Little Jack Rabbit and the Squirrel Brothers Part 10

PUMPKIN PLACE P. O.

"Little Jack Rabbit!" said his mother, the next morning, "run down to the post office and see if there's a letter for me." So the little rabbit put on his khaki cap and his little knapsack and started off, and by and by, after a while, he came to Rabbitville, where the post office stood on the corner of Pumpkin Place and Corn Cob Lane.

"Is there a letter for Mrs. John Rabbit, Old Bramble Patch, Rail Fence Corner, U. S. A.?" he asked the lady postmistress, an old maid gra.s.shopper who worked for Uncle Sam in the winter and in the summer played in the wheat field.

"I think there is," she said, looking in box 13, and, sure enough, there was. Then she handed the letter to the little rabbit, and shut the door of the little window and after that she took out her vanity bag and powdered her nose.

The little rabbit put the letter in his knapsack and started home, but just as he reached the Shady Forest, whom should he see but Squirrel Nutcracker. The old gray squirrel had come out of his hollow tree for a little run in the sun. You see, on cold days he curled himself up in a ball and kept very quiet, but on warm days he came out and jumped from limb to limb to get the cramps out of his leg muscles.

"Where are you going, little rabbit?" he asked, and then he took a nut out of his pocket and cracked it with his sharp teeth without a bit of trouble.

"I've got a letter for mother," said Little Jack Rabbit, "and I mustn't stop to talk to any one," and he hopped along as fast as he could, for he was afraid he might lose the letter, you see. Well, pretty soon, not so very long, he came to the Old Bramble Patch, and after he had given the letter to his mother he hopped out on the Sunny Meadow, and just then, all of a sudden, Old Professor Jim Crow flew by. He had his little Black Book under his wing, and as soon as he saw the little rabbit he lighted on a bush and turned to page 23.

"Let me read you something," he said, putting on his spectacles, and after he had cawed three times and a half he began:

"Little rabbits should take care To every morning comb their hair.

They always should be clean and neat And keep their dispositions sweet."

And then that wise old bird looked up over his spectacles and winked at the little rabbit. "Did you comb your hair this morning?" he asked. And wasn't it lucky that Little Jack Rabbit hadn't forgotten to? Well, I just guess it was.

AN ICE CREAM PINE CONE

Pretty soon it began to snow and soon the Sunny Meadow was just as white and smooth as Mrs. Rabbit's best table cloth, for the feathery snowflakes fell so softly you could almost hear the stillness. Little Jack Rabbit opened his knapsack and pulled out his rubber boots. Then he put on his ear m.u.f.fs and his nice warm mittens and slung his knapsack over his back, but very carefully, for there were lots of nice things to eat in that knapsack. Yes, siree. His kind mother always filled it up with cakes and sweets. I guess the little rabbit knew that very morning his dear mother had baked lettuce cakes, and how he did love lettuce cakes. Yes, indeed he did, and so would you and so would I if we could only get one, I'm sure.

Well, after he had hopped along a little way, he began to sing,

"Three little bunnies a-sliding went On a winter's day, The ice was thin, and two fell in, And the third one ran away."

"Ha, ha!" cawed an old crow from a tree top, "that's a very fine song!"

"Well, if you think it's such a fine song, throw me down an ice cream pine cone," said the little rabbit. But the selfish old crow wanted it for himself, and instead threw down a s...o...b..ll, which hit the little rabbit on the tip of his tail.

The little rabbit wasn't going to stay there and have s...o...b..a.l.l.s thrown at him. No, sireemam, he wasn't. And pretty soon, not so very far, he met Jimmy Mink creeping along by the Old Duck Pond.

"I have to be very careful these winter days," said the little mink.

"Everybody wants to wear fur in the winter time, you know, and if that dreadful Miller's Boy sees me, he might shoot me and sell my fur for a m.u.f.f!"

"They set traps for me," answered the little rabbit. "And Danny Fox and Mr. Wicked Weasel are always after me. And Hungry Hawk, too. You're not the only one who has to look out for himself."

Then the little rabbit took a lovely lollypop out of his knapsack and gave it to Jimmy Mink, and asked him to make a visit at the Old Bramble Patch.

"I'll get Uncle John to take us riding in his Bunnys...o...b..le." This tickled the little mink almost to pieces, for he'd never ridden in a Bunnys...o...b..le, and neither have I and neither have you, but perhaps some day we will if we happen to be around when Mr. John Hare comes by.

And in the next book, if the smoke doesn't blow down our chimney and choke the cook so that she can't bake the biscuits for breakfast, I'll tell you more about Little Jack Rabbit and his friends who live in Bunnyville, U. S. A.

THE END

LITTLE JACK RABBIT BOOKS

(Trademark Registered.)

By DAVID CORY

Colored Wrapper and Text Ill.u.s.trations Drawn by H. S. BARBOUR

PRINTED IN LARGE TYPE EASY TO READ. FOR CHILDREN FROM 3 TO 8 YEARS

A unique series, about the furred and feathered little people of the woods and meadows.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT'S ADVENTURES

Little Jack Rabbit is a jolly fellow, but he has to keep away from Danny Fox, Wicked Weasel and Hungry Hawk.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND DANNY FOX

Many a hairbreadth escape has Little Jack Rabbit from this old rascal, who lives on the woody hillside under a pile of rocks.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE SQUIRREL BROTHERS

Mr. Squirrel Nutcracker's two boys are great friends of Little Jack, but old Barney Owl makes a lot of trouble for all three.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND CHIPPY CHIPMUNK

Little Jack Rabbit visits Chippy Chipmunk's store, but you should read about what happens to the sign over the door.

LITTLE JACK RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR

The Big Brown Bear is a particular friend of Little Jack Rabbit. Cosey Cave, where he lives, is well stored with honey and lollypops.