Mary Frances Blaisdell

“ The three little rabbits hopped off to find the big patch of clover.
They hopped down to the brook, but they could not see any clover there.
"Perhaps it was in the meadow," said Billy.
"The brook runs through the meadow."
"Yes," said Bobtail, "and then it runs through the woods."
"Clover would not grow under the trees," said Bunny. "It grows in the fields where the sun shines."
"The sun shines in the meadow," said Billy. "Let's go down there and look for the clover patch." ”

“ But Bobby only laughed and ran higher up among the branches of the oak tree.
"I will catch you some day," said Bunny as he hopped away.
"Oh, no!" answered Bobby. "You can never catch me. You cannot climb a tree."
The three rabbits soon found some tender little roots hidden under the blanket of snow.
"This is a good breakfast," said Bunny.
"Yes, it is a very good breakfast," said Billy, as he nibbled on the root he had found.
At last Bunny jumped up and shook his long ears.
"I have finished my breakfast," he said.
"So have I," said Billy.
"So have I," said Bobtail. ”

“ Bunny saw the bee flying round and round over their heads.
"It must have been a bee that stung you," said Bunny.
Billy looked at the bee.
"I am going home," he said. "I did not want to come so far anyway. There are plenty of good things eat in our own field."
So Billy hopped along home very slowly.
He stopped every few steps to rub his poor little nose.
Mother Rabbit saw him coming and went to the door to meet him.
"What is the matter?" she asked.
"I went to the meadow to eat clover," said Billy. "The bees were there and one stung me on the nose." ”

“ Duck made her feet go so fast that she was soon in the middle of the brook.
Paddle, paddle, paddle, went all the little ducks, and they were swimming after their mother.
"Oh, what fun this is!" said the littlest duck.
"How cool the water is," said the biggest duck.
"Come in, Bunny," called all the ducks. "Swimming is the easiest thing in the world."
"Why don't you try it, Bunny?" asked Mr. Green Frog, who was sitting on a rock close by.
"The water is cool, and swimming is the easiest thing in the world." ”

“ Bunny and Billy were over in the meadow eating clover.
Mother Rabbit and Bobtail were in the garden eating cabbage.
Billy was fond of cabbage, too. But the garden was far away, across the field and over the other side of the road.
So Billy ate clover in the meadow.
Bunny had eaten cabbage the day before. So he ate clover in the meadow with Billy.
The two little rabbits nibbled at the tender leaves.
"I have had enough to last me all day," said Bunny. "Now let's go and play."
"Oh, no!" said Billy. "I am going home and take a nap." ”

“ The squirrels ran up and down the trees, and all around everywhere to find hidden nuts.
All at once Bunny Rabbit heard a noise.
He sat up on his hind legs and held up his long ears.
The other rabbits listened, too.
Sammy and Bobby heard the noise and scampered up into the little pine tree.
"Bow-wow-wow!" barked Jip, as he ran through the woods.
"It's the dog!" cried Bunny. "Let's run and hide."
The little rabbits whirled around and hopped back to their house.
Sammy and Bobby were safe in the tree, so they did not try to run away. ”

“ Then Blacky Crow flapped his big wings and flew far, far away.
Sammy watched the crow fly over the tallest tree and out of sight.
"I wish I could fly," he said to himself. "I know I could if I had some wings."
Just then a flock of sparrows flew over head.
"Twitter, twitter!" they said.
"Twitter, twitter, twitter!"
Sammy watched the sparrows flying until they were out of sight.
"I know I could fly," he said to himself again, "if I had some wings. ”

“ Man never lets me go to the garden," said Mr. Rooster.
"Mr. Man never lets me go to the garden if he knows about it," laughed Bunny.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" said the rooster, as he flapped his wings and flew up on the fence.
"Please do not make so much noise," begged Bobtail. "Mr. Man will hear you and come out to see what is the matter."
But the rooster just flapped his big wings and crowed again.
"Come," said Bunny. "This is no place for us.
"Let's hop into the garden and get some cabbage."
II
The two rabbits hopped off across the yard and into the garden. ”

“ But Bunny and Bobtail would not let him. They took hold of his hand, and made him hop along with them through the snow.
"Where are you going?" called Bobby Gray Squirrel.
"Follow us and you will see," answered Bunny.
"Oh, no," said Bobby. "I like best to run about in this big tree.
"After I have found something to eat I shall curl up in my warm nest and go to sleep.
"Summer is the time to play, but winter is the time to sleep."
II
The little rabbits hopped off through the woods. ”

“ They saw some little yellow heads peeping out from under her wings.
"Quack, quack!" she said. "See my ducks. They are the prettiest ducks you ever saw.
"And they have the brightest eyes in the world." ”

“ Mouse. "I just paid Mr. Toad a visit."
"We must find a home any way," said Mrs. Mouse. "If we stay here the cat will catch us."
"There comes the cat now," said Sammy. "She heard Mr. Mouse squeal when he came out of the hole."
When the mice heard that the cat was coming, what a scampering there was.
It did not take the whole family of mice long to find a home under a big stone.
Sammy jumped off the wall and ran up into the pine tree. ”

“ Then he skipped around to tell the red squirrels about the joke he had played on Bobby Gray Squirrel.
"Run to the maple tree near the stone wall," said Sammy. "You will see what Bobby does when he finds his nuts are gone."
So the red squirrels all ran to the maple tree to watch for the gray squirrels to come to the party. ”

“ What if Mr. Man or Jip should see him.
II
At last they reached Whitie's house and the two little rabbits hopped through the gate.
"Oh, see these cabbage leaves," said Whitie. "Jack left them here for my dinner."
But Bunny did not look at the cabbage leaves, for just at that moment he heard Jip barking.
And then he heard Jack talking to the dog.
Poor Bunny's heart began to beat very fast.
"What shall I do? What shall I do?" he said.
"Jack and Jip will not hurt you," said Whitie. "I think Jack is coming to close the gate." ”

“ BUNNY RABBIT'S DIARY BILLY'S SLIDE A CHRISTMAS TREE BOBTAIL'S KITE APRIL FOOL'S DAY MRS. DUCK'S SECRET THE SWIMMING LESSON THE CLOVER PATCH MOVING DAY A SUMMER SHOWER SAMMY'S FLYING MACHINE THE CABBAGE PATCH THE WHITE RABBIT TEDDY BEAR BOBBY'S PARTY
FULL-PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR
Sometimes Bunny talked to Mrs. ”