwithagreaterquickness；
forshecountedthemlikeagoodduck-wife，andcouldonlytellthirteenofthem，whensheknewthereoughttobefourteen。
Andsowebegantosearchabout，andtheducksrantoleadusaright，havingcomethatfartofetchus；andwhenwegotdowntothefootofthecourt-yardwherethetwogreatash-treesstandbythesideofthelittlewater，wefoundgoodreasonfortheurgenceandmelancholyoftheduck-birds。Lo!theoldwhitedrake，thefatherofall，abirdofhighmannersandchivalry，alwaysthelasttohelphimselffromthepanofbarley-meal，andthefirsttoshowfighttoadogorcockintrudinguponhisfamily，thisfinefellow，andpillarofthestate，wasnowinasadpredicament，yetquackingverystoutly。Forthebrook，wherewithhehadbeenfamiliarfromhiscallowchildhood，andwhereinhewaswonttoquestforwater-newts，andtadpoles，andcaddis-worms，andothergame，thisbrook，whichaffordedhimveryoftenscantyspacetodabblein，andsometimesstarvedthecresses，wasnowcomingdowninagreatbrownflood，asifthebanksneverbelongedtoit。Thefoamingofit，andthenoise，andthecrestingofthecorners，andtheupanddown，likeawaveofthesea，wereenoughtofrightenanyduck，thoughbreduponstormywaters，whichourducksneverhadbeen。