By the way they passed a sward of green, on which sundry little boys were engaged upon the lapidation of a lame duck.

It seemed that the duck was to have been taken to market, when it was discovered not only to be lame, but dyspeptic,--perhaps some weed had disagreed with its ganglionic apparatus, poor thing.

However that be, the good-wife had declared that the duck was good for nothing; and upon the petition of her children, it had been consigned to them for a little innocent amusement, and to keep them out of harm's way.

My mother declared that she never before saw her lord and master roused to such animation.

He dispersed the urchins, released the duck, carried it home, kept it in a basket by the fire, fed it and physicked it till it recovered; and then it was consigned to the square pond.