Harper's Round Table, December 1, 1896

by Various

That was rather a poser. But Tom had his answer ready.

"You boys, now listen to me. I wah just now chasing a rabbit harder'n I ever chased one befo'. Dat ah rabbit, he lives down the big hedge round de garden; he got sisters, brothers, cousins, lots of 'em. We ketch father and mother rabbit, then when we have lots of little rabbits we'se all right. Tom'll build big house for rabbits, keep it outside dar in the coal cellar, and feed 'em every day regular; no trouble at all after we catch father and mother."

The boys knew what rabbit tracks looked like in the snow, and the plan proposed by Tom was that, the first morning after a light snow-fall, they should get up early, and follow the tracks to the part of the hedge where the rabbits lived. He would every night put out some chopped carrots and turnips, and just as soon as the rabbits appeared, they all being in hiding themselves, jump out and catch them. After a long consultation they agreed the old plan was the only safe one—that of tying a string around their big toes, hanging the string out of their respective windows down over the piazza, then Tom would pull the string attached to Massa Jim's toe, and as soon as Jim was dressed, he'd run over and pull the string attached to Ned's. This plan had its disadvantages in summer, for mischievous elder sisters and brothers who sat up late in the evening had a nasty way of pulling the string before they went to bed, and more than once the boys had gotten up in the middle of the night, accordingly, and dressed themselves to go out, only to be met downstairs by the other members of the family with the news that it was still night, and not morning. In December few people sit up on the piazza, so there was less danger, and finally that was settled upon as the best way to do.

Several anxious days passed without any more snow, and the parents of the boys could not understand their sudden interest in the weather, as they generally didn't care at all. They read the weather reports until their eyes ached, but the only snow in sight was out in western Dakota, and it seemed as if it never would come to this region of the country. But as all comes round to him who will but wait, Jim was awakened one night—or as it seemed to him, night—with a hideous dream in which a rabbit was eating off his toe, to find that the string was being violently jerked. It didn't take him half a minute to get to the window, and when he looked out there was the sun just coming up and the ground covered with the loveliest, whitest snow. Jim did not wait to perform a very extensive toilet, and was over at Ned's, pulling the string attached to his toe, in less time than it takes to tell about it. Then as soon as Ned got out the two boys went in search of Tom, who was in a great state of excitement, and who had collected together two other darkies. The air was decidedly cold, but nobody minded it, so great was the excitement; and when some tiny little marks were seen in the snow the boys felt as if it were the greatest moment of their lives, all the more delicious because they all had to keep absolute silence. They went in single file, following down the little footfalls of the rabbit, when suddenly, just ahead of them, they saw the animal they were in search of, and not one only, but three of them. They looked so pretty nibbling away there at the carrots and turnips, and so wise with their long ears, that the boys could not bear to have them interrupted, and watched them for some little time.

A NICE LONG CHASE HE LED THEM OVER HILL AND DOWN DALE.

Suddenly, as though scenting danger in the air, the biggest fellow sat up on his haunches, then gave a sideways leap, and went down the hill with big bounds. This was too much for the darkies to stand, and with wild whoops of delight they followed, Jim and Ned also joining in the chase. But Master Rabbit did not intend to be caught so easily, and a nice long chase he led them over hill and down dale. One of the darkies who was holding a big stick flung it after the rabbit, and came within an inch of hitting him; but that put an end to the fun, for while Jim and Ned wanted to catch the rabbits, they were not willing to see them killed, and they called to Tom to stop—the game was up.

"Tom," said the boys, "we want to catch those rabbits, but we do not want to kill the animals."

"All right, massa," said Tom, "we catch 'em, not kill 'em"; and like a general marshalling an army, he gave each boy directions where to go. They formed in a ring, and gradually drew nearer together, until the rabbit lay quite still, utterly tired, and quite at the mercy of his captors. Tom then slipped him into a bag, which he slung over his back, and they went back to where the other rabbits were feeding again. They had returned, and by a little strategy another one was caught, and the boys declared they had had enough of it for the day. They had gotten two fine rabbits, and soon had them safely ensconced in the rabbit-hut. They took good care of them, and with Tom's constant aid and attention the scheme proved a good one; and yet, strange to say, the boys never went rabbit-hunting again after that first morning. They could not forget how piteous the poor little animal had looked when the darky wanted to throw the stick at him, and as they had enough to get along with, they concluded they'd rather try another plan next time.

Colored people have a great weakness for what they call hares—they like them almost as well as they do watermelons—and it is sad to say that the three darkies who went on that expedition went on many another before the winter was over.