And oh, dear me! The circus folk all had to sleep with the animals, and the fat lady couldn’t get into the monkey cage, so she had to lie down on the grass underneath for the night, and she caught an awful cold and almost had the chickenpox.
Of course Billy Bunny and his good, kind uncle were dreadfully disappointed, and when they got home they played on the victrola a new song called: “If you want to borrow money don’t you ever come to me,” and after that they went to bed, and when they woke up they heard the little sparrow singing on the front porch:
Sing a song of summer,
And the happy flowers;
Sing a song of sunshine
Through the golden hours
Always sing of gladness
Through the live-long year
Even in December,
When it’s cold and drear.
“I’m going to take some crumbs out to that cheerful little bird,” and kind Uncle Lucky sprinkled sponge cake crumbs all over the porch, and the sparrow and her little birdies had a scrumptious feast.
And after that the telephone rang and Mrs. Bunny called up to find out how Billy Bunny was. And when Uncle Lucky said he was very well she said she was glad, because if he had been sick she would have wanted him brought home im-me-die-ate-ly.
But as long as he wasn’t she wanted him back anyway, because she was so lonely without him. And then of course the little rabbit had to say good-by to his dear kind uncle and start right oft for the Old Brier Patch.
Well, sir! He hadn’t gone for more than a million hops, and maybe a few skips and jumps, when he came across his old friend the Brown Horse. “Hello, there!” said the good-natured animal; “how is your Bunny Highness?”
“I’m all right,” said the little rabbit, “but what are you doing here in the woods?”
“Ssh!” whispered the Brown Horse. “I ran away to-day and I’m afraid the policeman will catch me for exceeding the speed limit.”
“So I’m hiding here.” And just then they heard a whistle, but you’ll have to wait to find out whether it’s a policeman or a locomotive engine until the next story, for I’ve no more room in this one.