Madame Magpie's Bedtime Stories
Classic Australian children's fiction, read aloud by Madame Magpie.
Season One: Blinky Bill, by Dorothy Wall.
Madame Magpie's Bedtime Stories
305: A Visit To The Pelicans (Part 2)
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Blinky and Nutsy go looking for Pelicans, but stop to help a new friend on the way.
Blinky Bill and Nutsy was first published in 1937, and as such it contains material that might be outdated, inaccurate or offensive, as well as material that would now be considered quite dark for children’s fiction. Aside from language that Madame Magpie is personally uncomfortable using, the text has been left as it was originally published.
Madame Magpie’s Bedtime Stories will always be available to stream for free, but if you’d like to support the podcast, you can do so via Patreon at patreon.com/MadameMagpie. For $3/month, Patreon members can download episodes for offline listening.
Blinky Bill was written and illustrated by Dorothy Wall, first published by Angus & Robertson in 1933. Sound effects are from Zapsplat, Epidemic Sound, Pixabay, Soundly and Dylan Barfield.
All images are made by Josh Dykgraaf using Dorothy Wall's original illustrations. Madame Magpie is a creation of Alix Roberts. Narration and character voices by Alix Roberts.
Madame Magpie’s Bedtime Stories are recorded and edited by Alix Roberts (aka Madame Magpie) on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunarong Peoples of the Kulin nation. Madame Magpie acknowledges the rich and extensive history of storytelling among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pays her respects to past and present elders of all nations.
Hello everyone! My name is Madame Magpie, and I'm here to tell you a story. This story is called Blinky Bill and Nutsy by Dorothy Wall. Chapter 3. A Visit to the Pelicans Part two. How far is it to the Pelicans Place? Nutzy inquired. A long way off. Over two hills and then down along the swamp until we come to the lake. Blinky answered. How do you know? Nutsi asked. I saw it when we were coming back from the zoo, Blinky replied. And I counted all the hills home from that place. What's that noise? he asked suddenly. Listen, someone is coming. Hide, Nutsi whispered. Together they scuttled under the bushes and crouched, silently peeping through the leaves.
SPEAKER_01Dear dear, this is dreadful, terrible shocking.
SPEAKER_00The voice was saying, as its owner pitter pattered nearer and nearer.
SPEAKER_01I wonder what's the matter?
SPEAKER_00Nutsy asked in a whisper. Keep quiet, Linky said, giving her a pinch.
SPEAKER_01She'll die, I'm sure if I don't get help, the voice was saying, And I'll never have such a kind friend again.
SPEAKER_00Here the poor animal started to sob. Blinky and Nutsi, peering from their hiding place, saw Mrs. Field Mouse wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron. Over her arm she carried a basket almost as large as herself, and in it was a bottle almost as large as the basket. Blinky gave a cough. Mrs. Fieldmouse sprang in the air. Good gracious, she cried. Don't be afraid, Natsy called, scrambling through the bushes to her side.
SPEAKER_01What is the matter? You seem to be in trouble. Oh, my dear, such a dreadful thing has happened. I don't know what to do.
SPEAKER_00Mrs. Fieldmouse sobbed.
SPEAKER_01My very, very best friend is terribly sick, and I've run and run for miles to get a bottle of eucalyptus oil from Doctor Owl. And now I don't know how I'm going to rub it on her chest.
SPEAKER_00What will I do? She sniffed back her tears and wiped her whiskers with a tiny paw. Why, we'll come and help you, won't we, Blinky? Nutsi turned to her companion, who looked sorrowfully at the poor, distressed little mouse. Only too pleased, Blinky replied. Let me carry your basket, Mrs. Fieldmouse.
SPEAKER_01How lucky I am to meet you, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Fieldmouse said, as she dabbed her eyes.
SPEAKER_01Is your friend terribly, terribly sick?
SPEAKER_00Nutzy asked sympathetically, as they started to walk along.
SPEAKER_01She's got hooping cough most dreadfully, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Fieldmouse replied.
SPEAKER_01All last night I sat beside her, listening to her hoops. And the sneezing. It was dreadful too. So this morning I set out to see Dr. Owl and tell him all about it. I've been away all day, and I've run for miles. Oh dear, I hope we're in time to save her. What did Dr. Owl say?
SPEAKER_00Nutzy asked.
SPEAKER_01He told me to put the patient in a mustard bath and poultice her chest and back, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Fieldmouse replied.
