FIREFLY LANTERNS

"Boots, boots, I would beA thousand miles across the sea."

And, whisk! away he went and was lost to sight before Uncle John Hare could get out his spyglass.

"Well, well," laughed the wonderful shoemaker, coming to the door and shading his eyes with his hand, "it didn't take him long to walk away. Ha! ha! My boots are better than airships." I guess he thought he had done a good day's work, and maybe he had, for two diamonds and three rubies are a fair price for one boot, although it may have a stride of a thousand leagues, more or less.

And just you wait until you hear what happens in the next story.

Twinkle, twinkle, firefly,Like a diamond in the sky.

Well, it was mighty lucky that this firefly had her tiny lantern along with her, for I don't know how the two little rabbits would have reached home if she hadn't lighted the way for them, for the Bunnymobile lantern had gone out, you see.

"We must buy some new ones," said the old gentleman bunny. "We may be arrested any night, and that would be most unpleasant." So the next morning he and Little Jack Rabbit started off for Bunnyville and by and by, after a while, they crossed the bridge that spanned Rabbit River, which wasn't really much wider than a little brook, and stopped before a hardware store.

"What kind of lanterns have you?" asked Uncle John Hare of the fat Turkey Gobble who kept the store.

"We have Jack lanterns, and miners' lamps, and Japanese lanterns, and——"

"That'll do," said the little bunny, "let's see them." And after looking at this and looking at that the old gentleman rabbit picked out two Jack Lanterns.

"These will look scrumptious," he said. "I don't believe another car in town will have one." And then they started off again down the road to see little Ben Meadow.

Now little Ben Meadow lived in a round house.His first name was Ben and his last name was Mouse.

So now you know who little Ben is, but just the same I suppose you wonder why he would be delighted to have two rabbits call on him. Well, I'll tell you. It was because, in the first place, he knew that these two nice bunnies wouldn't hurt him, and in the second place, he wore a collar and belt of leather studded with sharp pointed tacks, which would hurt anyone who tried to catch him.

"Helloa, Ben," said the old gentleman rabbit when the little mouse opened the door. "Have you any green cheese?"

"Maybe, but I'm not sure. It is over two weeks since the Man in the Moon was here," answered Benjamin Meadow Mouse, for that was his whole name, you know, only everybody called him "Ben" for short, and the little mice called him "Bennie."

Pretty soon he came out with a piece of cheese wrapped up in a napkin and handed it to the old gentleman rabbit, who thanked him and said: "I'm going to give a party tonight. You are invited. Come at eight and stay till late," and then he turned the Bunnymobile around and away they went. Pretty soon they passed through the wood, where Bobbie Redvest had his nest.

"Come to my party tonight at eight, bring Mrs. Robin and stay till late," said Uncle John Hare, and in the next story you shall hear what happened after that.

You remember in the last story that Uncle John Hare was giving a party and had invited Benjamin Meadow Mouse and Bobbie Redvest, to be there early and stay till late and bring a key to his little front gate.

But now that I come to think of it, I didn't tell you about the key. No, sir, I must have forgotten that. Well, you see, there was a fence all around Uncle John's house, and if you didn't have a key to the little gate, why, of course, you couldn't get in. But the old gentleman rabbit had bought a thousand keys and to every one of his friends had given one, and sometimes two, but not at the same time.

"Now who else shall we invite?" asked the old gentleman bunny, as they rolled along with a laugh and a song.

"Jack Sprite," answered Little Jack Rabbit.

"Of course," laughed the old gentleman bunny, and he turned down the shady dell where the Jack-in-the-pulpit flowers grew, and by and by he came to the one in which Jack lived.

"Oh, yes, I'll come," he said, "and I'll stay late, until the rooster crows at eight."

"All right," answered Uncle John Hare, "I don't care, but don't blame me if I should fall asleep before that time," and then away went the Bunnymobile and before very long the two little rabbits met the little fairy who had once upon a time, not very many stories ago, slept in the old gentleman rabbit's bed.

"Come to my party, come at eight,And bring your key to my little front gate."

