The Tortoise, you know, carries his house on his back.
No matter how hard he tries, he cannot leave home.
They say that Jupiter punished him so,
because he was such a lazy stay-at-home
that he would not go to Jupiter’s wedding,
After many years,Tortoise began to wish he had gone to that wedding.
When he saw how gaily the birds flew about
and how the Hare and the Chipmunk and all the other animals ran nimbly by,
always eager to see everything there was to be seen,
the Tortoise felt very sad and discontented.
He wanted to see the world too,
and there he was with a house on his back
and little short legs that could hardly drag him along!
One day he met a pair of Ducks and told them all his trouble.
“We can help you to see the world,”
“Take hold of this stick with your teeth
and we will carry you far up in the air
where you can see the whole countryside.
“But remember, you should keep quiet
The Tortoise was very glad indeed.
He seized the stick firmly with his teeth,
the two Ducks took hold of it one at each end,
and away they sailed up toward the clouds.
He was very much astonished at the strange sight and cried:
“This must surely be the King of Tortoises!”
“Why certainly——” began the Tortoise.
But as he opened his mouth to say these foolish words
he lost his hold on the stick,