SPEAKER_01But I said I couldn't do it, as I'm not a nurse. So he gave me this bottle of oil and told me to rub her chest with it. That'll make her better, Nutzy said. And I'll do it for you and help you all I can. Where does she live? At the bottom of my house, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Fieldmouse answered.
SPEAKER_01I have the attic, and she has the ground floor. It's over on the other side of the hill. It's in one of Farmer Scratchit's wheat fields.
SPEAKER_00Oh Blinky said, with a knowing look at Nutzy. Is it anywhere near his peanuts?
SPEAKER_01Not exactly, Neah, but not very far away, his tiny friend replied. But of course we don't go near his peanuts, she said hastily. Of course not, Blinky said cheekily. Does your friend like peanuts? No, they give her indigestion, the little mouse replied. Besides, she likes wheat much better, so we always have supper together. Oh I hope she doesn't die. I hope she doesn't die.
SPEAKER_00And poor little mousy started to cry all over again.
SPEAKER_01Let's hurry, Natsy said. We might get there in time to save her.
SPEAKER_00They ran and ran, then stopped for a few moments to get their breath, then ran on, until the top of the hill was reached. Down the other side they rushed, panting and puffing. Farmer Scratchit's house came into view, and to save time they scrambled under the fence, instead of going through the new wire gate. Over the cabbage patch and over the lettuce and asparagus beds, and through the potato field they rushed. Past the pig's pen, giving Mrs. Hogg the most dreadful fright. She and the squealers were on a fossicking expedition, rooting up everything within sight. She declared. Squeals and a grand rush greeted her command, and to an onlooker, one would have thought great earthworks were in progress. We're nearly there, Mrs. Field Mouse announced as they hurried through the wheat field. Just another few yards to go, she panted. She zigzagged through the tall grain stalks until a loud hacking cough was heard. She's still alive! Mrs. Field Mouse cried with joy. More coughing came, and sneezes by the yard. Good gracious, Natsy said, in an alarmed voice. Your friend has a terribly big cough and sneeze. She must have double hooping cough. She has, Mrs. Fieldmouse exclaimed. But don't make too much noise. It may frighten her. Now they were almost at the spot where the patient lay, hidden from sight. We're here, Mrs. Fieldmouse called encouragingly.
SPEAKER_01Don't give in. Keep up, 'cause I've got the medicine and friends.
SPEAKER_00Another hacking cough came from the ground. It must be a terribly big mouse, Nutzy whispered to Blinky. Then, straight in front of them lay the hooping animal. Why, it's a porcupine, Blinky shouted. That's not a mouse. Is that the name of her? Mrs. Field Mouse asked, looking surprised.
SPEAKER_01I always call her friend, as I'd had no idea who she was, except I knew she wasn't a cat. You've come at last, but I think you're too late, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Porcupine gasped.
SPEAKER_01I can't even raise my quills now. You're not going to die, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Fieldmouse replied with a tear, the tiniest tear in the world trickling down her nose. See?
SPEAKER_01Dr. Owl has sent this eucalyptus oil along, and we're going to rub your chest and back with it. That'll cure you in no time. And these friends are going to do it for you. How can we rub a porcupine's chest and back?
SPEAKER_00Look at the spikes, Natsy whispered in dismay. Gosh! Blinky half whistled.
SPEAKER_01We'd better pour it all over her and tell her to wriggle about on the ground. Then, suddenly, he thought of something. Does it say rub her with it? All that writing on the bottle. Those are the directions. Let me see what it says.
SPEAKER_00Nutsi handed the bottle to Blinky, while the others waited expectantly for his verdict. I'm sure Dr. Owl said rub it on, Mrs. Fieldmouse remarked. Blinky gazed at the label on the bottle. He didn't understand a word of it, but his little brain was working quickly. Hmm, he declared, with an important air. I thought so.
SPEAKER_01It doesn't say anything at all about rubbing it on.
SPEAKER_00It says pour the oil down the coffer's throat. Ah the others sighed with relief. That is Nutsi and Mrs. Field Mouse. The porcupine had other thoughts.
SPEAKER_01You can't do that, she whined. I never drink.
SPEAKER_00Well, you'll have to, Blinky announced. Unless, of course, you want to be a corpse. What's that? Mrs. Field Mouse asked anxiously. All stiff and cold, and no breath coming, Blinky explained. The porcupine sighed. Oh then commenced coughing again, rolling from side to side. Grab her spikes, Blinky commanded, while I pour it down her throat. Instantly the porcupine raised her quills until they stood up like a pincushion. I thought you said they wouldn't work, Blinky cried angrily.