"I'll be there, never fear," laughed the little fairy, for Uncle John Hare was noted for his wonderful parties.

"Now that makes three," said Little Jack Rabbit. "Shall we ask the Ragged Rabbit Giant?"

"Sh-s-sh!" whispered the old gentleman bunny, "don't mention his name. I have only ten pounds of cheese for the rarebit. He'd eat a ton at one bite." Then they went on until they met Little Red Riding Hood.

"Come to my party, come at eight,And bring your key to my little front gate."

"I'll be there," answered Little Red Riding Hood, and she ran down to the village to buy a new gown.

"Now who else?" asked the old gentleman rabbit.

"Goodness me, yes, indeed, there's Bo Peep," said Billy Bunny. And in the next story you shall hear about the party.

You remember we left off in the last story just as the two little rabbits were on their way to ask Bo Peep to come to their party. Well, she said she would, of course, and then Uncle John Hare, the old gentleman bunny, went to the telephone and called up Mother Goose and invited her and all the little people of Mother Goose Land to his party.

"Come to my party, come at eight,And bring your key to my little front gate,"

he added, before hanging up the receiver, for he didn't want anybody to be disappointed, you know. But they would be, just the same, if they forgot to bring their keys, for the old gentleman rabbit would never open his front gate after eight.

"Now we had better hurry home to help Mrs. Daisy Duck get things ready for tonight," and he changed places with his bunny nephew, who took the wheel and steered the Bunnymobile, while kind Uncle John Hare looked over the list of names to make sure no one had been left out, and pretty soon, not so very long, they were home and as busy as could be getting everything ready for the big party.

At eight o'clock, and maybe a few minutes before, the little front gate began to rattle, and Mother Goose came up the walk, followed by Goosey-Goosey-Gander and the Three Blind Mice, who held on to the gander's tail feathers so as not to stub their toes on the front door step.

Then pretty soon, the lock began to rattle again, and in came Jack Sprite and the little Forest Fay, and before 13 minutes past 8 every one was there. Well, by and by it came time to cut the big birthday cake in which was hidden a little gold ring, and of course everyone hoped he would find it in his piece of cake. But of course everybody except Benjamin Meadow Mouse was disappointed, which tells you right away who got the ring.

Now everything was going along as nicely as you please, when, all of a sudden, there came a rap-tap-a-tap at the little front gate, and Mrs. Daisy Duck, the old housekeeper, whispered:

"Somebody's knocking at the gate,We won't let him in because it's too late;No one gets in who has lost his keyNo matter what time the hour may be."

But, goodness me. The knocking kept right on, only louder and louder, and pretty soon a gruff voice said:

"I'm the Ragged Rabbit GiantmanOpen the gate as quick as you can."

"What shall we do?" asked Mrs. Daisy Duck, who was a timid lady duck and never felt safe unless she was out in the middle of Turnip City Lake.

And in the next story, if that big giant doesn't break down the gate, I'll tell you what happened after that.

"If you don't open the gate, I'll step over the wallIt's not very high, and I'm pretty tall.I guess you had better open the gate;In case I get angry you'll find it too late."

"Oh, dear me!" said Mrs. Daisy Duck, "What shall we do?"

Then what do you suppose little Benjamin Meadow Mouse said? You'd never guess. He ran out of the house, down to the gate, and called out to that great big giant: "Have you a little boy at home?"

"I certainly have," replied the big immense giant rabbit.

"Then take this little ring to him," said Benjamin Meadow Mouse, handing over the ring which he had just found in his piece of birthday cake, as I told you in the last story.

"You are very kind," said the giant. "I'll go home at once and give it to him." And away he went to climb up his mountain.

Well, after that, the birthday party broke up, and all the little guests went home, but before Benjamin Meadow Mouse said good night, Little Jack Rabbit gave him another ring, maybe a little prettier than the one in the birthday cake.

The next morning when Mr. Merry Sun looked into the window he said:

"Wake up, wake up! little boy rabbitDress yourself in your white fur habit.It's going to be a beautiful dayFor I've driven the rain clouds all away."

