David Rands has kindly shared with readers of the Victorian Web his site about the life and works of W. B. Rands, the prolific writer of children's literature and originator of The Boy's Own Paper. Readers may wish to consult this site for more information about this little-known figure who had an immense influence upon Victorian children. [GPL]

There was a duck which had three little ducks
Three little ducklings, chuck, chuck, chucks;
She took them for a walk and she marched them back
And taught them how to say: "quack, quack, quack!"
            Chorus: Quack, quack, quack!

The ducklings went behind and the duck went before,
Two ducks, one duck and one duck more;
A duckling is a duck, if I know white from black,
But a duck is not a duckling — quack, quack, quack!
            Chorus: Quack, quack, quack!

This duck was genteel, she was fond of pomp and state,
And she said to the little ducks "Pray imitate my gait
Everything depends upon the carriage of the back"
And the ducklings all said "Yes mama" and "quack, quack, quack!"
            Chorus: Quack, quack, quack!


Last modified 21 August 2005