THE WEE HARE AND THE RED FIRE
[in words of not more than four letters]
BY A. L. SYKES
One day in the cold time when he lay snug and warm by his Mama, Tiny Hare said, “Tell me of the hare who went step, step, step in the snow till he came to the RED FIRE.”
So his Mama gave him a hug and said:
Once upon a time was a wise Wee Hare who knew how to run fast when MAN came by. He knew how to hide when DOG was near, and when he saw the dark spot in the sky that HAWK made, how fast he did jump to his Mama! But Wee Hare did not like to go out and run and jump and play in the sun.
“I do not want to run and jump and play in the sun. I want to run far, far in the wood, and find the red bush. I have seen it away off in the dark. It is good for me to eat, I know.”
“It is FIRE,” said his Mama. “Only MAN can make it, and it is not good for you. It can burn and hurt. You may eat the good food that you can find near our home,” and she bit his ear for a kiss.