"That's very nice of you, Mr. Merry Sun," said the little bunny, rubbing his eyes, for he was still sleepy from the birthday party. Then, after a yawn or two, he jumped out of bed, and pretty soon he was downstairs with Uncle John Hare, reading the Bunnyville News.

Well, before very long, they were ready to go for a drive, so they cranked up the Bunnymobile, and started off, and by and by, after a while, and many a mile and a song and a smile, they met little Bobbie Redvest who told them that the Cow That Jumped Over the Moon wasn't feeling very well.

"Goodness me, that's too bad," said the old gentleman bunny. "I guess I'll get the doctor." So off he went, with Little Jack Rabbit, and pretty soon, not so very far, they came to the good doctor's house on the corner of Lettuce Avenue and Pumpkin Square.

And in the next story you shall hear what happened after that.

Oh, Doctor Cat was very wise,Oh, very wise was he.He knew you'd smile in a little whileIf tickled on the knee.

Well, I hope you remember where we left off in the last story, but in case you don't, Little Jack Rabbit and Uncle John Hare had gone after Doctor Cat to tell him that the Cow That Jumped Over the Moon was ill with the rheumatism.

"That's pretty hard to cure," said the wise cat doctor after the little bunnies had explained matters. "But I will get my little black bag and go with you," and filling it full of little medicine bottles and boxes of pills he put on his coat and hat and followed the two little rabbits out to the Bunnymobile. Then they all started for Mrs. Cow's house in Meadowville, on the corner of Corn Cob Avenue and Clover Street.

"I don't know what will happen if she never can jump over the moon again," said Little Jack Rabbit. "Just think how disappointed all the little boys and girls will be who read Mother Goose. Maybe the Little Dog will never laugh again and the Dish won't run after the Spoon."

"I'll give her a jumping powder," said Dr. Cat. "That's all she needs. Don't worry. I once treated a kangaroo for the same trouble," And he began to purr as if nothing could worry him except, maybe, a big dog.

Well, pretty soon they came to Mrs. Cow's house, so the doctor jumped out and went in. But, oh dear me, Mrs. Cow was sicker than he thought, I guess, for he didn't come out for fifteen minutes, and maybe more.

"How is she?" inquired kind Uncle John Hare when the famous cat doctor was once more seated in the Bunnymobile.

"She hasn't got rheumatism at all," he answered. "She bumped her foot on the edge of the moon, but it will be all well in a few days."

By and by the two little rabbits and the famous cat doctor came to a bridge where they found the old dog who took the toll ill with the flu.

"Let me off here," said Dr. Cat, "and you can go on your way." So the two little bunnies crossed the bridge and stopped at a moving picture theatre.

"There's going to be a show very soon," said a green parrot. "Get your tickets. Don't be late. There won't be a seat by half past eight."

"Shall we go in?" asked the old gentleman rabbit.

And you don't suppose for a minute that Little Jack Rabbit answers "no" in the next story, do you?

Now the Moving Picture to which Little Jack Rabbit and Uncle John Hare went in the story before this was about a dog that barked at the moon till the Man in the Moon threw him a bone, after which he sat out in the backyard every night to catch the bones the Man in the Moon threw down to him.

"I wish it had been about the little bird in the Moon Man's house," said Little Jack Rabbit. "I don't care much about dogs."

Well, after that they both jumped into the Bunnymobile and started off for home. But, oh dear me. They had gone only a little way, just so far, when out from the wood jumped a big black bear.

"What are you doing out here by my wood?Your Bunnymobile makes a noiseIt will wake up my cub with its rub-a-dub-dub,And frighten the little bird boys."

"No, it won't," answered the old gentleman rabbit. "Everybody in the Shady Forest knows me. I've taken the fairies out for a drive. They like it."

Well, when the Black Bear heard that he grew more sociable and pretty soon he invited the two little bunnies to call. So Little Jack Rabbit asked him to get in the Bunnymobile, and away they went to the bear's home. And after a while, they saw among the trees a cute little log house.

