 Section 1 of Billy Bunny and His Friends by David Corey. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Linda-Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Billy Bunny and His Friends by David Corey. Chapter 1 Billy Bunny, Billy Bunny, called his mother from the old briar patch. Billy Bunny, where are you? Here I am, mother, he answered, poking his little pink nose out of the sweet clover. Come here, I want you to go on an errand. Where, asked Billy Bunny, brushing his white fur coat. Over to cousin Cottontails, I want you to take this note to her. Billy Bunny tucked the letter in his pocket. Be careful not to lose it, cautioned Mrs. Bunny. Don't worry, mother, I won't. In a way he hopped over the pleasant meadow. But, oh dear me, as he jumped over the babbling brook, the letter popped out of his pocket and fell into the water. What sort of a boat is that, thought a little freshwater crab, as the letter floated down this stream. If he had only asked Billy Bunny, it would have saved a lot of trouble. But he didn't, and Billy Bunny kept on his way to the friendly forest, just as though nothing had happened. By and by he came to the old brush heap, over which the wild vines spread like a green tent. I've a letter for you from mother, he called out to Mrs. Cottontail, who happened just then to be looking out of her burrow. I'm glad to see you, said Mrs. Cottontail, come inside and play with your cousins. The little rabbits were crawled up in a nest of hay, which Mrs. Cottontail had lined with fur from her own body, and Billy Bunny felt quite grown up when she told him she wasn't going to let them go outside the old brush heap until they were as big as he was. Now sit down and tell me the news. Well, there isn't much to tell, said Billy Bunny. Mother has been very busy putting away carrots for the winter, and yesterday father brought home some lovely lettuce. I guess that's all I know. Didn't you say you had a letter for me? Said Mrs. Cottontail. Billy Bunny put a paw into his pocket, but of course the letter wasn't there. Goodness gracious, he cried, I must have lost it. Please wait a minute while I run back and see if I can find it. And if the postman doesn't find it and take it to the post office, I'll tell you in the next story what Uncle Bullfrog did with it. Chapter 2 Billy Bunny hopped out of Cousin Cottontail's house and looked up and down the little path, but the letter was nowhere to be seen. Next he peeped into the babbling brook, but it wasn't there. Just as he was going to jump across, the little freshwater crab looked up. What's the matter, Billy Bunny? You look terribly worried. I am, replied the little rabbit. I've lost something. Mother gave me a letter for Cousin Cottontail, and just think, I've lost it. I saw something floating here a little while ago, said the crab. Was it a blue envelope? Asked Billy Bunny quickly. Yes, I think it was, answered the crab thoughtfully. Was it long and narrow? Yes, I guess it was, said the crab. That's it, that's it, shouted the little rabbit. But how am I ever going to find it? It must be out in the big, light ocean by this time. Nonsense, you ought to know better than that, replied the little crab. Well, where is it then? Asked the bunny boy. In the old mill pond, I should say. This brook runs right into the old mill pond, you know. Is it far from here, asked Billy Bunny? Not very, just follow the brook till you come to it. You'd better hurry. It may get caught in the old mill wheel. Billy Bunny lost no time. He hopped swiftly down the bank of the babbling brook until he came to the old mill pond. He stopped under a big willow tree and looked over the water. But the only things he saw there were big green flies and blue, darning needles. The ground was very damp, and he was afraid he might get stuck in the mud. So he hunted around for a board to stand on. Oh, dear, I'm getting all muddy. What will mother say? Oh, dear, oh, dear. Uncle Bullfrog, who was half asleep on his vlog, looked up and asked what was the matter. I've lost a letter, answered the little rabbit. What shall I do? Is this it? Said Uncle Bullfrog, pulling a blue envelope out of his pocket. Yes, screamed Billy Bunny. It is. But, oh, dear me, Billy Bunny isn't out of trouble yet. Just read in the next story what Old Mother Magpie does. Chapter 3 Uncle Bullfrog handed the letter to Billy Bunny. It was pretty wet when I pulled it out of the water, he said, in his deep bass voice. But I guess it's all right now, for I dried it in the sun. Thank you ever so much, cried the little rabbit. What would I ever do if you hadn't found it? Just then Old Mother Magpie flew by and heard what Billy Bunny said. What a careless Bunny boy, she thought. I'll stop on my way and speak to his mother about it. And off she flew to tell on poor Billy Bunny. Now run along and give the letter to your cousin. Advised Uncle Bullfrog. It didn't take the little rabbit long to do this. And after that, he hurried back to the briar patch in the corner of the old snake fence. His mother stood outside talking to Old Mother Magpie. Billy Bunny didn't know, of course, what they were talking about. And it was just as well that he didn't, the way things turned out. Before he came in hearing distance, Old Mother Magpie said, yes, Mrs. Bunny, one must teach children to be careful. Carelessness is a sin. Billy should be punished for losing the letter. Take my advice, or your son will grow up to be a worthless rabbit. Mrs. Bunny's face grew very red. She was getting indignant over Mother Magpie's remarks. What right has she to tell on Billy Bunny? Just then, his little figure appeared on the meadow. At the sight of her little rabbit boy, Mrs. Bunny became even more angry. You seem very anxious to have Billy Bunny punished. And she turned with her frown to Mother Magpie. Not at all, my dear, but I hate to see children spoiled. Well, I never thought my little boy was spoiled, answered Mrs. Bunny. That's because you're his mother. 10 to one, he'll say he never lost the letter, said Mother Magpie. Billy Bunny, did you give the note to cousin Cottontail? Yes, Mother dear, I lost it at first, but I found it. It got wet, I'm sorry. And he turned away to hide his tears. Mrs. Bunny looked at Old Mother Magpie. You see, my little boy isn't afraid to tell the truth. We don't need any of your advice, Old Mother Magpie. Goodness gracious me. Won't trouble ever end? Won't somebody in the next story catch Old Mother Magpie and lock her up in a cage so she won't trouble little bunny boys anymore? Chapter four, Old Mother Magpie wasn't a bit pleased with the way Mrs. Bunny had spoke to her. And like all mischief makers, when they are found out, she made up her mind to place the blame on somebody else. So without another word, she flew away. First, she called on Mrs. Oriole. My dear, began Old Mother Magpie, I don't think you build your nest in the right way at all. I never build mine like yours. Timid little Mrs. Oriole looked very uncomfortable, but the Orioles have always built their nest in this way. We like to have them swing. It puts the babies to sleep. Well, I wouldn't live in a nest that looks like an old stocking, screamed Mother Magpie. Next, she dropped in to see Parson Owl. He was a quiet old bird and lived in a tall oak tree. He had great round spectacles and couldn't see very well in the daylight. On Sundays, he preached in a dark place in the friendly forest, where it was very solemn and quiet for everybody. Yes, my dear Parson, said Mother Magpie, as the old owl sat winking and blinking in the top of the oak tree, I think you ought to preach a different kind of sermon next Sunday. As you are considered such a wise bird, you should teach the children to be more careful about their little duties. And then would you believe it? She went on to tell how little Billy Bunny had given a letter to take to his cousin Cottontail and how he had lost it in the babbling brook, which was very careless of him. And I thought it was my duty, Parson Owl, to tell his mother, but she never even thanked me. But Mother Magpie didn't add that Billy Bunny had finally found the letter and had given it to cousin Cottontail and that he had told his mother the truth about losing it, like a brave little rabbit. Oh, no! She didn't say anything about that, but flew away, leaving poor old Parson Owl worried to death over what he should say to the children on Sunday. One trouble after another. Did you ever see anything like it? But never mind. Just read what Uncle