BUSTER JOHN SHAKING HANDS WITH MR. RABBIT
The children were not at all anxious to go. They had had a very curious experience in Mr. Thimblefinger’s queer country, and they had almost forgotten that the sun in their part of the world had a habit of going down. But they said they were ready, and then they shook hands all around. When Buster John came to shake hands with Mr. Rabbit, the latter looked at the youngster a moment.
“Did you ever happen to know a colored man named Aaron?†he asked.
“Uncle Aaron!†exclaimed Buster John. “Why, he lives on our plantation. He’s the foreman.â€
“Well,†said Mr. Rabbit solemnly, “when you see Aaron, take his left hand in both of yours, bend his thumb back a little, and with your right thumb make this markX with horizontal line through it. The first time he will pay no attention. Make it the second time. Then he will be ready to listen. Make it the third time. Then he will ask you what you want. Say to him that you want to learn the language of the animals.â€
“Won’t he get angry?†asked Buster John.
“Try him,†replied Mr. Rabbit with a cunning look. “Now, good-by!â€
“When you get ready to come again,†said Mrs. Meadows, “just drop a big apple in the spring, and I’ll be bound we’ll all see it and know what it means. And when you come be sure and bring the apple. It’s been a month of Sundays since I’ve had one.â€
The children promised they would, and then, with Mr. Thimblefinger leading the way, they started home, which they reached without further adventure. As they stood on the brink of the spring, waving their hands to Mr. Thimblefinger, who was smiling at them from the bottom, Drusilla remarked with unction:—
“I dunner how ’t is wid you all, but I don’t no mo’ b’lieve we been down dar under dat water dar dan—dan—dan de man in de moon. Dat I don’t!â€
Then the youngsters heard the supper-bell ring, and they all ran towards the house.
Back cover of the book
Transcriber's NoteMinor typographic errors have been corrected without note.Some illustrations have been moved slightly so that they are not mid-paragraph.
Transcriber's Note
Minor typographic errors have been corrected without note.
Some illustrations have been moved slightly so that they are not mid-paragraph.