Part 16 (1/2)

”'Good-day, pancake,' said the man.

”'G.o.d bless you, Manny Panny!' said the pancake.

”'Dear pancake,' said the man, 'don't roll so fast; stop a little and let me eat you.'

”'When I have given the slip to Goody Poody, and the goodman, and seven squalling children, I may well slip through your fingers, Manny Panny,'

said the pancake, and rolled on and on till it met a hen.

”'Good-day, pancake,' said the hen.

”'The same to you, Henny Penny,' said the pancake.

”'Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast, bide a bit and let me eat you up,'

said the hen.

”'When I have given the slip to Goody Poody, and the goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny Panny, I may well slip through your claws, Henny Penny,' said the pancake, and so it rolled on like a wheel down the road.

”Just then it met a c.o.c.k.

”'Good-day, pancake,' said the c.o.c.k.

”'The same to you, c.o.c.ky Locky,' said the pancake.

”'Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast, but bide a bit and let me eat you up.'

”'When I have given the slip to Goody Poody, and the goodman, and seven squalling children, and to Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, I may well slip through your claws, c.o.c.ky Locky,' said the pancake, and off it set rolling away as fast as it could; and when it had rolled a long way it met a duck.

”'Good-day, pancake,' said the duck.

”'The same to you, Ducky Lucky.'

”'Pancake, dear, don't roll away so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up.'

”'When I have given the slip to Goody Poody, and the goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, and c.o.c.ky Locky, I may well slip through your fingers, Ducky Lucky,' said the pancake, and with that it took to rolling and rolling faster than ever; and when it had rolled a long, long while, it met a goose.

”'Good-day, pancake,' said the goose.

”'The same to you, Goosey Poosey.'

”'Pancake, dear, don't roll so fast; bide a bit and let me eat you up.'

”'When I have given the slip to Goody Poody, and the goodman, and seven squalling children, and Manny Panny, and Henny Penny, and c.o.c.ky Locky, and Ducky Lucky, I can well slip through your feet, Goosey Poosey,' said the pancake, and off it rolled.

”So when it had rolled a long, long way farther, it met a gander.

”'Good-day, pancake,' said the gander.