Bullfrog does. Chapter five. On Sunday morning, Billy Bunny and his mother started out for the dark, quiet place in the friendly forest where old Parson Owl preached his sermons. The little rabbit's fur coat was nicely brushed and his mother had on her best bonnet. When they reached the old male pond, whom should they see but Mother Magpie, she was scolding away at old Uncle Bullfrog. The forest folks are not at all satisfied with the way you lead the choir. In fact, since the boys of the neighborhood have made fun of your voice, they have about decided to get someone else. Poor Uncle Bullfrog looked very unhappy. For years he had taught music and no one had ever spoken to him like that. As old Mother Magpie went on, the tears rolled down his honest cheeks and he had to take off his yellow spectacles and wipe them on a soft green billy pad. Yes, Uncle Bullfrog, only yesterday, the Miller's boy threw stones at you and called you an old croak. The forest folk are wondering whether it's a good plan to have you lead the choir any longer. We don't want to be made fun of on your account. Isn't she a mean old thing, cried Billy Bunny? I like Uncle Bullfrog singing. I like the way he sings at night. It puts me to sleep. Billy Bunny's mother said nothing, but she gave her bonnet strings a pole just as she always did when she was getting ready to say something very stern. If you will listen to my advice, went on old Mother Magpie, not looking around. For if she had seen Billy Bunny and his mother, I don't believe she would have said another unkind word to Uncle Bullfrog. If you will listen to my advice, perhaps you will be able to hold your position. What is your advice? Asked Uncle Bullfrog in a very sad, croaking voice. Why, leave the old milk pond. You sit half the day in the water. No wonder your voice is hoarse. I will never leave the old milk pond, cried Uncle Bullfrog. If the forest folk want another choir master, they can tell me so, but I will never leave the old milk pond. And he never did. He led the singing as usual on Sunday and everybody seemed perfectly satisfied. In fact, Parson Owl told him afterwards that the music was unusually good. So after all, you see, old Mother Magpie didn't make Uncle Bullfrog leave his home in the old milk pond. And if the policemen had only been around in the next story, the Miller's Boy never would have stolen Timmy Chick-Monks chestnuts. End of section one. Section two of Billy Bunny and His Friends, by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapters six to 10. Chapter six. The Miller's Boy wasn't a nice sort of boy at all because whenever he could run away from the mill and leave his old father to tie up the mill bags, he would. All the little forest folk hated him, not only because he threw stones at poor Uncle Bullfrog and made his life miserable, but because he loved to sneak along the old snake fence and scare everybody he came across, which isn't a nice thing to do. And so when Billy Bunny saw him coming, he hid in the tall metal grass or hopped as fast as he could into the old briar patch. On the other side of the old snake fence, Timmy Chip-Monk had made his little home. It was a deep hole in the ground and at the bottom was a nice storeroom to hold nuts and other things for the winter. He had two doors to his burrow, so in case somebody he didn't like came in one, he could run out of the other. Timmy Chip-Monk was wise in other ways too. He had learned that Billy Bunny always warned his mother by thumping on the ground with his hind feet when he saw the miller's boy coming across the pleasant meadow. But one day Timmy Chip-Monk waited a little too long and the first thing he knew, the dreadful miller's boy was leaning over the old snake fence. Timmy Chip-Monk's face must have looked very funny. It looked as if Timmy had the mumps. I guess, for he had just stuffed his cheeks full of nuts. For that is the way he carries them. And if you don't know it, I'll tell. He has a little pouch in each cheek, just like a little pocket. The miller boy laughed out, loud, ha, ha, ha, which frightened the little Chip-Monk almost to death. Then the miller's boy climbed through the fence, picked up a stick, and began to dig. And by and by he came to the little Chip-Monk's storehouse. Wasn't that a shame? It was chock-full of nice ripe chestnuts. The miller's boy filled his pocket and then sat on the old snake fence to eat them. This made Timmy Chip-Monk very angry. You're a thief, you're a thief, he shouted. But I don't believe the miller's boy heard him. Just then the miller himself called out, John, come and tie the meal bags. It was a good thing this happened, for if Timmy had kept on calling names, perhaps miller's boy would have heard him. And then there's no telling what he might have done to Timmy Chip-Monk. That is, if he could catch him. And now in the next story comes somebody else to make trouble for little Billy Bunny. But you'd never guess who, so I'll tell you. It's Daddy Fox. Chapter Seven Billy Bunny's worst enemy was Daddy Fox, who lived in a hole in the wooded hillside, not very far from the old prior patch. Now Daddy Fox had two small sons, named Sly Boots and Bushy Tail, for whom he had to provide good things to eat. And as they had very big appetites, it kept Daddy Fox pretty busy. One night on coming home without anything for supper, he said to Mrs. Fox, my dear, I'm sorry, I have nothing for you. At this, Sly Boots and Bushy Tail set up a howl of disappointment. Softly, softly, cried Daddy Fox, the farmers will hear you. Sly Boots and Bushy Tail at once stopped crying, for they knew how angry the farmers were with their father for stealing their chickens and geese. As I was saying, continued Daddy Fox, I'm sorry, I have nothing for supper tonight. I came very near bringing home a nice, fat little rabbit, but just as I was going to spring upon him another rabbit thumped upon the ground, which is the way rabbits have to tell one another that danger is near. And he popped into his hole in the old prior patch. It must have been Billy Bunny, shouted both little foxes in the same breath. I don't know, I'm sure, said Daddy Fox. All I saw was his little cotton tail as he jumped into his hole, but what I would like to know is, what have you done with the goose I brought home only yesterday? It's all gone, said Mrs. Daddy Fox. Sly Boots and Bushy Tail were playing on the hill all the morning and came home very hungry. I had a narrow escape, my dear, Daddy Fox, went on to say. Tell us about it, said Mrs. Daddy Fox. And the little foxes drew close to Daddy Fox to hear better. A lot of men in red coats on horses and a pack of dogs chased me for many miles. Sly Boots and Bushy Tail grew very excited. Oh, Daddy, they cried, how did you get away? If it hadn't grown dark, I never would have, replied Daddy Fox. Just think, my Bushy Tail might have been cut off and hung up as a trophy in one of the hunter's houses. Oh, don't Daddy, whispered Sly Boots and Bushy Tail, we'd rather lose our supper than lose our Daddy Fox. The next story is going to be about a nutcracker, but I'm not going to tell you now what kind of nutcracker, except that it has a big Bushy Tail. Of course, if you've already guessed right, you needn't read the tale. Oh, dear me, I didn't mean that. I'm all mixed up. I mean, you needn't read the story. Chapter eight. Squire Nutcracker and his wife had their home in the old Chestnut Tree. Every year they raised a new family of young squirrels with beautiful gray Bushy Tails, who, as soon as they grew up, built homes for themselves in their friendly forest. But one year, Squire Squirrel had a son who gave him lots of trouble. Yes, sir, he certainly was a foolish young fellow and pretty soon people began to call him scatterbrains. Then, besides, he was very vain and often went to look at himself in the babbling brook, which was just as good as a looking glass. Instead of picking up nuts and helping Squire Nutcracker, he played all day, but always came home in time for supper. You may be sure. When he ate like a great big working man, one evening his father said to him, "'Scatterbrains, if you don't settle down and get to work, you'll have to find another home. I'm not gonna let you grow up, a good for nothing squirrel.'" Scatterbrains did not reply, but curled his beautiful Bushy Tail up over his back as much to say, "'I'm just too handsome to work, as if that made any difference. Everybody in the friendly forest worked, so why shouldn't Scatterbrains?' He