"Sammie," said Mamma Littletail to her little bunny boy one fine day, "I wish you would take this basket of cabbage leaves and preserved clover over to Mr. Groundhog. He was so good to let us go in his burrow that night the flood came in here that I want to do him a kindness."
"Can't Susie come, too, mamma?" asked Sammie, who did not like to go through the woods alone, especially since there were so many boys wandering about on top of the Orange Mountain, now that spring was getting near.
"Yes, Susie may go if she wants to," answered the rabbit childrens' mother. "Do you want to, dear?"
"Oh, yes. I'll go with Sammie. But I think he ought to carry the basket."
"Of course I will," said Sammie, and the two set off to the burrow where Mr. Groundhog had his home. It was not far from the underground house where the rabbit family lived, and the children soon reached it. They knocked on the door, and a voice called out:
"Who's there?"
"Sammie and Susie Littletail," answered Sammie. "We have some cabbage leaves and preserved clover that mamma sent you."
"That is very nice," remarked the groundhog. "Come right in. I am afraid to come to the door, you know."
Sammie and Susie walked in and gave Mr. Groundhog the things in the basket. Then Susie, who was very curious, asked him a question.
"Why didn't you want to come to the door?" she inquired.