Flop Ear, at first, was so frightened at finding himself in the boy’s arms, that he did not know what to do. He trembled and tried to get away, but the boy said:
“Keep still, little rabbit. I won’t hurt you. I will be kind to you.”
Flop Ear understood a little of this talk, but, best of all, he understood the kind, stroking hand of the boy, who rubbed his fur softly. Animals can tell just by the way you touch them whether or not you are going to be nice to them.
But still Flop Ear was frightened. To a little rabbit, a boy is as big as a giant would be to you or me, and this was the first time, in all his life, Flop Ear had ever been near a human being.
If there were giants in the world, I think we would all be very much frightened if we saw one for the first time, and did not know whether he would be cross or kind. But after we had seen the giant two or three times, and learned that he would not harm us, we would not be so worried. It was this way with Flop Ear. It was the first time he had ever seen a boy close by, and he was afraid.
“Now don’t try to get away, little bunny,” said the boy kindly. “I won’t hurt you. See him, Mother! Isn’t he cute?”
“Where did you get him, Jimmie?”
“Why he was in the wood basket, right under the wood, and when I lifted out the last sticks I saw him.”
“In the wood basket! How in the world did he get there?”
“He must have come in from the fields or woods and hopped in to hide,” said Jimmie, the boy. “I am going to keep him for a pet if he will stay with me. I’ll teach him some tricks.”