was just lazy, that was all. The next morning, as he looked down from the old chestnut tree, he saw Cousin Chimmy Chipmunk picking up nuts. "'Oh, you Chipmunk,' laughed Scatterbrains. You do nothing but work. Do you ever take your overalls off? "'I think it's fun picking up nuts,' replied Cousin Chipmunk, and overalls when you're working are just the thing. You are so afraid of hurting your nice gray trousers that you don't dare slide down the tree. "'I never mean to work,' replied Scatterbrains proudly, which was very foolish of him. He should, instead, have been ashamed of his laziness. Besides,' he went on to say, "'I know of a place where there are lots of nuts already stored away, so that you don't have to bother about picking them up.' "'Where?' asked Cousin Chipmunk. "'In the big barn by the old mill,' whispered Scatterbrains. "'But don't tell anybody I told you.' "'My goodness, what happens at the big barn in the next story is soon known by everybody in the friendly forest.' Chapter 9 Timmy Chipmunk was very much surprised when his gray squirrel cousin told him about the big barn, and it's just crammed full of wheat and corn, too,' went on Scatterbrains. "'But it would be stealing to take anything,' said Timmy Chipmunk. "'We have no right to do that. What's in the friendly forest is ours, but not what's stored away in barns.' "'Poo!' laughed Scatterbrains. "'I'm going over there today to meet Mr. Sharptooth Rat. He's going to show me how to get all I want.' "'Better look out. He's an old sharper,' said Timmy Chipmunk. "'But Scatterbrains didn't even hear him, but ran off in the direction of the big barn. Just then little Billy Bunny came along, and when Timmy Chipmunk told him what Scatterbrains was going to do, the little rabbit gave a low whistle. That is, he puckered up his mouth as though he could whistle, but he only made a funny little windy noise. "'Woo!' is the way it sounded. The miller's boy has a new dog. Scatterbrains had better look out, or Mr. Sharptooth Rat will get him in trouble.' And it turned out just as the little rabbit said. Of course Scatterbrains just thought Mr. Sharptooth Rat wanted to give him some nice nuts for nothing, but when people want to give you something for nothing, it's time to look out. When Scatterbrains came to the big barn, Mr. Sharptooth Rat said, "'Come right in. Doesn't the corn smell nice?' Scatterbrains thought it smelled delicious. "'Your teeth are just right,' said the Rat. "'Mine are a little too long, so you gnaw a hole in the board, while I keep watch. When the hole was made, the wicked old Rat said, "'Now crawl in and bring me some corn.' But just then the barn door opened, and in came the miller's boy. Away went Mr. Sharptooth Rat. Then the miller's boy stopped up the hole, and after that he opened the door of the grain room and let in his dog. Poor Scatterbrains was frightened to death. He raced up and down through bundles of hay, between barrels and boxes, with the terrier snapping at his heels. And just as the little squirrel squeezed through a crack, the dog caught his beautiful bushy tail and scraped off all the fur, leaving it just as bare as Mr. Rat's. And now I hope everybody has learned what a dreadful thing it is to steal things, and if you'll promise never to take anything that doesn't belong to you, I'll tell you in the next story of a little store in the friendly forest, where you can buy all kinds of nuts, except peanuts. I'm not quite sure about them.' CHAPTER X After his narrow escape from the miller's dog, Scatterbrains had a pretty hard time of it. It is very unpleasant to be laughed at, even if it is your own fault. If Scatterbrains hadn't tried to steal the corn in the big barn, he never would have lost his beautiful bushy tail. You see, we can't do wrong without being punished. Yes, Scatterbrains now had a tail without any fur on it, which of course made him look ridiculous. Yes, sir, it made him look so funny, that everybody in the friendly forest burst into roars of laughter as soon as they saw him. So after a little while, he hid himself at home, and wouldn't go out at all. One evening, after all those scrolls had gone to bed, Squire Nutcracker said to his wife, Perhaps some day Scatterbrains may turn out to be worth something. By the time the fur grows on his tail, maybe some brains may grow in his head. Mrs. Nutcracker sighed. I only hope he won't disgrace the family. If he were only like his cousin Timmy Chipmunk, what a relief it would be. Yes, Timmy Chipmunk has a good business head, said Squire Squirrel. He's making money in the nut business already. The next morning Scatterbrains, who had heard what the old Squire has said about him the night before, went into his mother's room to look at himself in her long mirror. Pretty slim sort of a tail, he remarked, but I can't stay in the house forever, even if I do look like a bunny with a rat's tail. And he ran out and slid down the tree, almost bumping into Billy Bunny. Hello Scatterbrains, cried the little rabbit. Where in the world have you been? Home, said the little squirrel, but he didn't say why, and I don't blame him either. Do you? It's pretty hard to tell on oneself, although not so mean as telling on other people. By and by, pretty soon, as the little rabbit and the little squirrel walked along, they came to a small store, and over the door was the sign. Timmy Chipmunk, all kinds of nuts, wholesale and retail. While they stood staring at it, Timmy Chipmunk himself came out and asked them if they wanted to buy any nice nuts. No, said Billy Bunny, but oh how I would like to have a little store like yours. Now, this time I'm not going to tell you anything about the next story, but just let you wait and find out for yourself. End of Section 2, Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen Vancouver, B.C. Section 3 of Billy Bunny, and his friends by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapters 11 to 15 Chapter 11 Billy Bunny was going to his first moonlight dance. All the rabbits will be there, caught in tails and jumping hair. Underneath the moonsoft light, we will hop and dance tonight. Mrs. Billy Bunny sang as she put away the supper things. Oh, hurry, mother, please, cried Billy Bunny. When you begin to sing, it makes me want to dance right off. Now Billy Bunny said, his mother, when they come to the dancing place on the pleasant meadow, if you hear me thump on the ground with my hind legs, you'll know there is danger, so you'll freeze right away. Billy Bunny knew what freezing meant, but in case you don't, I'll tell you. It means to stay perfectly still, just as though you were really frozen. You'd know. Well, pretty soon the dance began. Hoppity, hoppity, hoppity, hopp. Everybody was having great fun when all of a sudden, thump, thump, went somebody's hind feet. Billy Bunny never moved. He froze, just where he was. But, oh dear me, there was one little bunny who didn't, and down came Robert Nighthawk, like a great black shadow, and carried him off. Of course, the moonlight dance broke up at once. Nobody wanted to dance any more after that. When Billy Bunny and his mother reached the old Briar Patch, they found Mr. Bunny and little Bobby Tale eating a carrot, for they hadn't gone to the dance. There's no place like home, said Mrs. Bunny, and then she told them what a dreadful thing had happened. I've always said these moonlight dances were dangerous, said Mr. Bunny. Well, I'm glad to say that Billy Bunny minded, like a little soldier, and Mrs. Bunny took off her bonnet and hung it up in the closet. He never moved after I thumped on the ground. If that other little rabbit had done the same, he'd now be safe at home with his family. Wasn't it a dreadful thing to even think of? The two little bunny boys shivered and crept up close to their father. Then he said, I'm going to tell you a little story, so listen to me. Daddy Fox is very sly. He may catch you by and by, so look out for him, I say, and be careful every day. Robert Hawke is very sly, and he sails across the sky. So be careful every night, least of you, he catch a sight. And if the weather cock on our old red barn doesn't sing, it's a long way to Jersey City, and keep me awake all night, so that I can't get up too early to catch the train. I'll tell you in the next story how the Bunny Brothers fooled Daddy Fox. Chapter 12 Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail were alone in their little house in the old Briar Patch, for Mrs. Bunny had gone to make a call. But first she