"That's where I live," said the Black Bear, and in less time than I can take to tell it, they were all out of the Bunnymobile and seated in the parlor.

"Now wait a minute and I'll see if my little cub is awake," said the big Black Bear, and he went to the foot of the stairs to listen.

"Go to sleep, you naughty cub,What makes you wriggle so?You ought to be in Dreamy LandWhere pretty flowers grow."

"Sh-s-sh!" said the big Black Bear, motioning to Uncle John Hare. "Mrs. Bear is singing him to sleep!" So the two little rabbits tiptoed out of the log cabin and hopped into the Bunnymobile, and went softly away, for they knew how hard it is for mothers to get their children to sleep and they didn't want to make trouble for kind Mrs. Bear.

Well, pretty soon these kind little bunnies reached home, where Mrs. Daisy Duck, their housekeeper, stood waiting on the front porch. It was quite late and the Twinkle, Twinkle Star was shining down from the sky. And next time if

The Man in the Moon doesn't lose a centAnd so is unable to pay his rent,

I'll tell you another story about these two little rabbits.

One morning as Uncle John Hare and his bunny nephew sat on the front porch of their little house on the corner of Turnip Square and Lettuce Avenue they saw a Yellow Hen walking down the road. She had on a pink shawl and a purple sunbonnet and a pair of little red slippers.

"Cackle, cackle, what do you think,I went to the store to buy some ink,Paper and pen a letter to write,But they told me they'd all sold out last night."

"So here I am," said the little Yellow Hen. "I must make you a call," and she hopped up on the porch and sat down in the rocking chair.

"Well, we're glad to see you," said the old gentleman rabbit. "How are all the folks in Chicken City?"

"The old Red Rooster has the chicken pox," she answered. And when the old gentleman rabbit heard that he was dreadfully sorry, for once upon a time that very same rooster used to wake him up every morning for breakfast.

"We'll take the Bunnymobile and go over to see him," he said. And in less than 500 short seconds all three of them were driving toward Chicken City. But, would you believe it, when they reached the old Red Rooster's house they were told he had gone for a walk on the meadow. And pretty soon they heard him say:

"I got over the chickenpox,But I nearly had the fluI'm so glad I'm well again—Cock-a-doodle-do!"

"Too bad you took all this trip for nothing," said the Yellow Hen.

"Not a bit of it," answered the old gentleman bunny. "It's worth going a thousand miles to hear my old friend crow again." And then he and Little Jack Rabbit jumped into the Bunnymobile and started off for home. But they had gone only a little way, maybe a mile and maybe less, when they saw a little pig by the road-side, eating clover tops and wagging his little curly tail to brush away the flies.

"Come, take a ride with us," shouted Little Jack Rabbit. So in jumped the little pig and sat down on the back seat and then the old gentleman bunny made the Bunnymobile go twice as fast to frighten the little pig. But he wasn't scared. He lay back against the nice soft cushions and took a lollypop out of his pocket and made believe he was smoking a pipe. And when the old gentleman rabbit turned around, he nearly upset the Bunnymobile he was so surprised.

And in the next story you shall hear what happened after that.

The Bunnymobile went gliding along,While the two little rabbits sang a song.The little pig now and then joined in,But, oh, dear me! his voice was thin.

"Stop that noise!" cried somebody, all of a sudden, just like that. And from behind a bush a big wildcat jumped right out into the middle of the road. And, oh dear me, again, and maybe once more, but she had dreadful long teeth and sharp pointed claws.

"I won't stop," answered the old gentleman rabbit.

"Yes, you will," said the wildcat, "and what is more I'm going to eat your friend Mr. Pig."

Goodness gracious me! That was a terrible thing to hear, especially if you're a pig. And then with a leap that fierce wildcat landed in the Bunnymobile. But, oh dear me, before she could touch him Little Jack Rabbit picked up a big round rubber tire and threw it over that wicked wildcat's head, and when she tried to get it off the little air valve opened and blew in her eye until she couldn't see anything. And while she had her eyes shut the old gentleman rabbit put a big chain around her waist and padlocked it to the Bunnymobile.

