"Do you know where my Uncle Lucky lives----Mr. Lucky Lefthindfoot?" heasked.
"To be sure," replied the mooley cow. "He lives over yonder," and shepointed across the meadow. "Hop under the fence, little rabbit, and thenhop across the meadow, over the daisies and buttercups, and you'll findthe place, never fear."
So the little rabbit did as she told him, and when he came to the fenceon the other side he saw his uncle's house not very far away. But, oh,dear me! The fence was not at all like the fence on the other side.There wasn't any room between the woven wires to crawl through, and soBilly Bunny didn't know what to do.
But he didn't wonder very long. No, sireemam. He started right in to diga tunnel under that wire fence, and pretty soon he was on the otherside, hopping away toward Uncle Lucky's house, and in about five hundredand a half hops, skips and jumps he came to the front gate.
And there on the porch sat the kind old gentleman rabbit, with the bigdiamond pin which his nephew had given him shining like a star in hisred tie. And in to-morrow's story I'll tell you what a good time thelittle rabbit had at his uncle's house.
STORY XXVII--BILLY BUNNY AND THE THEATER PLAY
As Billy Bunny hopped up the steps of Uncle Lucky's house, the oldgentleman rabbit, who was lying in the hammock, as I told you in thelast story, jumped up and said, "I'm glad to see you. Where have youbeen all this time?"
And then when he saw the beautiful ruby scarfpin in the little rabbit'stie--the ruby pin which the King of the Windy Cave had given BillyBunny, you remember--he said: "And where did you get that mag-nif-i-centpin?"
And of course the little rabbit told the old gentleman rabbit all aboutit, and when he finished the story it was time for supper. So UncleLucky opened the screen door just a little so that the flies wouldn'tget in, and he and Billy Bunny squeezed through the crack and went intothe dining room.
Well, after supper was over, they decided to go down to the village andsee if there was a show at the Opera House that night. And sure enoughthere was, and the name of the play was "The Tortoise and the Hare."
"That sounds interesting," said Uncle Lucky and he bought two box seatsfor two carrot dollars, and he and his little nephew went inside.
"Mr. Hare is a first cousin," he said to Billy Bunny as they sat down inthe box and leaned over the railing to look at the people.
Well, pretty soon the music started and then the curtain went up and theplay commenced. I suppose you all have read the fable--how the tortoiseand the hare ran a race and the hare got so far ahead that he lay downto take a nap, but the slow old tortoise kept right on all the time, andwhen the hare woke up it was too late, for the tortoise had won therace.
Well, anyway, I've told you the story, but I haven't told you whathappened when the hare went to sleep. You see, he lay down near the boxwhere Billy Bunny and kind Uncle Lucky were seated, and by and by, afterhe had been asleep for quite a long time, Uncle Lucky grew very nervous.
"My gracious!" he exclaimed to Billy Bunny, "if that silly cousin ofours does not wake up pretty soon he might as well sleep there allnight, for the race will be won and the opera house closed up and we'llbe home in bed."
And then Billy Bunny began to get very nervous, too, and he wiggledabout in his seat and made funny little noises to wake up the hare. Butthe hare slept on, and I believe he even snored.
Well, sir, try as the two little rabbits might, they couldn't wake himup, until, at last, Billy Bunny took the automobile horn, which he hadbrought in with him so that nobody could blow on it, and blew a dreadfulloud blast.
And this woke up the hare and one of the ushers, who ran up to the boxand begged Uncle Lucky not to let Billy Bunny blow on the horn again."For," said the usher, "it's only a play and the hare mustn't wake upuntil the tortoise wins the race."
"Well, I won't see my cousin beaten by an old tortoise," said UncleLucky.
And he and Billy Bunny hopped out of the Opera House and went home.
STORY XXVIII--BILLY BUNNY AND MRS. WEASEL
As soon as Billy Bunny and Uncle Lucky got home after leaving the OperaHouse, as I told you in the last story, they heard a loud noise in theback yard.
"What's that?" said Uncle Lucky, and he peeked around the corner of theporch while Billy Bunny took his popgun out of his knapsack so as to beready in case it was a burglar.