had told them to be sure and keep the doors locked, until she came home. But, oh dear me, they had forgotten all about the back door. And this is how Daddy Fox got in. Yes, sir, Daddy Fox walked right in, and before the little Bunny Boys could hide, there he stood grinning and showing his long, white teeth. How do you do, Billy Bunny? Billy Bunny answered that he didn't feel very well. And how do you do? Bobby Tail said, he thought he was going to get in, but he didn't feel very well. Billy Tail said, he thought he was going to have a sick headache. Then Daddy Fox grinned and grinned, as if he were so pleased to see them. The little rabbits crept closer together and looked toward the back door. But there wasn't any use in trying to run out, for Daddy Fox would surely catch them. Oh, wasn't it dreadful all alone in the house with wicked Daddy Fox? Then, all of a sudden, they heard Robbie red-bress, saying very softly, go to the cupboard and show Daddy Fox the frosted cake in the big tin box. Billy Bunny scratched his left ear with his right hind foot and pretended he didn't hear. And Bobby Tail wiggled his little pink nose sideways so fast that it made Daddy Fox cross eye to look at him. And as Daddy Fox was a little deaf, he didn't hear the song at all, because, you see, it was sung so softly. Now, wasn't that lucky for the little rabbits? Then, right away quick, Billy Bunny said to Daddy Fox, won't you have some frosted cake? It's over in the cupboard on the top shelf in the tin cake box. Daddy Fox walked across the room and opened the cupboard, but the cake box was way out of reach, so he had to pull up a chair and stand on his tippy toes. Just as he opened the cake box, the two little rabbits hopped through the door, lippity lip, clippity clip, and before Daddy Fox could catch them, they were safe inside Cousin Cottontail's house. At this time they didn't forget to lock the door, you may be sure. And if you'll be very good and not ask me to tell you what's going to be in the next story, I'll tell you a little secret. There wasn't any frosted cake in the big tin box, after all. Chapter 13 Good morning, Mr. Happy Son. I'm glad you came so soon. You've seared away the nighty bird, and shined away the moon. Billy Bunny stood up on his hind legs. Then he wriggled his little pink nose and scratched his left ear. I wonder what I'll do today, he said to himself. Then off he went, lippity hop, clippity hop, down the pleasant meadow. He hadn't gone very far when he saw Tommy Turtle. So Billy Bunny wrapped on the roof of Tommy Turtle's house, for Tommy Turtle always carries his house with him, rain or shine, summer or winter, anywhere and everywhere he goes. His little shell house goes with him. No sir, Tommy Turtle never moves out of his house, nor does he ever have to pay rent. Is Tommy Turtle at home, said little Billy Bunny, and he hopped behind a bush quicker than a wink, so the Turtle shouldn't see him. Yes, I'm at home, but who's knocking, called out the scary Turtle from inside his shell? You see, just as soon as the little rabbit touched him, he pulled his head and tail inside his house. That's the way Turtles always do. They're so afraid somebody will grab them before they can get out of sight. But Billy Bunny didn't answer. Oh, my no! He just kept perfectly still and watched Tommy Turtle twist his head this way and that way to see who had knocked on his door. Well, by and by, after a little while, Tommy Turtle started off again for the old mill pond to take his swim. Then, Billy Bunny hopped softly after him and knocked again. Whoever you are, cried Tommy Turtle angrily, you ought to have better sense than to knock on other people's doors just to plague them. And if you'd used a telescope, you couldn't have seen the tip of his nose or the end of his tail, for he'd pulled them in mighty quick. Haha! laughed the little rabbit. I won't tease you any more. It's me, Billy Bunny. But oh dear me, Billy Bunny was so taken up with Tommy Turtle that he didn't notice a shadow on the path. No, sir, he didn't see rubber hawk at all. But Tommy Turtle did. Look out, he yelled. Well, sir, you should have seen that little rabbit. He hopped so fast into a hollow stump that he got inside two minutes and a half before his tail did. And if he doesn't have to stay there too long, because the wicked old hawk won't go away, until I get a gun and shoot him, I'll let you guess what Billy Bunny does in the next story. Chapter 14 One stormy day, the milkman forgot to leave any milk at the old briar patch. So towards evening, Mrs. Bunny sent her two little bunny boys up to the farm yard to borrow some from Mrs. Cowell. But just as they were going to give her their little tin pail, who should come into the shed, but the big farmer himself. If it hadn't been for the big pile of straw, I don't know, I'm sure, what they would have done. Well anyway, they just managed to hide in time. Then the big farmer took his milk pail and a one-legged stool and began to milk Mrs. Cowell. And every once in a while he'd look over at the straw pile, which frightened the little rabbits almost to death. They didn't dare to move. And oh dear me, Billy Bunny got black in the face, holding his breath, and Bobby whispered, snakes alive, you'll drive me wild. You're turning into a colored child. Shhh, said Billy, but it was a good thing he had to speak, for if he hadn't, he might have burst pretty soon. I was only holding my breath so the straws wouldn't tickle my nose and make me sneeze. Then all of a sudden Mrs. Cowell shook her head and the bell on her neck made a great tinkle-tinkle. She did it on purpose, don't you see, to keep the big farmer from hearing the bunny boys. Steady there Mrs. Cowell, said the farmer, and by and by the milk pail was full and he went away. And oh how glad the little rabbit children were. They hopped out and brushed the straw off their fur coats, and parted their hair in a little looking glass Mrs. Cowell gave them. And just then Mr. Sharp Tooth Rat ran in. Hello, bunny boys, what are you doing up here a stormy evening like this? You let them alone and go about your business, said Mrs. Cowell. Lowered her head and ran at Mr. Sharp Tooth Rat. I'll stick my horns right through your ears if you don't. My, you should have seen that rat skip through a hole in the shed, but when he was safe outside he called back. Mrs. Cowell, Mrs. Cowell, you tossed me high. If I weren't very quick and sly, I'll come tomorrow for my corn, Mrs. Cow, Mrs. Cowell, with the crumpled horn. And if the moon doesn't come down and jump over Mrs. Cowell, I'll tell you in the next story how the little rabbit brothers spent the night in the old cow shed and in the morning went skating on the babbling brook. Chapter 15 It was very early when Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail started out the next morning for the old briar patch. I guess it was only 15 o'clock. Maybe it was earlier. Anyhow, cocky docky had just sung his two o'clock song and Mrs. Cowell was still sound asleep. But oh me, oh my, you should have seen her horns. Do you believe it? They were done up in curl papers. Don't let Swaker whispered Billy Bunny. Maybe she won't like to have us see those funny curl papers on her horns. Mother never does. You know, of course Mrs. Bunny didn't have horns. What Billy Bunny meant was that she did her ears up in curl papers. Well, anyway, the little rabbits didn't say goodbye to Mrs. Cowell on account of the curl papers. After a little way, not so very far, they came to the babbling brook and wasn't it nice? It was all frozen over and Willy Wind had blown so hard all night that there wasn't a speck of snow on it. Why? The ice was as smooth as a plate glass window in a candy shop. But when they tried to skate home, oh dear, oh dear, Willy Wind wouldn't let them. No siree. He blew them right down to the old mill pond and over the mill dam before they could say pinky pink is the bottle of ink. And just as they slid under the railroad bridge, a train of cars came by to to tooty toot. Look at the scared little rabbits scoot. I think that was a very mean thing for the engine whistle to say. Don't you and the conductor on the train must have thought so too, for he dropped a paper cornucopia full of candy right down to the little rabbits. But oh dear me, would you believe it? That cornucopia just wouldn't stand still. It spun around and around like a top and every once in a while took a shoot over to Billy Bunny. Then it would spin away again just when