Bunny Cotton-Tail was so scared that he did not say a word, but he thought he felt his hair turning gray, and that was a pity for one so young!
When they got near the den, Mother Cotton-Tail stopped. Everything was very still.
“Now, Bunny,” she said, “you shall go in there, and we will eat you up, unless you promise never to run away any more.”
Did Bunny promise? Well, indeed he did, in a hurry! And Mother Cotton-Tail told him that all the foxes knew about it and would catch him if he ever ran away again.
Then she gave him a big hug, which scared him nearly to death. Think of his being scared when his own mother hugged him! But you see, he thought she was Mr. Fox. Then she let Bunny go, and he ran straight home.
Mother Cotton-Tail put Mr. Fox’s coat back on the line and went home, too, very happy.
Bunny Cotton-Tail never ran away from home any more. So Mr. Owl knew what he was talking about, after all.
Bunny and Susan were always the best of friends, but whether his sore paw ever got well or not, I cannot tell you, for I forgot to ask him.
Little People of Other Lands Series
By Mary Muller