Snoutie and His Friends

Burly Boary helped Snoutie move the pumpkin to the sunniest spot in the garden. That very same day, another one of Snoutie’s friends, Hedgie the Valiant, brought over tools for building a house. They cut off the top of the pumpkin so that the sun’s rays could warm the egg all day long, scooped out the insides, and removed the seeds, which Economical Snoutie set aside for planting. They placed a large lamp next to the pumpkin, which Thoughtful Snoutie turned on at night, after the sun set.

This day marked the beginning of a Week of Great Concern.

Most of the conversations in the forest sounded something like this:

“So, what’s the news? How are things going with Snoutie? Has the chick hatched? Should we stop by for a visit? Have you already bought a gift? How is Snoutie feeling? I heard that he is very worried, concerned, and anxious.”

Meanwhile, Worried Snoutie, Concerned Snoutie, and Anxious Snoutie almost never stepped away from his Unusual Discovery, fearing that something would happen in his absence. He even moved his bed into the garden so he could sleep right next to the pumpkin.

Early one Saturday, when a very tired Snoutie was still deep asleep, he dreamed that Woodpecker flew into the garden and started loudly pecking at a tree with his beak. Snoutie woke up and looked around the garden, but he didn’t see anyone. For some strange reason, though, the knocking continued, and it sounded like it was coming from somewhere very close by. What’s more, it was joined by a strange peeping sound. Snoutie looked into the pumpkin and noticed that the egg was now covered with cracks and was shaking slightly. Snoutie also noticed that the strange peeping was coming from inside the egg.

“Good morning!” said Robin the Elder, who had flown in to visit Snoutie. “It looks like we’ll meet our new friend today.”

The news that the chick would hatch that day quickly spread throughout the forest. A grand celebration was arranged for Saturday evening at Snoutie’s house. The guest of honor was indeed unlike any forest bird anyone had ever seen. He was very big—much bigger than the forest chicks the creatures were used to. He had a long neck, very long, strong legs, and, for some reason, very small feathers. This strange little bird was covered in a bright, thick down that was so rough it was almost prickly, and he had black spots. As soon as he hatched from the egg, he looked carefully at everything around, peeped happily, and gave an amazed Snoutie a friendly peck, as if to say “Thank you, dear Snoutie.”

Everyone brought presents for the newborn. The first to arrive was Important Ceremonial Goose, who was wearing a scarlet silk ribbon around his neck.

“A ga-ga-ga-gift!” he honked, handing Snoutie his favorite blancmange cake. “I’m not really sure that chicks should eat this, but in any case it’s a very appropriate gift for a celebration,” he continued importantly and, for some reason, he threw an instructive glance at the chick.

The chick peeped loudly and happily and even winked at Goose.

“I would be pleased to undertake his education, Snoutie, if, of course, you have no objections,” said Goose, looking tenderly at the chick. “I would ga-ga-ga-guess that it is within my goosey abilities to ga-ga-ga-give him a harmonious upbringing.”

Snoutie had no objections.

The next guest to arrive was Housey Mousey. She gave Snoutie the tastiest morsel of cheese that she had stored away for a very special occasion like this one. Next came Beaver the Builder and his little beaver cubs, who were dragging a large basket filled with boiled crawfish. (Beaver believed that raw food was not good for chicks.) Croaky the Feel Good Froggy brought a freshly-caught dragonfly and a water lily, and Burly Boary brought ripe acorns. Snoutie himself picked a basketful of fresh green salad for the chick. The guests watched with great interest as the little one dug into the salad with a happy peep, and they continued to put forth the most incredible ideas about who this chick actually was.

The one to finally put an end to all this guesswork was Wise Old Owl, who was the last to arrive. He gave the little chick a silver spoon, because he believed that little ones should be taught exactly what good taste is from birth. He looked the newborn over carefully and announced importantly:

“It’s just as I thought, my friends. This is the very same bird from the south that I was telling you about at the restaurant. Before you stands a Young Ostrich!”

Time passed and Young Ostrich grew under the watchful eye of Goose, or, rather, under the watchful eye of Instructive Goose, Educating Goose, and Enlightening Goose. In the evenings, Goose would sit his young student down across from him and tell him about far-away countries and the creatures who lived there, oceans and seas, islands and straits, mountains and forests, and prairies and deserts, all the while spinning a large globe with his wing.