"I don't see anything," whispered the old gentleman rabbit; "you take alook." So Billy Bunny peeped around the corner and then he hoppedbackward, almost knocking Uncle Lucky head over tail.
And before you could say "Jack Rabbit!" Old Man Weasel jumped frombehind the house and glared at the two rabbits with his wicked eyes.
"Good evening, Mr. Weasel," said Uncle Lucky, pushing Billy Bunny behindhim, for he was a brave old rabbit, was Uncle Lucky, and he was going tosave his little nephew from being eaten up by the wicked weasel, if hecould.
"Good evening, gentlemen," replied Old Man Weasel, licking his lips andglaring at them with his fierce little eyes. "You look sweet and tenderto me."
"Your eyesight is pretty poor," said Uncle Lucky bravely, "and I don'tfeel very sweet just now, and I'm too old to be tender," and he wriggledhis nose so fast in the moonlight that it made Old Man Weasel dizzy tolook at it, and he had to turn away, and while he wasn't looking, BillyBunny lifted his gun to his shoulder and pulled the trigger.
And when the cork hit the wicked weasel it made him jump right up intothe air, and when he came down he sprained his right foot on a big stoneso that he cried:
"Oh, dear! oh, dear! And woe is me! I've sprained an ankle and a knee. I cannot walk, I cannot run! Plague take that little rabbit's gun! Oh, won't you call an am-bu-lance, My home is such a great dis-tance!"
"If you'll promise not to come here again," said kind Uncle Lucky, "I'llcall up the hospital. If you don't promise I'll call the Policeman Dogand ask him to tickle you with his club," and the old gentleman rabbithopped down to the front gate and pretended to call a policeman, whichfrightened Old Man Weasel nearly to death. He'd rather have a sprainedknee than be tickled by a policeman's club any day in the week.
"I'll promise! I'll promise!" he cried, and then Billy Bunny went to thetelephone and called up the hospital and they sent an ambulance around.And the doctor--the man in white, you know, who sits on the back seat ofthe ambulance--tied up the weasel's knee so he couldn't bend it, and hisankle so he couldn't wiggle it, and then he placed him in the ambulance,while the Policeman Dog stood by to keep the crowds away, only of coursethere wasn't any crowds there, for it was midnight, you know.
And in the next story I will tell you more about the two little rabbitsif they only get up in time, for they've stayed up pretty late to-nightand may not hear the alarm clock in the morning.
STORY XXIX--BILLY BUNNY AND THE POLICEMAN DOG
"Well, that's a great relief," exclaimed Uncle Lucky, as the ambulancedrove away with Old Man Weasel, who had tried to eat up Billy Bunny andhis kind uncle in the story before this, and would have swallowed themboth if the little rabbit hadn't hit him with a cork bullet from hispopgun, you remember.
Of course, it was very kind of Billy Bunny to call up the ambulance totake away the wicked weasel, after he had sprained his ankle, but it wasalso very wise. For who wants a wicked weasel around, even if he has asprained ankle and can't do you any harm?
Well, after everything was quiet and the Policeman Dog had taken a drinkof cider and a cigar, the two little rabbits sat down on the frontporch, for it was too late to go to bed, or maybe it was too early, forthe first faint streaks of daylight were spreading over the sky, and bythe time Uncle Lucky could unlace his shoes and untie his red cravat andwind his gold watch, it would be time to get dressed again.
So he and Billy Bunny sat down and waited for breakfast, and by and bythe Japanese cook came out to sweep off the front porch, and when he sawMr. Lucky Lefthindfoot and his nephew, Billy Bunny, sitting there, heran back into the kitchen and dropped two eggs on the floor and put thetea into the coffee grinde
r and the salt into the sugar bowl, he was soexcited because he thought it must be 'way past breakfast time.
And then the old gentleman rabbit began to sing:
"Never hurry--makes worry; Worry makes you thin. If you're clever you'll endeavor Never to begin."
And I guess the Japanese cook heard him, for in a few minutes breakfastwas ready, and this time the eggs were dropped on toast instead of thefloor.
By and by, after Uncle Lucky had smoked his cigar, he and Billy Bunnywent out to the garage and cranked up the Luckymobile and went for aride. And when they had gone for a mile or less they came across theirold friend the Circus Elephant.
