| Adventure Book: |
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"I have been thinking", said Maggie "that a moose should not look so flat and altogether not together.
Well that's certainly true. A true moose should be very tall and impressive," agreed Papa Joe. "Why don't you make a true moose of this flat fellow. What will you call him?
Well," said Maggie, "that's easy— his name is Ross T. Moose— just like my uncle of the same name.
Ross T. Moose... I like the ring of it," said Papa Joe and he was off to work on his boat.
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I do love those antlers," mused Maggie. "I can imagine so many uses for antlers like that. Just think of what you could hang on them." But before she could imagine much further— Ross T. Moose was out the door and sniffing the air.
My my, my, my what a day, what a day! Sun shining, birds singing..." and at that five birds flew down and perched atop five of Ross T. Moose's horns. They made quite a racket but he didn't seem to be aware as he lumbered into the backyard through the deep, dark woods and out into a marshy pond and began to eat.
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"How I do love salad... marshy, wet salad," he sang, accompanied by the birds.
You should just see yourself standing in your soup," called Maggie. Not likely," said Ross T. "Seeing isn't my thing. I'm not very good at it. I hear rather well. I can hear you and these confounded birds. Fly off will you!" and off they went.
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You know," said Aunt Millicent, "it was me that made that pond possible. I made the dam for the stream and that created the pond, and now you are standing in it.
Well how good to know and aren't we a team! You work like a beaver and I work like a moose.
Which means you stand quietly and eat. Somehow it feels a bit uneven.
Well, it's all in the way you look at it, I guess.
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Maggie sat on the fence at the edge of the field.
Come now, you must have some use besides just standing and looking pretty.
I can imagine you standing in the corner of my room. I could hang my pajamas on your antlers.
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Or how about in the backyard with all mamas old hats and my stocking cap as well." Maggie giggled.
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I can see you out in the front yard with all the reindeer and tiny white blinking lights. You could just walk around the yard. The carollers would love you. They would sing "Deck the Moose with Lights and Holly," then they would fall down in the snow laughing.
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Ross T. Moose could hear Maggie laughing. Moose have very good hearing and they usually head for what they hear and they are very, very big. So Maggie climbed right off that fence and headed toward the house where she was sure her mama was cooking a very big breakfast for her and her sisters... and she was.
That was a close call," said Maggie, and she joined her sisters and ate.
Maggie left to rejoin Ross T. Moose who was still up to his knees in the pond munching.
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"Hello Reynard... what are you doing out in the middle of the day?" asked Maggie. Reynard stood at the edge of the woods.
Sleep walking," yawned Reynard. "I'm on my way back to my den. Is he still standing out there?
I heard that," said Ross T. "I shall move. I know there are some Willow and Dogwood in that direction. They will make a nice addition to my salad soup. Is there no peace?" At that moment the five birds swooped down for another ride and sing-along. "Oh not the lot of you again," fumed the moose.
This time the other animals all laughed.
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Papa Joe joined Maggie at the fence. “How’s the drawing coming?” he asked.
Oh I have some good ones of Ross T. standing in the pond, but now he’s over
eating Dogwood leaves with a chorus of birds on his antlers, and I’m needing a nap.
You know,” said Papa Joe, “every year Ross T. Moose will shed his antlers.
He will?” said Maggie with her mouth open wide with surprise.
Yes he will,” responded Papa Joe. “The Indians made carved spoons from them and other implements.
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Maggie's eyes lit up. "When Ross T. loses his antlers, I shall paint a great
painting on them and then I shall hang them right there in the hall. Won't Mama be proud?
Just what she has always wanted," smiled Papa Joe.
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| Written and illustrated by elinor peace bailey |
