Elsie Spicer Eells,
Fairy Tales from Brazil — How the Rabbit Lost His Tail
(1917)
“ The old woman gave Mr. Rabbit some lettuce and he hopped along with it, saying, "I lost my tail but I gained a knife. I lost my knife but I gained a basket. I lost my basket but I gained some lettuce." The rabbit was getting very hungry and how nice the lettuce smelled! He took a bite. It was just the very best thing he had ever tasted in all his life. "I don't care if I did lose my tail," said he, "I've found something I like very much better." From that day to this no rabbit has ever had a tail. Neither has there ever been a rabbit who cared because he had no tail. ”