"Now will you be good?" asked Little Jack Rabbit with a grin. "We'll take you to the Catnip City jail and turn you over to the Policeman Dog."

And away went the two little rabbits, but, let me tell you, before they even started the little pig jumped over the seat and sat down beside them, for he didn't want to stay with the big wildcat. Oh, dear no! Not even if she were chained and padlocked.

Well, pretty soon, not so very long, although it seemed a month to the little pig, they came to Catnip City, and in a few minutes after that they stopped in front of the jail.

"What have you got here?" asked the Policeman Dog, coming out with his club in his right paw. "Oh, I see, Mrs. Wildcat. I'm mighty glad you've caught her." And he tickled her ear with his club and locked her up in a cell.

"She won't bother anybody for thirty days," said the Policeman Dog.

And then away went the two little bunnies till they came to a farm where a big turkey gobbler lived.

"Gobble, gobble, gobble!Cried the great big turkey cock.I'd like to find some one to darn,The hole in my purple sock."

"Give it to me and I'll take it home to my housekeeper," said Uncle John Hare. And in the next story you shall hear what happened after that.

Now I forgot to tell you in the last story that as soon as the two little rabbits reached the farm where the big Turkey Gobbler had a hole in his purple sock, the little pig jumped out of the Bunnymobile and ran around to the pigsty, and he was in such a hurry that he forgot all about thanking them for the nice ride.

"Now I hope my housekeeper, Mrs. Daisy Duck, has some purple yarn," said the old gentleman rabbit as the Turkey Gobbler handed over the sock with the hole in it, "but if she hasn't I'll get some for her at the One-Two-Three-Cent Store in Turnip City."

"You're very kind," answered the Turkey Gobbler. "Some day I'll do you a favor."

Well, by and by, after a while, the two little rabbits came to a hill which the Bunnymobile wouldn't go up. No, siree. It just stood still and turned its two brass lamps around to see what the old gentleman rabbit was going to do about it.

"Goodness gracious me!" he said. "Now what do you think is the matter. Maybe it wants some gasoline to drink or maybe some milk. I'm sure I don't know which!" And just then Professor Crow flew by and said:

"What is the matter with you, I say;There's a wire stretched across the way,Can't you see it from where you sit?The two front wheels are caught by it."

"So there is," exclaimed Little Jack Rabbit. "Thank you, Professor Crow."

"But how can we cut the wire?" asked the old gentleman rabbit. "I wish Mrs. Daisy Duck were here with her work basket; we could borrow her scissors."

"Ha, ha!" laughed the old black crow. "If you'll give me a ride I'll cut the wire with my beak."

"That will be fine," said Uncle John Hare. "Go ahead and cut it, and then jump in and we'll take you wherever you wish." In a few minutes that clever black bird cut the wire in two, and then the Bunnymobile went up the hill as nicely as you please. And when they reached the top they met a little old man with a pack on his back. He was a very queer looking person, not the least like a dwarf, but much smaller than a boy.

"Take me with you, good friends," he said. "I will reward you with a present from my pack."

"Jump in," said Little Jack Rabbit. "You may sit with Professor Crow on the back seat." So the little old man crawled in, bundle and all, and after a while he undid the string that tied the bag and put his hand inside.

"What shall I pick from out of the bag.Say what you'd like the best.A watch or a ring or a diamond stud,Or a purple velvet vest?"

Now I guess Little Jack Rabbit and Uncle John Hare, the nice old gentleman bunny, have had plenty of time since I wrote the last story to think what they would rather have from the pack, which the funny little old man had untied as he rode along with them in the Bunnymobile.

"Now tell me what you'd like," he said again.

"I'll take a diamond pin," said the old gentleman rabbit.

"Give me a watch," cried the little bunny.

"A gold ring will suit me," said the little pig. "I can wear it like an earring in my nose."

"I'd like a purple velvet vest," said Prof. Jim Crow; "it will go very nicely with my black swallow-tail coat."

