"You are certainly slippery," said the rabbit, "as slippery as a rubber doormat on a wet day. But look at this thing which I dug up just before the fox jumped for me. I think it is a diamond, and if it is, I will get rich, and I can go home and see my little rabbit grandchildren, Sammie and Susie Littletail." Then he held out to the slippery eel the shining object he had found in the sand.
"Alas! Alas!" sorrowfully exclaimed the eel, as he looked at the shining thing.
"What's the matter; isn't it a diamond?" asked the rabbit.
Then the slippery eel said this in a sing-song voice:
"Alas, alas,
'Tis only glass.
It is no good
To eat for food.
It will not do
For me or you.