he thought he had it. Did you ever go into a candy shop to buy five cents worth of candy and then find that you had lost your nickel? Well, that's just the way the bunny brothers felt. Here was a whole cornucopia full of candy and they couldn't get it. But all of a sudden something happened. The string around the cornucopia caught on a stick that was frozen in the ice and the cornucopia came to a stop. And why? How glad the rabbits were. And if the peppermint sticks don't turn into barber poles and choke the bunny brothers, you shall hear in the next story how old man Weasel tries to put them into a rabbit stew. Not the peppermint sticks, but Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail. End of Section 3, Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 4 of Billy Bunny and His Friends by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapters 16 to 20. Chapter 16. After they had eaten the cornucopia of candy, the bunnies paws were dreadfully sticky. Of course, there wasn't any nice wet wash rag and soap studs around, so they tried to clean their feet with snow. But goodness gracious me, the snow stuck to their feet so tight that they couldn't get it off, and by and by they had a great big snowball on each foot. Oh, dear, I know I'll have chill beans, cried Billy Bunny. No you won't, said a voice, and old man Weasel jumped out from behind one of the big wooden posts and held up the railroad bridge. You won't have time for chill beans, for I'm going to eat you both. Oh, dear me, wasn't that an awful thing to hear? Will he win, please run away to the briar patch today? Tell the bunnies, dear mama, where her little children are. Should you see, dear Blacky Crow, tell him everything you know. He will hurry in his flight to relieve the bunnies plight. Will he wind with wings so fleet? Please tell everyone you meet. Hason, hasten, or the snow, just as fast as you can blow. Tell at once the forest folk, Mr. Weasel means no joke. Come along with me, an old man Weasel took Billy Bunny by the collar and bobby tail by the ear and marched them right into his house behind the big post. My, how they slipped and stumbled down the wooden stairs. Some of the snow came off their feet, which made Mr. Weasel very angry. Just you wait. Till Mrs. Weasel sees what you've done to her nice clean floor. Then he opened a little door and pushed the bunnies through. I have brought you something for a nice stew, Mrs. Weasel. If the kitchen stove doesn't blow up the chimney, we'll get the rabbit-children out of the scrape if it takes all day tomorrow to do it. Chapter 17 Rabbit stew is very fine. That's the way I like to dine. Nothing is so good for you as a juicy rabbit stew. Saying Mrs. Weasel and the little bunny boy shivered and shook, and when old man Weasel filled the big black pot with water, they shivered and shivered and shook, and shook, and when he poked the fire and put on the big pot, they almost shivered to pieces. Now I think we're already, said Mrs. Weasel, and she turned to grab the little rabbits. But you never can tell what's going to happen. For who would think that the bunny brothers would stumble over a basket of apples? Well, quicker than I can tell you, they were throwing red and yellow apples, and pink, and, oh dear, I'm so excited. I think they threw some blue apples at those wicked Weasels. Why, those Weasels thought a whole apple tree was coming at them all at one time. Then overwent the big black pot, and the water put out the fire, and the steam filled the kitchen so that the wicked Weasels couldn't see a single thing. Quick as a wink, the little rabbits opened the door and scrambled up the bank to the railroad track. Right there stood a big freight car. The door was open, and the two little rabbits slipped in. For they thought it better to hide a little while in case old man Weasel should come after them. The big freight car was just packed full of sugar-coated carrots, and they tasted just as good as they looked. Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail at once set to work to eat up that whole carload of sugar-coated carrots. They had eaten every carrot except two great big ones when something bumped into the car with an awful thump. Then the engine gave a long whistle. Then another one just to show that it could whistle even louder if it wanted to and away with the train with Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail and the two big carrots. Oh me, oh my! This is terrible, cried Billy Bunny. We'll be carried away so far from home that we'll never get back. And we haven't got any tickets either, said Bobby Tail. We'll both be arrested for tramps. But nothing like that happened at all. Railroad trains don't go on forever without stopping, and if you'll only wait for the next story that is, if the two big carrots don't eat up the two Bunny boys before that time, I'll tell you how Billy and Bobby took a sleigh ride. Chapter 18 Let me see, where were we when we left off last night? It's pretty hard to tell just where we were, for the big freight train was rumbling along so fast that you couldn't count the telegraph poles. Well, we were in the big freight car, anyway, with the rabbit children, but just where that big freight car was is more than I know, and I wouldn't now if the train hadn't suddenly come to a standstill. My, what a bump! Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail were thrown headlong against the front of the car. Now, if it had only been a passenger train, the breakman would have put in his head and called out. Bunnytown, or Rabbit Hill, or Cloverville, or Carrot City, or some name that would make a rabbit want to get right off, but nothing like this happened. No, sir, read. Before there was time to wink, the door opened and a man poked his head inside, but he didn't call out the name of a town or anything like that. He just rolled in a big round something, which looked to the Bunny Brothers very much like a big barrel, and sure enough, that's just what it was. After that he pulled the door almost shut and went off to the station. Right by the car stood a sleigh, and in it was a box half filled with straw. Let's get in quick, said Billy Bunny. He'll drive off pretty soon, and when we come to the friendly forest, we'll hop out and go home. So they both jumped into the box and hid under the straw. By and by the man came back and drove off. Jingle, jingle went the sleigh bells as the old gray horse trotted through the snow. Bobby and Billy chuckled over the thought that they were getting a nice free ride and began to sing jingle bells, jingle bells on the farmer's sleigh. Isn't it funny for a little bunny to be going along this way? What's that? I thought I heard someone singing, said the man. This made the Bunny Boys keep very quiet. By and by they each took two bites and a half out of the big carrots, and waited for something to happen. And if the wheels on the sleigh and the skates on the old gray horse don't come off, you shall hear what did happen in the next story. Chapter 19 As the sleigh bumped along the box in which Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail were hiding, slid nearer and nearer to the back of the sleigh, and by and by it just dropped off into the snow. At first Billy Bunny and Bobby Tail were terribly upset. They were upset in every way. Even the box was upset. It was mighty lucky for them the straw was soft and dry. But it wasn't so nice to be in a place where there weren't any doors or windows. So they set to work digging under the side of the box, and very soon made a way out. Then they looked about to see where they were. And wasn't it lucky? They were in the friendly forest right in the midst of a bramble patch. Isn't it wonderful how lucky some people are? This will be a pretty fine place in the summer time, said Billy Bunny, if we can only find enough to eat until then. I've got half my carrot left, said Bobby Tail. And I've got some of mine, said Billy Bunny. This will keep us for a while. Now let's get inside and fix up our home. So they both crawled in. And would you believe it? While they were making two nice beds in the straw, they found a peanut and a chocolate eclair. Scrumptious, cried Bobby Tail. Now we've got enough to last us for weeks. By this time it was getting late and they were worried about home. Mother will wonder where we are, said Billy Bunny. I wish we could send her word. Just then Blacky Crow flew by. Wait a minute, Blacky. Will you take this telegram to Mother? Mrs. William