Then the funny little old man pulled out his hand, and, would you believe it? he handed Little Jack Rabbit a diamond pin. And then he put his hand in the bag again and drew out a watch, a ring, and a lovely purple vest.

"Goodness gracious me, but you are generous," said Uncle John Hare. "How can we ever repay you?"

"I will tell you," answered the little old man. "And I hope you will be willing to do what I ask."

"Oh, dear me," thought Little Jack Rabbit, "I know he's going to ask us to do something dangerous."

"In yonder forest," said the little old man, "lives an old witch who keeps in a wicker cage a lovely bird. Now this little bird is really my daughter, but the wicked witch has cast a spell over her. And the only way she can be set free is for someone to touch her with a little blue flower which grows all by itself near a big oak tree, not far from here."

"I will fly away and bring back the flower," said Professor Jim Crow.

"Now then," said the funny little old man, "I will tell you what to do. The little pig must go around to the back of the witch's hut and dig up her garden, and when she runs out to send him away, you two rabbits hop up on the porch and carry off the cage. And as soon as you have it safe in the Bunnymobile, come back to me. I will wait for you here."

Well, by this time, as Prof. Jim Crow had flown after the flower, the two little rabbits and the pig started off for the witch's hut and by and by, after a while, they stopped in the wood and got out. And when they were quite near, the little pig ran around to the back and began to dig up the garden.

Pretty soon, the old witch ran out of the back door to chase the pig and by this time Little Jack Rabbit had placed the birdcage in the Bunnymobile. But, oh dear me. Just as he and his uncle were driving away they heard a dreadful scream, and in the next story I'll tell you what happened after that.

"Come back, come back with my pretty bird,Or I'll change you both into a snake.How dare you act like a couple of thievesAnd my little pet blue bird take?"

And then the witch gave a dreadful scream, and jumping on her broom-stick flew after Little Jack Rabbit and Uncle John Hare.

Now it may seem strange that a broom-stick can go as fast as a Bunnymobile, but it did, just the same. And maybe a little faster, for pretty soon the old witch was alongside and stretching out her bony hand tried to snatch up the cage with the little blue bird. But just then, all of a sudden, up came Professor Jim Crow with the magic blue flower, and as soon as he touched the little bird she changed into a lovely princess, and the old witch gave another dreadful scream and almost fell off her broom-stick. You see she was afraid of that little magic blue flower, for she knew if she came near it she would turn into a bat, and that would be the end of her. So she flew away on her broom-stick, back to her hut in the wood.

Well, by this time they had reached the funny little old man with his pack who lost no time in touching the little magic flower, when, presto! chango! as the magician says, he turned into a handsome king, and throwing his arms around the princess, cried, "My dearest daughter! At last you are free!" And then he turned to the two little rabbits and Prof. Jim Crow. "How shall I ever repay you?"

"Don't mention it again," said the old gentleman bunny. "We are all glad to have helped you; and besides, you gave us all a present."

Just then the little pig came up, much out of breath, for he had run all the way from the witch's house.

Pretty soon the king and the princess drove off in a great coach drawn by four milk white horses, after saying good-by to the bunnies, the crow and pig. And not so very long, they heard a voice singing:

"My little white dress I have washed so clean,I will iron the ruffles in between,And when the prince comes riding along,I'll sing my prettiest fairy song."

"Who is singing?" asked the little rabbit, and they stopped the Bunnymobile and knocked at the door of a little house they spied in the wood and in less than five seconds, it was opened by a little girl.

"Come in," she said, "I've never seen such nice rabbits before." And in the next story you shall hear what happened after that.

In the story before this I told you how a little girl opened the door of her cottage when the two little rabbits went rat-a-tat-tat three times. And you remember she was singing a song about her pretty ruffled dress which she meant to put on before the prince came riding by. Well, as soon as the two little rabbits sat down in the parlor, the little girl said:

"I have a little tree, on which silk ribbons grow;Some are red as roses, some are white as snow.And some are yellow, pink and blue,Come, I'll show my tree to you."

