INVITATIONS
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.