SPEAKER_01She's only pretending. I'm sure she's not. I'm quite sure she's not, Mrs.
SPEAKER_00Fieldmouse said crossly.
SPEAKER_01She nearly shook me out of bed the other day when she was hooping, and being upstairs. You can imagine how the house shook and quivered.
SPEAKER_00The house of Mrs. Field Mouse was a few wheat stalks cleverly bent together, while her bed was nestled among the ears. That of the porcupine was directly on the ground underneath. Something must be done, Nutsy said, looking with sorrow at the patient. I know, she cried excitedly, as she broke off a wheat stalk. We'll paint her throat. What colour? Blinky asked immediately. No colours, Nutsi remarked. We'll paint it with the oil. That's a blessing the porcupine gasped, withdrawing her spikes. Nutsy pushed the wheat ear into the bottle, then stooped over the porcupine. Open your mouth wide, she said gently, and don't gurgle when I poke it down. Blinky and Mrs. Field Mouse watched in silence, while the porcupine opened her mouth the tiniest bit. Open it wider, Nutsy ordered. The porcupine did as she was told, and losing not a second, Nutsy poked the wheat ear right down her throat. A dreadful spluttering and coughing was the outcome of the operation. In her fright, the porcupine almost sprang in the air. She's taking convulsions! Blinky shouted, scrambling for safety as the porcupine rolled and wobbled about in a most distressing manner, all her quills on end. How awful! Mrs. Fieldmouse cried. What will we do? But the porcupine gradually quietened. When the last quill lay flat on her back, she crawled under a tuft of dry grass.
SPEAKER_01Then, looking at Nutsy, she smiled weakly and whispered I'm better much better, and after a snooze I'll be quite better.
SPEAKER_00How wonderful Mrs. Field Mouse exclaimed, running up a wheat stalk with joy. Then, taking a nibble of the ripe grain, ran down again. We'll go now, Blinky said immediately. Come on, Natsy, we've got to find the pelicans, and it's getting late. I'm sure she's better, Natsy said, as she was bidding goodbye to Mrs. Field Mouse. If she coughs again, poke the stalk down her throat. So, with the little mouse's thanks and tiny laughs ringing in their ears, the two koalas proceeded on their way. Daylight found them on the outskirts of the lake, where hundreds and hundreds of pelicans were in residence. Unnoticed, they climbed a great gum tree overlooking the bird's domain, and, tired out with their journeying, fell asleep after a good meal of the finest leaves. Here, all through the warm day and late into the afternoon, they slept. Just as the sun was sinking, they woke up and presently started to scramble down the tree again. I believe they're going to bed, Blinky remarked disgustedly.
SPEAKER_01What silly things? Why don't they play in the moonlight as we do?
SPEAKER_00Let's wake them up, Natsy said. When they see who we are, probably they'll have games with us. They might gobble us up in their big beaks, Blinky said doubtfully. Golly, what big beaks they have! Look at them. I'm sure they won't be angry if we speak to them politely, Natsy remarked. Anyway, I'm going to try. I'm not afraid. Neither am I, Blinky exclaimed boldly. You're only a girl, and I'm ten times braver than you. Well, you go first then, Natsy said slyly. No, ladies always go first. Splodge told me that, Blinky replied, pushing Natsy ahead as he spoke. Hm You're afraid, Natsy said, with a note of contempt in her voice, as she bravely padded down to the water's edge. That's it for today. Thank you for listening. Sweet dreams. Madame Magpie's bedtime stories will always be available to stream for free. But if you'd like to support the podcast, you can do so via Patreon at patreon.com slash Madam Magpie. That's M-A-D-A-M-E. M-A-G-P-I-E. For three dollars a month, Patreon members have the option of downloading episodes for offline listening. Blinky Bill was written and illustrated by Dorothy Wall, first published by Angus and Robertson in 1933. Sound effects are from Zap Splat, Epidemic Sound, Pixabay, Soundly, and Dylan Barfield. All images are made by Josh Dyke Graaff using Dorothy Wall's original illustrations. Madame Magpie is a creation of Alex Roberts. Narration and character voices by Alex Roberts. Madame Magpie's bedtime stories are recorded and edited by Alex Roberts, aka Madame Magpie, on the lands of the Warunderi and Bunerong peoples of the Kulin Nation. Madame Magpie acknowledges the rich and extensive history of storytelling among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and pays her respects to past and present elders of all nations. Madam Magpie's bent time stories.
