"Helloa, helloa!" he shouted, for I guess the Little Jack Rabbit had overslept himself that morning. "Helloa, Helloa!"
"Here I am," answered the little bunny, hopping up to the Old Rail Fence. "What do you want?"
"Oh, nothing in particular," answered Chippy Chipmunk. "Only I was wondering why you weren't around, that's all."
"I guess I'm late. You see, my Alarm Clock didn't wake up either," and the little rabbit laughed. And just then they heard it ring, "Cling, cling, cling, cling cling!" And then it began to sing:
"The dew is shining on the grass
'Tis time to be awake.
The Morning Glory on her vine,
The Lily on the lake,
Have lifted up a dewy head,—
So hurry, tumble out of bed."
"Come on, Chippy Chipmunk," said the little rabbit when the Alarm Clock stopped singing, "Let's go for a walk up the Shady Forest Trail." So off they started together and after a while, not so very far, they came to the tree where Squirrel Nutcracker lived with his family. But Old Squire Nutcracker wasn't at home, and neither was Mrs. Nutcracker, and of course the two Squirrel Brothers were away. So the little rabbit and the little chipmunk went along until they came to the Forest Pond in the middle of which on a little island stood the big chestnut tree where Old Barney Owl had his home.
"He sleeps all day," laughed the little bunny, "so he's at home!"
"But how are we to get over to the island?" asked Chippy Chipmunk. But the little rabbit didn't answer. He was too busy pushing a log into the water.
"Get aboard," he said to the little chipmunk, and then with a shove he hopped on and pretty soon they reached the island, when they hopped off and up to the big chestnut tree to knock on Old Barney Owl's front door.
"Oh, Mr. Owl, pray do not scowl
Because we've called on you.
It's just a surprise, so open your eyes.
Please, Mr. Barney, do."