And then she led Little Jack Rabbit and Uncle John Hare into her garden and showed them this wonderful tree. It certainly was a beautiful tree, just covered with little silk ribbons of many colors and on the topmost branch Bobbie Redvest had a nest full of little blue eggs.

And while they stood there admiring this wonderful tree, five little dwarfs ran into the garden and said:

"We want a yard of ribbonAs blue as sunny sky,Two yards of purple colorAnd three of crimson dye."

Then the little girl took a pair of silver scissors from her pocket and clipped off the ribbons. And wasn't it wonderful? No sooner had she cut off a piece than another grew in its place. And after she had rolled up the ribbons in a neat package, the five little dwarfs each took a diamond out of his pocket and gave it to her, and then they hurried away without a word to the two little rabbits.

"They never speak to anyone except in poetry," said the little girl, "and maybe they were too bashful to think of a rhyme for you."

"I'd like to buy a blue ribbon for a tie," said Uncle John Hare.

"I will give you one for nothing," said the little girl, "if you will take me in your Bunnymobile to the One-Two-Three-Cent Store in Catnip City."

"All right," answered Uncle John Hare. So the little girl cut off a piece of blue ribbon and tied it around his neck and then off they went to the One-Two-Three-Cent Store.

"I sell these ribbons for Pussy Cats and Bow-wow Dogs," she said, opening a box which she carried under her arm. "Then I buy groceries and shoes for myself, and some day when the prince comes riding by on his big white horse he will stop to see me, and then maybe he'll ask me to marry him, and I shall be a princess. But I shall take my little magic tree with me and plant it in the castle garden, for it is my lucky charm." And in the next story, just wait until you hear what happens.

When the two little rabbits and the little girl reached the One-Two-Three-Cent Store in Catnip City, they all jumped out of the Bunnymobile. Now, I don't believe I ever told you about the One-Two-Three-Cent Store. It was kept by a Fairy Cat, whose name was Tabby Tiny Cat. And all the fairies for miles around bought things at her store, for she kept every kind of a thing—candies made of honey dew, nuts and maple sugar, Sunbeam Taffy and Moonlight Marshmallows, as well as Cobweb Laces and pretty moss rugs and Sugar Maple Icicle Candy.

"Come in, come in," said the Fairy Cat.

"I've things for a penny and some for two, and others for three, now what will it be?"

"Let me look around first," said Little Jack Rabbit. "Mrs. Daisy Duck, my uncle's housekeeper, makes all the good things we want to eat, but maybe you will have something we'd like to buy." So while he and Uncle John Hare looked around, the little girl showed the lovely Magic Tree Ribbons to the Fairy Cat who said:

"I'll take them all, for the Fairy Cats will need bows for Easter." Then the little girl bought flour and sugar and a pair of little red shoes, and a dainty sunbonnet with a yellow butterfly on it. And then she was ready to go home. But the two little rabbits were still looking around trying to find something which they could buy for Mrs. Daisy Duck.

Pretty soon a Yellow Bird in a wicker cage began to sing:

"Buy a fairy dewdrop pinYour purple tie to fasten in."

"Good," said Uncle John Hare, "that's what I want."

"Buy a silver tick-tock watchTo tell the time of day.You'll find it very usefulWhen riding miles away,"

sang the little bird.

"That's the very thing," exclaimed Little Jack Rabbit. And as soon as they had paid the Fairy Cat, they all jumped into the Bunnymobile and started back for the little girl's house where in the garden grew the Magic Ribbon Tree I told you about in the last story.

But, oh dear me. Just as they drew up at the front gate, they saw the Ragged Rabbit Giant behind the house. "Oh, dear," said the little girl. "He will pick off all the lovely ribbons. What shall I do?"

Well, just then, all of a sudden, a big tremendous long snake crawled out from behind a tree. And in the next story, you shall hear what happened after that.

"I'm as strong as an iron ropeI can bind a giant fast;If I coil like a belt around his waist,I can make him breathe his last,"

sang the Big Black Snake just as I finished the last story.

