“Being a king isn’t all lettuce and carrots,” sighed Bumper. “I’m not sure but I’d rather be just Fuzzy Wuzz, who smiles and laughs all day, or even Goggle Eyes, who eats altogether too much for himself, but seems to enjoy it.”
“Then there’s so much a king has to know,” he added a moment later. “I’m learning all the time new things, but what I don’t know yet frightens me. I wish sometimes I could take a vacation, and just go off and forget everything. I wonder why kings don’t have vacations.”
Such a thing as a vacation for a king was unheard of, although all of the rest could take any day they chose. Bumper couldn’t even steal out of the burrow alone for a little run without somebody going with him. The king had to be watched and accompanied all the time.
Now Old Blind Rabbit, in proclaiming Bumper the White Rabbit king, had thought first of only his own family, for he had no control over the other burrows; but he was so well known for his wisdom and age that the leaders of other burrows would listen to his words. He had wanted to keep Bumper’s coming a secret until he was sure that he had made no mistake in choosing him.
But now he thought was a good time to take him around to his friends—Brindley the Lame, Pink Nose, Rolly Polly and Crooked Ears. He wanted them to meet Bumper and judge for themselves. As leaders of their families, they knew the prophecy of the coming of a white rabbit, who some day would rule over all their people and redeem them from their weak ways.
“Bumper, my days are numbered, but yours are as many as the trees in the woods,” he said to the White Rabbit. “Before I go I want to see you accepted as king by Pink Nose, Rolly Polly, Crooked Ears, Brindley the Lame and White Tail. Then I can die in peace.”
Bumper nodded his head, and asked who all these important people were.
“They are leaders of big families here in the woods, and very influential. If they accept you all the other rabbits will follow.”
“And if they don’t?”
“Then I fear there will be trouble. You cannot rule over a divided people and make them happy.”