There once was a beautiful girl kangaroo who lived in Australia, and everyone knew that someday this kanga would be quite a lady, so from the beginning they named her sweet Katy.

Katy was happy, healthy, and bright but her eyes were a problem, she couldn't see right. For sometimes when Katy was hopping a race, she'd trip on a rock and fall flat on her face.

So, once in a while she would run into trees. And then there's the time she bruised both her knees.

But, one day Katy found in the grass very bright, a new pair of glasses that fit her just right.

The world was much clearer when Katy wore these. She no longer stumbled and ran into trees. She no longer tumbled and fell over stones. She had no more bruises or sore aching bones.

But the kangaroos teased her and called Katy names, like "Four Eyes" and "Goggles" and even "Lame Brains!"

At first Katy was happy with her new eyesight, her glasses helped her to see all things just right.

Katy felt awful and tried not to cry. When the kangaroos teased her, she looked to the sky.

One kangaroo said, "Do not listen to them! I think you're lovely; in fact, you're a gem. My name is Big Harry and I'll be your friend." So Katy was happy and smiled once again.

So, when Katy grew up she decided to marry, this handsome young 'roo by the name of Big Harry.

Before very long the couple announced, a new baby boy who arrived with a bounce. They named their son Joey and showed him around. They taught him to hop and jump up and down.

Katy was happy as mother and wife, but then something happened to change this good life. When the kangaroos teased her and called Katy names, little Joe was embarrassed and felt so ashamed.

Four Eyes

HA HA HA!

He hid in her pouch and would not come out. "My mom looks so different." he said with a pout. "Why must you wear glasses? I hate them," he said. "When the kangas tease you I'll just hide my head."

She took off her glasses and threw them away. "It's better to be like the others," she'd say. "Who wants to look different? I know it's not me." The teasing soon stopped, but how would she see?

Well Katy had Joey, who sat in her pouch. It was comfy and warm there, and soft like a couch. Joey served as the look out, and watched out for rocks. When he warned about trees, they avoided some knocks.

This worked out fine until one summer day, when Katy went shopping, and while on the way Joey got drowsy and fell fast asleep. And Katy came close to a hill very steep.

As Katy hopped close to the edge of the hill, a rock in the grass caused poor Katy to spill. Out tumbled small Joey, and Katy went flying in different directions; poor Joey was crying.

They rolled all the way to the foot of the hill. Katy was dizzy and felt very ill. Joey was frightened and closed his eyes tight, he hoped when he opened them he'd be all right.

She looked for her baby, and got quite upset, for Joey was gone and you can just bet...

Poor Katy was frantic, she started to worry. She could not see well cause her eyes were all blurry. She hopped all around really hoping to hear a kangaroo crying, "Where's my mama dear?"

When Joey arrived at the foot of the knoll, he looked all around but saw not a soul. He called out for Mama, and got no reply, he looked here and there, then he started to cry.

When all of a sudden a butterfly flew around Joey's head, wearing black spots and blue. Joey followed the butterfly all through the grass, he forgot about Mama and hopped along fast.

On the opposite side of the hill far away, hopped a kangaroo mama, just full of dismay. Katy kept calling her baby by name, she couldn't see well, but a baby soon came.

Katy smiled at the bundle she put in her pouch, but the baby kept kicking and Katy yelled, "OUCH!"

"You're not my mama," the bunny told Katy, "but down by the river, I saw a lost baby."

So Katy hopped down by the river nearby and found a small baby and quickly said, "Hi!" She grabbed the small baby and hugged it a lot, but once in her pocket she knew it was not...

... a kangaroo baby. "Oh what can I do?" This time poor Katy had found an emu.

"Oh dear," cried poor Katy. "Just where can I look? I must find my baby, I'll look by the brook." And there by the water she saw a small dingo, who hopped in her pouch and said, "Call me Bingo!"

" I want my sweet Joey, I must find him soon. You're a nice little pup, but I don't have any room!"

Just then Bingo's mother arrived with a growl! "Give me my baby, I'll take him right now!"

So Katy kept looking, still hoping to see a furry small baby; then up in a tree, a baby koala bear said, "How about me?" He climbed in her pouch and said, "Golly gee!"

"This is really quite cozy, but I'd much rather be a baby koala bear way up in a tree."

So once again Katy was left all alone. She felt very sad and she started to moan. When all of a sudden she saw something shine. "My glasses!" cried Katy. "Oh boy, what a find!"

She put on her glasses and looked all around. She saw so much better, she jumped up and down. "Now I'll find Joey, I know he's nearby." Just then 'round her head flew a large

butterfly.

And not far behind hopped a small kangaroo. "Mama," cried Joey, "It's good to see you. I've had so much fun with my friend, Butterfly, but I'm tired and hungry for fresh Green Grass Pie."

"Oh Joey," said Katy. "I've missed you so much! I've tried many babies, but none had your touch. "

"Now with my glasses I see you are mine, I can see where I'm hopping; I see that you're fine".

"You really need glasses," Joey said to his mom. "You always must wear them, so please leave them on. I know you look different and now I don't care, but I still don't like teasing, it's really not fair."

"My son, we won't listen if others tease me, it's much more important for a kanga to see. Now get in my pouch and we'll hop home to Dad, we've been gone so long and I know he'll be glad to hear of our stories of this summer day. We've so much to tell him, let's be on our way."