Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Big Woods

by Laura Lee Hope

"I have felt that," said Mrs. Brown.

"And so have I," added Bunny. "It's funny!"

"Well, that's all there is to it," said Mr. Bixby. "But I want Tom back. I'm going to have him, too!"

"You shall have him if you have a right to him. But I shall look into this first," said Mr. Brown. "You can't take him to-night."

"Oh, well, we sha'n't quarrel over that, as long as I get him to-morrow to help dig potatoes. But you'll find I'm in the right, and that the boy belongs to me for the Summer," said the hermit. "I'll do just as I agreed to by him."

"Well, I'll look it up to make sure," said Mr. Brown. "It may be that you are right, and it may be you are wrong. If you are, I'll say to you now that you'll never get Tom away from me."

"That's right. Don't let him take me!" cried Tom, who seemed very much afraid. "I don't want any more of his funny needles stuck in me. Let me stay with you!"

"I will if I can, Tom my boy," said Mr. Brown.

"You'll find you can't keep him away from me," said Mr. Bixby, as he got up to go. "And I won't hurt him, as he and you folks seem to think. All I want are my rights."

The two men talked together a little longer, but Tom wanted to hear all about Sue's having been shut in the trunk, so Bunny and his sister took turns telling the story once more, while Tom listened eagerly.