Tippy Toes went and let in the Grocer boy. He curled up again at Bunny
Cotton-Tail's feet and said, "Now Bunny, please tell me the story."
Bunny Cotton-Tail began again, "Once, when I was young—"
Then the most surprising thing happened!
Soot began to pour down the chimney. It flew all over the room. It covered the carpet and furniture and pictures.
Bunny shouted, "My fur and whiskers, what can be the matter?"
Susan said, "Bless my buttons, there is soot all over the room." Tippy
Toes danced on this foot, and danced on that foot, and said,
"Let me go up the chimney because,
I think it may be Santa Claus."
Then Bunny and Susan laughed, but soon Bunny Cotton-Tail coughed, and Susan sneezed, so Tippy Toes knew something must be done at once. He ran outdoors and looked up at the chimney.
There was Bushy-Tail, the sly old Fox acting as a chimney-sweep. He was sweeping the chimney with his long, beautiful tail.
[Illustration: "HE WAS SWEEPING THE CHIMNEY WITH HIS LONG, BEAUTIFUL
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