But, oh, dear me! He was an awful sight. His left eye had a bandage overit and his trunk was rolled up in cotton and his left hind foot had anold carpet slipper on and his tail was done up in splints and he wasweeping great big tears, for he felt dreadfully miserable.
"What is the matter?" asked Billy Bunny, as Uncle Lucky stopped theautomobile.
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" sobbed the big animal. "I was in a Fourth of Julycelebration and the roman candles got mixed up with the sky-rockets andthe cannon crackers with the pin wheels, and the first thing I knew Iwas hit in two million, nine hundred and a few dozen places, and if ithadn't been for a pink cross nurse I'd be a dead elephant by this time."
"Get into the automobile," said Uncle Lucky, "and we'll take you homewith us," and in the next story, if the catbird doesn't scratch thedogfish, I'll tell you who broke the springs in the automobile, unlessyou guess who did before to-morrow night.
STORY XXX--BILLY BUNNY AND THE CIRCUS ELEPHANT
Let me see. I left off in the last story when the Circus Elephantstepped into the Luckymobile, didn't I? You remember he had been injuredin a Fourth of July celebration, and good, kind Uncle Lucky offered totake him home.
Well as soon as he sat down the tires burst and then, of course, theautomobile wouldn't go, for the cabaret wouldn't work and the enginewouldn't whistle. So Billy Bunny got out the sticking plaster and fixedthe tires and then he made the elephant blow them up with his trunk, buthe wouldn't let him get in again.
No, sir. He said, "Now look here, Elly. You're too heavy for theLuckymobile, so you'll have to walk, but you can put your trunk in theback seat if that will help any." So the Circus Elephant lifted histrunk into the automobile and ran along behind until they came to UncleLucky's house.
And wasn't he tired when they reached the front gate! He was so tiredthat he lay down in the hammock and went sound to sleep and snored soloud that everybody thought the janitor had put on the steam, althoughit was July.
"Goodness me!" exclaimed the kind old gentleman rabbit, "that elephantmakes so much noise that nobody will be able to sleep to-night!" AndUncle Lucky scratched his left ear with his right hind leg and tried tothink what was best to do, for he just hated to wake up that poor tiredelephant.
Well, just then, who should come along but a man with a piano organ, andas soon as Uncle Lucky saw him he asked him to play the loudest tune andplay it just as fast as he could.
Of course the poor, tired Circus Elephant woke up, and when he saw thatorgan man, he jumped out of the hammock and ran down the front walk andgrabbed the piano and threw it clear across the road into a pond.
And when the organ man saw that he started off as fast as he could andnever came back, for he had always been dreadfully afraid of elephants,because when he was a boy he had given one a piece of chewing guminstead of a peanut, and he never forgot what the elephant did to himwhen he found it out.
"Look here, Elly," said Uncle Lucky, "if you'll promise not to snoreI'll let you sleep in my bed to-night; but if you don't, you'll have tosleep out in the field, for nobody can stand the noise you make."
"Well, I can't stay all night, anyway," said the elephant, "for thecircus comes to town to-day and I'll be in the performance this evening.Thank you, just the same." And then he said good-by to Billy Bunny andUncle Lucky and walked down the road, but before he left he gave themeach two tickets with his compliments.
And if the trolley car doesn't swim across the river and splash theconductor so that he can't ring up the fares, I'll tell you next timewhether Uncle Lucky and Billy Bunny went to the circus.
STORY XXXI--BILLY BUNNY AND THE CHEERFUL LITTLE BIRD
You remember in the last story that the Circus Elephant gave Uncle Luckyand Billy Bunny tickets to go to the show. Well, I'm awfully sorry totell you they didn't go, and the reason was because the tent caughtfire, and before the firemen in Bunnytown could put out the flames thespangles were all burnt off the circus queen's dress and the ice creamcones were all melted and the peanuts roasted blacker than a coal, andthe lemonade boiled over and burnt the alligator's tail so that hewouldn't stand on his head.