Bunny, Old Briar Patch, Snake Fence Corner. Don't worry, we've made a little house for ourselves in a bramble bush. Billy Bunny, Bobby Tail. If Blacky Crow doesn't reach the Old Briar Patch before tomorrow night, Mrs. Bunny will read all about it in the next story, that is, if she doesn't lose her spectacles. Chapter 20. Look here, Bobby Tail. You don't do anything but nibble on that chocolate eclair. I'm going away. So Billy Bunny put on his cap and picked up his striped candy cane and started off. A wandering bunny boy am I under the happy smiling sky with my red striped candy cane hopping down the forest lane. Little knapsack on my back. I'm a happy rabbit jack. Though my tail's a powder puff, guess I'm dressed up well enough. As he finished singing this little song, who should come by but a torn and pattered trap? Hello there, Bunny, he said. Are you trapping, too? Well, not exactly. I'm on my way home to the Old Briar Patch in Snake Fence Corner. Well, when you get home, you stay home, wish I had, and the torn and tattered tramp sat down on a stone and gave a great sigh. Then he took out of his pocket an old half-smoked cigar and lighted it and puffed away without saying another word. So Billy Bunny hopped along on his way until, all of a sudden, just like that, a great big black elephant came tearing down the path. Get out of my way. Get out of my way, he yelled. I haven't time to turn out for anybody. I'm late for the circus now. Better late than never, thought Billy Bunny, and he hopped after the elephant as fast as he could. By and by he came to a big white circus tent. The band was playing, and the flags flying, and everybody was hollering out something. Pink lemonade, roasted peanuts, fat women, and skeletons. Billy Bunny tried to peep under the tent, but a circus policeman chased him away. Then he went up to the ticket man and offered him a lettuce leaf, a little carrot, and a penny. But the ticket man wouldn't give him a ticket. So Billy Bunny sat down and tried to think how he was ever going to see the circus. Just then the elephant came up. Do you know how to ride? He asked. Yes, said Billy Bunny, before he knew what he was saying. Then get on my back, said the elephant, and I'll take you inside. And if the baggage man didn't take the elephant's trunk away from him, I'll tell you in the next story how little Billy Bunny played on the Hornacopia. End of Section 4, Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 5 of Billy Bunny and His Friends by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapters 21 to 25. Chapter 21 As the elephant entered the circus with Billy Bunny on his back, a man dressed all in gold lace and other things handed a Hornacopia to Billy Bunny and told him to blow on it. Now, if you don't know what a Hornacopia is, I'll tell you. It's shaped just like a Hornacopia and is full of candy. When you blow on it, it shoots little candies, pink and green, and red and yellow. But it doesn't make any noise. Oh my no. But the boys and girls do when they pick up the candies. Well, the elephant went round and round, and the little rabbit blew out candies to all the little boys and girls. And oh my goodness, didn't they have a good time? Everything was going along beautifully. When all of a sudden a terrible storm came up, it was a tornado, but nobody knew it until it lifted the big pin right off the ground and carried it away. Then it lifted the people from their seats and carried them off a long distance, and some of them didn't get home that night. Hold on tight, said the elephant, when he felt himself going up. And you can just bet. Little Billy Bunny did. The little rabbit knew that if he ever let go, the tornado would take him clear up to the sky, for he was so much lighter than the elephant. By and by, it dropped them right in the middle of a pond, and they would have been drowned if the elephant hadn't as quick as a wink sucked up all the water in his great big trunk. Just as soon as he got on land, he turned around and squirted the water back into the pond so that all the fishes and other things didn't die after all. Woo! said the elephant. That was a narrow escape. Now, as soon as I get my breath, I'm going back to the circus. But Billy Bunny had enough of circuses. That is for that day. So he said goodbye and started off by himself. He hadn't gone very far, just a little way, when a big black ant stopped him. Look out, Billy Bunny. Don't go into the woods over there. If you do, you'll never come out. Stuff and nonsense, said Billy Bunny. Who's afraid? You'll be when the dreadful dwarf catches you, called out the ant, and if our doormat doesn't get a bad cold sleeping out on the plaza tonight, I'll tell you next time what happened to Billy Bunny. Chapter 22 Let me see now. Where did we leave off? Oh, yes. The big black ant was telling Billy Bunny not to go into the woods, for fear the dreadful dwarf would catch him and Billy Bunny had replied. Stuff and nonsense. Who's afraid? Wasn't this foolish of the little rabbit boy? And he thought so, too. A few minutes later, went out of a hollow stump, jumped the ugliest looking little dwarf you ever saw. In his hand swung a long lasso, and before the little rabbit knew what was going to happen, the lasso was around his neck, and he was being hauled into the hollow stump. Let me go, let me go, cried Billy Bunny, but the dreadful dwarf only laughed and pulled harder, and before long the rabbit boy was inside the stump door and down a flight of little stone steps. Now I've got you, ha ha, chuckled the dreadful dwarf, pushing the little rabbit in a dark room and closing the door. Then he turned the key in the lock and called through the keyhole after putting the key in his pocket. You just wait there till I get the fire made and the water boiling. Then Billy Bunny, I'll come after you and make you into a nice juicy stew. All this time the big black ant was very busy. As soon as she saw what had happened, she ran back to her ant hill and told all her brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles, and in less time than it takes to even tell about it, they were all digging away underground towards the hollow stump, and when they were quite close to the room where the little Billy Bunny was, the black ant called out, We're almost to you, little rabbit. And then from the other side of the room the dreadful dwarf called through the keyhole. The fire is burning brightly and the water will soon be boiling. Goodness me, I'm getting so excited. I can hardly make my typewriter go. I'm working just as hard as the big black ant, and if I hurry, perhaps I can tell how she got there first. Well, here goes she did. Come with us, she said. As she and all her relatives broke through the wall of Billy Bunny's prison, follow us as fast as you can, for the dreadful dwarf may open the door before we get away. In a few minutes the little rabbit was safe in the big black ant's house, and why didn't the dreadful dwarf follow them? Because the ants would have stung him to death if he had. And if a mosquito doesn't sting, I mean, sing me to sleep before I write the next story, I'll tell you how the little rabbit went sailing on Lily Pond Lake. Chapter 23 After Billy Bunny left the big black ant, he walked along swinging his striped candy cane and singing to himself. How glad I am that I am free, hereafter careful I shall be, of what I do and whom I meet, and try to be a bit discreet. Just then, all of a sudden, a nice-looking old gentleman duck waddled up and said, I'm going to take a swim on Lily Pond Lake. Want to come along? I don't know how to swim very well, answered the little rabbit. And besides, it's pretty cold for swimming. Well then, come along and watch me, said the old gentleman duck. Who knows, we might find a little boat for you. So off they went to the pond, and when they got there, the duck flapped his wings and waded into the water, leaving the little rabbit on the bank. The water looked very cold, for there were pieces of ice floating about. But the duck didn't seem to care. He was having a fine time. I wish I had something to do, thought the little rabbit. And just then he saw a little boat half hidden in the water grass. So he jumped in and gave the end of the boat rope to the duck, who held it tight in his big strong bill, and swam off. Isn't this fine, thought Billy Bunny. It's just like a motorboat, when all of a sudden bang went the little boat into a turtle. Then it slid up on its back and overturned, throwing the little