Edwin, the young rabbit fancier, and other stories

THE RABBIT
BOSTON: CROSBY & AINSWORTH. NEW YORK: OLIVER S. FELT. 1866.
EDWIN, THE YOUNG RABBIT FANCIER.
Edwin was a very tender-hearted boy, and very eager about a thing when he took it into his head; but his enthusiasm very often left him just at the time it ought to have remained with him. Thus he never pursued any study or amusement for any length of time with profit to himself, and often fell into very grievous errors.
“Oh! dear mama,” said he one day to his mother. “I do so much wish that I had something for a pet; there is Charles Jones has a sweet little bird, and cousin James has a squirrel. I should so like something for a pet. Do, mama, buy me something—a Guinea pig, or a couple of pigeons, or a rabbit. Oh! I saw such a beautiful white rabbit yesterday.
“Ay, my dear,” said his mama, “I am afraid you would soon grow tired of your rabbit, as you did of your gun, and bow and arrow, and ship, and rocking-horse.”
“Oh! but a rabbit is quite different, mama; you can love a rabbit, you know, and coax it, and feed it, and make it happy. I should go out early in the morning, and pick some nice clover for it, and some thistle, and dandelion, and marsh mallows. I know how to feed rabbits—I have learned all about it. I must not give them too much green stuff, but some nice bran and oats; and then I could make a little trough for it to eat from, you know; and—and—”
“I am sure, my dear, it would be too much trouble to you; rabbits require a great deal of care and attention, and you so soon get tired of any thing you take up, that I fear it would soon suffer from neglect.”
“I am sure I should never neglect it, mama; and if you will give me a shilling, I can buy a beauty—a real white French rabbit, with red eyes, and a coat like swansdown. Do, mama, give me a shilling.”
“No, my dear,” said she, “I really must refuse you.”
Now, although Edwin was a little boy, he said to himself, “I know it is only because mama wished to save her money; ’tis not because she really thinks I shall neglect the rabbit, but because she does not like to part with her money.” He thought himself very cunning? did he not?