And the Tiger said: “I had it from the Camel,” and the Camel said: “I had it from the Buffalo.” And the buffalo from the wild boar, and the wild boar from the sheep, and the sheep from the deer, and the deer from the hares, and the Hares said: “Oh! we heard it from that little Hare.”
And the Lion said: “Little Hare, what made you say that the Earth was falling in?”
And the little Hare said: “I saw it.”
“You saw it?” said the Lion. “Where?”
“Yonder, by the tree.”
“Well,” said the Lion, “come with me and I will show you how——”
“No, no,” said the Hare, “I would not go near that tree for anything, I’m so nervous.”
“But,” said the Lion, “I am going to take you on my back.” And he took her on his back, and begged the animals to stay where they were until they returned. Then he showed the little Hare how the fruit had fallen upon the leaf, making the noise that had frightened her, and she said: “Yes, I see—the Earth is not falling in.” And the Lion said: “Shall we go back and tell the other animals?” And they went back. The little Hare stood before the animals and said: “The Earth is not falling in.” And all the animals began to repeat this to one another, and they dispersed gradually, and you heard the words more and more softly:
“The Earth is not falling in,” etc., etc., etc., until the sound died away altogether.
Note.—This story I have told in my own words, using the language I have found most effective for very young children.