rabbit into the cold ice water. And the big careless duck went swimming on, just as if nothing had happened. And the little rabbit's mouth and nose were so full of water that he couldn't cry out stop. But when the turtle saw that it was an accident and that he hadn't been bumped into on purpose, he said, get on my back, little bunny, and I will take you to land. But his back was so slippery that poor Billy Bunny couldn't scramble up. He was just about to sink to the bottom of the pond, because he was so tired he couldn't keep up any longer when the old gentleman duck turned around. And when he saw what was the matter, you should have seen him. Why? He was back in about two great flaps of his wings and three great big paddles. And he helped Billy Bunny into the little boat and got him ashore just like a regular life saving sailor man. And after that, he took him home to Mrs Duck, who made some hot ginger tea after which Billy Bunny felt nice and warm and perfectly well. And if the school teacher isn't kept in tomorrow for not knowing his geography lesson, I'll tell you what happened next to the little rabbit. Chapter 24 The day after Billy Bunny had fallen into the lily pond lake, he was hopping along a dusty road. I beg your pardon, I mean a muddy road, for it was early spring when he came across a big sheepdog. In a big field on one side were a lot of sheep and little woolly lambs, which the big sheepdog were taking care of. I don't know why he went out into the road, unless. Why yes, of course. He heard the little rabbit hopping along and thought it might be a tramp. Good morning, said Billy Bunny. Please don't hurt me. I'm almost as woolly as a little lamb, and I'm a lot smaller. Don't worry, said the sheep, dog kindly. Come inside the field and talk to me, for I see you are a traveller. Yes, I am, replied the little rabbit, laying down his red striped candy cane, and throwing off his little knapsack. I have come all the way from Old Briar Patch, snake-fence corner. You don't say so, laughed the sheepdog. Well, I've never been much farther than this pasture. A shepherd dog is a stay-at-home dog. I sometimes wish I'd been born just a common yellow dog to tramp all day long. Billy Bunny opened his knapsack and took out a chocolate-layer cake, which kind Mrs. Duck had given him. Will you have some lunch? But the big shepherd dog said, no thanks. You see, he'd never tasted chocolate cake. Just try a piece, urged the little rabbit, but before the sheepdog could reply, something happened. A big rattlesnake crawled out of the stone fence and stood up right in front of the little rabbit. Oh, a rattlesnake is an awful thing. It swings and swings in front of you until it makes your head so dizzy, you can't even run away. Poor little Billy Bunny wasn't able to move, and the big rattlesnake stuck out his long, thin, red tongue and rattled his rattlers. Then he drew his head back to strike the little rabbit. When, quicker than a wink, the big sheepdog picked up Billy Bunny and ran off with him, and the big rattlesnake couldn't hold himself back in time, and his head went right into the chocolate-layer cake and stuck there. And then, of course, he couldn't see. Then a big sheep stamped on him until he was mashed to a jelly. And in the next story, in case the doorbell doesn't ring, the pussycat's neck. I'll tell you about Billy Bunny and the Bluebird. Chapter 25 Little Billy Bunny was mighty glad to escape from the rattlesnake. He picked up his candy cane and his knapsack, and went off down the road, hippity hop, and in a little while, not so very long, he heard a bird singing. A wake, a wake, for spring is here. The babbling brook is ringing clear. Along its banks, the grass is green, with violets hiding in between. The buds are opening on the trees. The swallow builds beneath the eaves. The snow and ice have passed away, and lovely spring is here to stay. Oh, little Bluebird, is that really so? cried the little rabbit. I'm so glad. Twitter, Twitter, chirped the bird. Tyra, Lou, Lou, Lou, Lou, blue, blue, blue. I'm the Bluebird, tried and true. This made the little rabbit feel very happy, and he hopped along whistling merrily. All of a sudden, he heard someone whistling too. And what do you think it was that was making a noise like a whistle? Why a peanut wagon with a little whistling stove? Nice fresh roasted peanuts, said the Italian man. Billy Bunny opened his knapsack and took out five bright pennies. I'll take some home to mother, he said to himself. By and by he came to the friendly forest, and there underneath the big chestnut tree stood Tommy Chipmunk. Pretty soon Denny Dormos came out of his hole and sat in the sunshine, for Mr. Happy's son was shining very bright and warm. Where have you been? asked Tommy Chipmunk. Oh, on a little journey, answered Billy Bunny. I've been to the circus since I last saw you, and I rode on the elephant and blew the hornucopia, and, and, but he didn't have time to say another word. For at that instant, Robert Hawk swooped down, and if Billy Bunny hadn't hopped to one side, and then straight for the old briar patch, I would have to end this story right here. Well, sir, you never can tell by the size of a rabbit how far he can jump, nor how fast he can hop. Billy Bunny went so fast that if he doesn't stub his nose on the old briar patch, and break the point off my fountain pen, I'll tell you next time about Billy Bunny's rainy day. End of Section 5. Recording by Linda Marie Nielsen, Vancouver, B.C. Section 6 of Billy Bunny and His Friends by David Corey. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Billy Bunny hopped out of his little warm bed one morning and went to the front door to see if Mr. Happy's son was up. Oh, dear, oh, dear, and a little pink umbrella. You'd have thought Mr. Happy's son was crying. But he wasn't at all. It was only raining. Billy Bunny was dreadfully disappointed. You see, that very particular morning, Billy Bunny had planned to take a nice long walk through the friendly forest, down the pleasant meadow, through the old cow path to the old mill pond, and here it was raining. I'm not going to let a few raindrops spoil my fun, thought Billy Bunny, as he ran back into his room. I'll put on my gum boots and take my ice pick, for it may snow any minute, and I'll carry the mushroom Uncle Bullfrog gave me before he went to sleep. So out he started, and away he went, on pleasure bent. If it rains very hard and rains very long, I shan't care for that. Makes growing things strong. Then if the rain turns into snow, away and away, with my ice pick, I'll go. Thank Billy Bunny. Then he picked a lovely raspberry ice, off the bushes and winked. His little pink nose. I mean, wiggled his little pink nose, because it tasted so nice. Oh, dear me, I'm all twisted again. I didn't mean his little pink nose tasted so nice. I meant the raspberry ice. Billy Bunny hadn't gone far, just a short distance, when Mr. Happy Sun pushed away the rain clouds, and came bursting forth, flooding the world all about him in glad sunshine. And just then, all of a sudden, Daddy Fox came running up to him. See, Billy Bunny, this letter is for me, shouted Daddy Fox. In such a loud voice, Billy Bunny almost lost his little toenail with fright. How do you know it's for you? Because, cried Daddy Fox, my picture's on the outside. Ha, ha, ho, ho, laughed Billy Bunny. You never can tell from the outside of anything, what the inside may be. I often see my pictures on paper. But it isn't for me, it's after me. And Billy Bunny chuckled to himself and made a sound, like the steam whistle, on a little peanut wagon, at the same time scratching his little tail, and looking cross-eyed. Now, this is all for this time. And, if the postman isn't late in bringing the milk to-morrow morning, I'll tell you how Billy Bunny woke up, old grandfather bullfrog. Chapter 27 Well, when Daddy Fox saw that Billy Bunny wouldn't believe that the letter was for him, even although it had a picture of a fox on the envelope, he gave a terrible growl and tore it open, and then he gave a low whine, as if he felt very badly. What's, what's the matter, gasped Billy Bunny, who was nearly scared to death? The man says in the letter that he has a lot of chickens to sell, said Daddy Fox, but how can I buy them? I haven't got any money. I don't know, I'm sure, said Billy Bunny. Then I'll just eat you up instead, cried Daddy Fox, and he would have too if Mr. Bear hadn't come along just then. What are you doing? shouted Mr. Bear, giving