Blinky Bill Grows Up, Chapter 4: Blinky Meets Willie Wagtail

Blinky learns that Miss Possum is in trouble, and enlists Percy Bull Ant to help solve the problem!

Blinky Bill Grows Up was first published in 1934, and as such it contains material that might be outdated, inaccurate or offensive, as well as material that would now be considered quite dark for children’s fiction.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. There is no bad language, but below is a list of potentially distressing content that appears in this episode:

• Death/murder - Blinky enlists Percy and his Bull Ants to attack and devour Mrs Snake and Granny Goanna: 'Like lightning, the whole tree became alive. The soldiers sprang at the enemy. In a second they were swarming all over Granny Goanna and Mrs. Snake.
  “Oh, my tail!” screamed Mrs. Snake as she tried to wriggle away, lashing her body in the air in agony.
  “For heaven’s sake save me, save me!” moaned Granny Goanna, as she hissed until all her hisses had gone.
  “Go for them, boys!” shouted Percy. “Kill them as quickly as you can.”
  No order was necessary, as the ants covered the robbers from head to tail. They bit with all their power. Several were killed as Mrs. Snake’s tail and Granny Goanna’s lashed them against the tree; but the numbers seemed never to end.
  “Oh! Oh! I’m dying!” groaned Mrs. Snake, and she fell with a thud to the ground. In another second down plopped Granny Goanna, as dead as a door-nail.
  “Eat them up!” ordered Percy. At once the feast started, and hungry soldiers bit and ate all through the night until only skeletons of the two wicked old things were left.'
• Mention/threat of stolen children: “They left a note to say that they would come back some day and steal our babies.” 

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.