"Then help us," said Little Jack Rabbit, "for the Ragged Rabbit Giant is picking all the lovely ribbons from the little girl's magic tree."

"Keep quiet," said the snake, "and I will glide around into the garden and see what I can do."

So Uncle John Hare, Little Jack Rabbit and the little girl hid behind a lilac bush. And pretty soon, not so very long, they heard a dreadful noise. Oh, dear me, yes. And in another minute the Ragged Rabbit Giant ran out of the garden with the big snake coiled about his waist.

Now the Ragged Rabbit Giant was tremendously strong, and the snake found it hard work to squeeze the breath out of him. But, just the same, Ragged Rabbit Giant was mighty uncomfortable, let me tell you. And pretty soon he said in a whisper:

"If you will tell this dreadful snakeTo bother me no more,I'll never pass this way againNor knock upon your door."

"Shall I let him go?" asked the snake, winking his left eye at Uncle John Hare. "First make him give us a promise," answered the wise old gentleman rabbit. So the big bunny giant made a solemn vow never to bother them again.

"You are a very kind snake," said the little girl, "I will give you some ribbons for your children's Easter bonnets." And she ran into the garden and with her silver scissors clipped off some pretty ribbons and gave them to the snake, who then glided away to his home.

Just then the sound of a bugle was heard and the little girl cried:

"Here comes the prince on his snow-white steedAs my godmother told me he would,To take me away to his castle gayIn the midst of the whispering wood."

And sure enough, in a few minutes the prince came by and asked the little girl to come to his castle. So she pulled up the Magic Ribbon Tree and locked the door of her little house, and then the handsome prince lifted her up on the saddle and rode away to the castle. And as soon as the little girl was seated behind him she grew into a beautiful young princess. And in the next story, oh, just wait until you hear what happens.

Said Mrs. Daisy Duck one day,"The sugar all has gone awayThe ants have made a call I fear,And taken it away from here."

"Never mind," said Uncle John Hare, the old gentleman rabbit, "perhaps they couldn't buy any lollypops at the One-Two-Three-Cent Store."

"But what am I to do?" asked Mrs. Daisy Duck. "I must have sugar to make Angel cake."

"If that's the case," said the old gentleman bunny, "I'll motor over to Turnip City and buy some." So he and Little Jack Rabbit jumped into the Bunnymobile and away they went, and after a while, and maybe a mile, and a laugh and a smile, they stopped at the Big Grocery Store.

Now the manager of the sugar department was a very nice pig, and when he advised Uncle John Hare to take a barrel of sugar instead of three pounds for twenty-five cents, the old gentleman rabbit said all right, he would. But, goodness me. They had a dreadful time getting that heavy barrel into the Bunnymobile. But after a while they rolled it up on the back seat, and then they started off for home. But, goodness me again! They had gone but a little way when, all of a sudden, just like that, a voice sang out:

"What have you got in that barrelThat sits up so straight on the seat.You'd have a close call if it happened to fallOn top of your four little feet."

"Who are you?" asked the old gentleman bunny, stopping the Bunnymobile and looking all about him. But he couldn't see anybody, and neither could the little rabbit, although he put up his spyglasses and looked over the top of a tall oak tree.

"Here I am," said the voice, and all of a sudden, just like that, a big honey bee flew out of a flower.

"Ha, ha!" laughed the old gentleman rabbit, "I guess you smelt sugar. We have enough in that barrel to last for maybe a year and a day, as they say in Fairy Land."

"I will give you a box of honey for two pounds of sugar," said the bee. "Mr. Bee told me this morning that he was tired of honey in his coffee."

"Get in the Bunnymobile and come with us," said the old gentleman bunny. "When we get there I'll open the barrel and give you some." So away they went and soon they came across an old rag doll lying in the dusty road.

"Goodness me," exclaimed the old gentleman rabbit, "she must have fainted." And, sure enough, this was the case, for as soon as she was lifted into the Bunnymobile she opened her eyes and said: "In the next story I'll tell you how I was lost by a little girl with a blue sunbonnet."

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