And oh, dear me! The circus folk all had to sleep with the animals, andthe fat lady couldn't get into the monkey cage, so she had to lie downon the grass underneath for the night, and she caught an awful cold andalmost had the chickenpox.
Of course Billy Bunny and his good, kind uncle were dreadfullydisappointed, and when they got home they played on the victrola a newsong called: "If you want to borrow money don't you ever come to me,"and after that they went to bed, and when they woke up they heard thelittle sparrow singing on the front porch:
Sing a song of summer, And the happy flowers; Sing a song of sunshine Through the golden hours
Always sing of gladness Through the live-long year Even in December, When it's cold and drear.
"I'm going to take some crumbs out to that cheerful little bird," andkind Uncle Lucky sprinkled sponge cake crumbs all over the porch, andthe sparrow and her little birdies had a scrumptious feast.
And after that the telephone rang and Mrs. Bunny called up to find outhow Billy Bunny was. And when Uncle Lucky said he was very well she saidshe was glad, because if he had been sick she would have wanted himbrought home im-me-die-ate-ly.
But as long as he wasn't she wanted him back anyway, because she was solonely without him. And then of course the little rabbit had to saygood-by to his dear kind uncle and start right oft for the Old BrierPatch.
Well, sir! He hadn't gone for more than a million hops, and maybe a fewskips and jumps, when he came across his old friend the Brown Horse."Hello, there!" said the good-natured animal; "how is your BunnyHighness?"
"I'm all right," said the little rabbit, "but what are you doing here inthe woods?"
"Ssh!" whispered the Brown Horse. "I ran away to-day and I'm afraid thepoliceman will catch me for exceeding the speed limit."
"So I'm hiding here." And just then they heard a whistle, but you'llhave to wait to find out whether it's a policeman or a locomotive engineuntil the next story, for I've no more room in this one.
STORY XXXII--BILLY BUNNY AND THE MILLER'S BOY
As soon as the Brown Horse heard that whistle which I mentioned in thelast story, but couldn't tell you what kind of a whistle it was becauseI had no more room, he jumped clear across the brook which was close byand never stopped running until he found himself once more in his ownstable.
And then before Billy Bunny could even say "Call me up on thetelephone," or "Won't you lunch with me to-morrow," of course the BrownHorse was out of sight. So the little rabbit waited a minute to see ifhe could hear the strange whistle again, and sure enough he did, and itwas right close to him this time, and when he looked around there stoodthe Miller's Boy.
And before Billy Bunny could hop away something hard hit him on the headand he rolled over on the ground and didn't wake up until he foundhimself rolled up in the Miller Boy's jacket, and oh, dear me! TheMiller's Boy was walking home as fast as he could and there was our dearlittle Billy Bunny wrapped up like a Christmas present so that hecouldn't even wiggle his left ear.
"Oh, mercy me!" cried the little rabbit, "I'm a goner now as sure asMonday comes after Sunday and sunshine after rain and a stomach acheafter eating green apples!"
And then he tried to squirm abou
t, but the Miller's Boy squeezed all theharder, so Billy Funny decided to keep quiet, for he didn't want to haveall his breath squeezed out of him, you know.
Well, by and by, as the Miller's Boy walked along, the jacket slipped alittle under his arm, and then Billy Bunny saw a little light throughthe arm sleeve. And before you could say "Jumping cats!" he pushedthrough the sleeve and down to the ground and hopped away, free as abird in the air or a fish in the ocean.
And I'm so glad that I'm going to say "Hip, hip, hurrah!" just as loudas I can, for if there is anybody I hate it is that Miller's Boy. Eversince I started to tell you about Billy Bunny he has been trying tocatch this dear little rabbit and this time I certainly thought he had.And now that Billy Bunny is safe I'm so happy I could shout again.
Go home you horrid Miller's Boy, Who's always trying to annoy The Friendly Little Forest Folk By trying every kind of joke. Go home and tie the bags of meal And never try again to steal A little rabbit on his way, Who's always cheerful all the day.
Well, after the little rabbit had hopped for maybe a mile or three, hethought he was safe, and so he stopped to rest, and I would tell youright now what he did, only I must stop so as to get this story in thepaper in time for tonight, so pleasant dreams and happy wakening.