Daddy Fox a whack with his great big bear paw. After that, Daddy Fox didn't feel like touching little Billy Bunny. No siree and a no siree, ma'am. He just slunk away to his den with his long bushy tail between his legs. When Billy Bunny reached the old mill pond, he hopped out on the ice just a little ways, for he wasn't quite sure how strong it was. You see, Mr. Happy Son had been shining down pretty hard, and the ice looked very watery and mushy. Then Billy Bunny took out his ice pick and began to make a hole in the ice. And after he had made it clear through, he leaned over and called down Uncle Bullfrog, Uncle Bullfrog. Now that good old gentleman was sound asleep in the mud at the bottom of the pond, and didn't hear Billy Bunny at first. When he did hear him, he stretched his long legs and pushed himself up. Then he swam up to the hole. What do you want, Billy Bunny? he asked. Don't you know it's not yet really spring? I hadn't thought about that, replied Billy Bunny. Well, I'm not coming up until the ice is all gone, said Uncle Bullfrog, and he went back to his mud bed on the bottom of the pond. Billy Bunny picked up his ice pick and turned away. Just then, all of a sudden, he heard a voice singing, Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho. Spring is here, or I'm no crow. Guess you'd wish you were up in this tree if you saw what I see. Billy Bunny turned around. There stood the miller's boy with his gun. Now don't worry, I won't let that gun hurt little Billy Bunny, not if I have to send a telegram to the miller boy, telling him not to shoot. Chapter 28 Let me see now. Where were we when we left off? Oh yes, the miller's boy was just going to shoot Billy Bunny. Well, I didn't have to telegraph him, not to, after all, but I had to telephone. I was getting a little worried about it myself. You see, guns go off so easily. But now I must tell you what Billy Bunny did. As soon as he saw the gun, he jumped right into a hollow stump, and the miller's boy ran up and threw his coat over the top of it and yelled, Now I have you, Billy Bunny, and began kicking the side of the stump with his copper-toed boots. Goodness me, thought Billy Bunny, I no sooner get out of one thing than I'm in another. But he did not give up hope. He took out his ice pick and began to dig. Just then, all of a sudden, he turned up a little trap door. In he went, closing it just in time, for at that very instant the miller boy stuck his arm inside the stump. He groped around with his hand, but he could not find anything nice and soft, like a bunny. Then he peeked through a buttonhole in his coat, but that didn't do any good, so he yanked off the coat and looked inside. Where has that rabbit gone? he said. All this time Billy Bunny was hurrying through a long narrow passage, and by and by he came to the other end, which opened right out of a bank in the friendly forest. Well, that was lucky, he cried, wiping the dirt off his little fur jacket. I certainly thought this time the miller boy had me. Just then, all of a sudden, who should come along but a big gray wolf? Oh dear me, cried Billy Bunny. Now I'm a goner. I know it. I know it. He looked around for a place to hide, but when one is in a hurry to find something, there never seems to be anything around. Don't you run away, growled the wolf. If you do, I'll bite your head off. Oh please, oh please, Mr. Wolf. Don't touch me, cried poor little Billy Bunny. But the wolf was a cruel, hard-hearted, hungry beast. He grabbed up the little rabbit and put him in his sack. At first he was going to put him in his big red mouth. He was so dreadfully hungry. But then he thought he'd better take him home to Mrs. Wolf and the children. Well, is certainly going to be some job to get Billy Bunny out of that sack. I wonder if he has a jackknife in his pocket. Chapter 29. Well, Billy Bunny did have a jackknife in his pocket. Just as I thought, only I wasn't sure or I would have told you so in the last story. So the first thing he did after the big gray wolf put him in the sack and threw it over his shoulder was to hunt for his jackknife. Then he carefully cut a slit in the sack. But he didn't slip out just then. Oh my no. Billy Bunny knew better than that. If he had, Mr. Wolf would have known it at once. The weight of the empty sack would tell him that even if it didn't know how to talk. And Billy Bunny wasn't going to take the chance of having Mr. Wolf turn around and grab him just as he reached the ground. So Billy Bunny just peaked out through the slit and waited by and by. Mr. Wolf sat down on a stone to rest. He let the sack slip to the ground very carefully. Then he took out his pipe and filled it with tobacco and sat and smoked a while. Pretty soon Billy Bunny slipped out of the sack. But before he ran off, he put a big stone in it and pinned up the hole with three pine needle pins. Then he hid behind a tree. And just in time for Mr. Wolf got up, put his pipe away in his vast pocket and slung the sack over his back. My, but you've grown heavy and hard, cried Mr. Wolf, as the sack hit his back. I'm afraid you're a very tough bunny. After a little while Billy Bunny came out from behind the tree and started for home. If I can only get back without being caught by something or somebody, I shall be the happiest little bunny in all the wide, wide world. But oh dear me, he lost his way. And after hopping along for about an hour, he came to the seashore and right on the beach was a little crab. Hello there Billy Bunny. But the waves made so much noise that the little rabbit didn't hear him. So the little crab crawled over and pinched Billy Bunny on the left behind toe and said, Why don't you answer a fellow? Well, just then a great big whale swam up to the shore and said, Get on my back, little rabbit, and take a sail. And would you believe it? Billy Bunny wasn't the least bit afraid. He hopped on the whale's back and sat down on the little seat. Then away with the whale with a swish of his tail, as fast as he otter, right over the water, all foamy and green. If a bad submarine should torpedo the whale, I hope Billy Bunny won't haul down the sail. P.S., I'll try to send the next story by wireless so you can read what Billy Bunny does on the big blue sea. Chapter 30 Well, the whale and Billy Bunny had a lovely time out on the big blue ocean. And as no submarine came near them, nothing happened until all of a sudden the whale ran on a coral reef, where there were three pretty mermaids cobing their long hair with pearly combs. They were so glad to see a little white rabbit that they told the whale they would give him a box of candy if he would leave Billy Bunny with them for a playfellow. And another mermaid said she wished she didn't have a tail any bigger than Billy Bunny's, which made the whale laugh so hard that he split the coral island right in two and one of the mermaids fell into the water and got all wet. Then she tickled the whale until he cried. And if Billy Bunny hadn't asked her to stop, I don't know what would have happened. Then the three mermaids took Billy Bunny into their coral castle and showed him lots and lots of lovely shells. And one they gave him was just like a whistle. And when you blew on it, it made a lovely sound. By and by the whale got tired of waiting and called out, all aboard. Goodbye, cried Billy Bunny. And he hopped on just in time, for the whale is a very impatient sort of fish, and never waits for anybody except his own wife. Then the rabbit stood up on his hind legs and waved his striped candy cane to the three pretty mermaids on the coral island shore and sang out as loud as he could. Goodbye, little mermaids, goodbye. You are sweet as a nice custard pie. Think of me on the sea, sailor Bunny, so free. Goodbye, little mermaids, goodbye. Then the whale spouted water high in the air and the three mermaids called out. Goodbye, bunny boy, goodbye. If you forget us, we will cry, for we've never seen a bunny who was half so sweet and conny. So goodbye, little bunny, goodbye. Well, after that they came alongside a great big warship, and all the sailor boys crowded to the rail, and let down a rope ladder, and Billy Bunny hopped up just as if he had been a jolly little sailor bunny all his life. Then the captain said, Admiral Bunny, I guess he thought the little rabbit belonged to the US Navy. If your will ship needs anything, let me know. I want an American flag, said Billy Bunny quickly, and if he doesn't get it in the next story, I'll have my tailor men make him one.