Quack! Said Jerusha

[cwh]

I am on a quest and hope maybe someone can help . . .

If anyone knows the words or can locate this children's poem for me I shall be eternally grateful!

It is called "Quack! Said Jerusha" written by Mildred Plew Merryman in the 1930's. Quite a lengthy poem about the charming experiences of a duckling upon breaking out of her shell. It was a favorite of mine as a little girl and I remember my Mother reading it to me many times over. I've had no luck finding anything on the internet. I have a feeling it was within a book of other nursery rhymes by various authors, which makes my search even more difficult . . .

It had such an impact that later in life when I had a pet duck (I hatched her myself in a little mail-away plastic incubator) I named her Jerusha. She imprinted on me as her mom and followed me everywhere. When she reached maturity I set her free to live on a farm with other duckies; last I heard she was happily sitting on a nest of eggs . . . this was many, many years ago.

Well, PetTalk people are the greatest, so I'm keeping my paws crossed that somebody will come through on this mission of mine . . . pretty please??

oops, sorry. I left out 2 verses:

"Quack!" said Jerusha
"I'd rather be a flier!"

Jerusha took her sled in tow
And hauled it up a hill;
She started at the top, heigho!
And coasted with a will.

Down like a flash Jerusha came
And bumped the water trough:
"Quack!" said Jerusha
"That's how I get off!"

Oh, how Jerusha loved the Zoo--
The monkeys in their hut;
But best of all she liked to view
The peacock with his strut;

And as she watched him take his tail
And flirt it like a fish:
"Quack!" said Jerusha
"Oh, Mister, what a swish!"

Once when Jerusha slumbered sound
Beneath a weeping willow,

[SilverGuardian]

I just wanted to thank you all for having completed MY quest! I actually have the book "Children's Stories", which I read so many times to my little sister that it is in really sorry shape. I was missing only two pages ... the first two, in the adorable poem of Quack said Jerusha. I used to have it all memorized, but at 63, I've apparently got some leaks in my memory banks.

So THANK YOU for having found and typed up that poem! I now have a 4-year-old granddaughter and two tiny great-grandchildren, and I truly wanted to be able to repeat that poem, even if the first few drawings aren't with it!