I’ll give you this stocking in a week and a day.”
The Mad March Hare was happy to stay in the warm house and he did all the house work, while Old Mother Bear’s needles clicked away.
He made a furious dust when he swept the floor and broke a good many dishes but he said:
“You must not really think me bad,
It is just my nature to be mad.”
When at last he went off with his stocking Old Mother Bear drew a sigh of relief. He called back to her:
“I hope Old Santa will fill your stocking too,
Merry, Merry Christmas, Mother Bear, to you.”
Then suddenly, and without any warning whatever Cousin Nanny Goat and Sammy Small Tail the Rabbit, came bounding in crying:
“We’ve no stockings to hang by the fireside