 1. Once upon a time there lived in a small house, built underneath the ground, two curious little folk, with their father, their mother, their uncle, and Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy. Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy was the nurse, hired girl, and cook, all in one, and the reason she had such a funny name was because she was a funny cook. She had long hair, a sharp nose, a very long tail, and the brightest eyes you ever saw. She could stay under water a long time, and was a fine swimmer. In fact, Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy was a big muskrat, and the family she worked for was almost as strange as she was. There was Papa Little Tail, Mama Little Tail, Sammy Little Tail, Susie Little Tail, and Uncle Wiggly Long Ears. The whole family had very long ears and short tails. Their eyes were rather pink, and their noses used to twinkle, just like the stars on a frosty night. Now you have guessed it. This was a family of bunny rabbits, and they lived in a nice hole which was called a burrow, and which they had dug underground, in a big park on the top of a mountain, back of orange. Not the kind of oranges you eat, you know, but the name of a place, and a very nice place, too. In spite of her strange name, and the fact that she was a muskrat, Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy was a very good cook, and quite kind to the children bunnies, Sammy and Susie. Besides looking after them, Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy used to sweep the burrow, make up the beds of leaves and grass, and go to market to get bits of carrot, turnips, or cabbage, which last Sammy and Susie liked better than ice cream. Uncle Wiggly Long Ears was an elderly rabbit who had the rheumatism, and he could not do much. Sometimes when Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy was very busy, he would go after the cabbage or turnips for her. Uncle Wiggly Long Ears was a wise rabbit, and as he had no other home, pop a little tail, let him stay in a warm corner of the burrow. To pay for his board, the little bunny's uncle would give them lessons in how to behave. One day, after he had told them how needful it was to always have two holes, or doors, to your burrow, so that if a dog chased you in one, you could go out of the other. Uncle Wiggly said, Now children, I think that is enough for one day, so you may go out and have some fun in the snow. But first Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy looked out of the back door, and then she looked out of the front door to see that there were no dogs or hunters about. Then Sammy and Susie crept out. They had lots of fun, and pretty soon, when they were quite a ways from home, they saw a hole in the ground. In front of it was a nice, juicy cabbage stalk. Look! cried Sammy. Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy must have lost that cabbage on her way home from the store. That isn't the door to our house, said Susie. Yes, it is, insisted Sammy, and I am going to eat the cabbage. I didn't have much breakfast, and I'm hungry. Be careful, whispered Susie. Uncle Wiggly Long Years wanted us to look on all sides before we ate any cabbage we found. I don't believe there's any danger, spoke Sammy. I'm going to eat it. And he went right up to the cabbage stalk. But Sammy did not know that the cabbage stalk was part of a trap, put there to catch criminals, and no sooner had he taken a bite, then there came a click, and Sammy felt a terrible pain in his left hind leg. Oh, Susie, he cried out. Oh, Susie, something has caught me by the leg. Run home, Susie, as fast as you can, and tell Papa. Susie was so frightened that she began to cry. But as she was a brave little rabbit girl, she started off toward the underground house. When she got there, she jumped right down the front door hole and called out. Oh, Mama, oh, Papa, Sammy is caught. He went to bite the cabbage stalk, and he is caught in a horrible trap. Caught exclaimed Uncle Wiggly Long Ears. Sammy caught in a trap. That is too bad. We must rescue him at once. Come on. He called the Papa little tail. And though Uncle Wiggly Long Ears was quite lame with the rheumatism, he started off with Sammy's Papa. And tomorrow night I will tell you how they saved the little boy rabbit. End of Story One. Story Two. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little Tail by Howard R. Garris. Story Two. Sammy Little Tail is rescued. When Uncle Wiggly Long Ears and Papa Little Tail hurried from the underground house to rescue Sammy, Mama Little Tail was much frightened. She nearly fainted and would have done so completely. Only Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy brought her some parsnip juice. Oh, hurry and get my little boy out of that trap, cried Mama Little Tail, when she felt better. Do you think he will be much hurt, Uncle Wiggly? Oh, no, not much, he said. I was caught in a trap once when I was a young rabbit, and I got over it. Only I took a dreadful cold from being kept out in the rain all night. We will bring him safe home to you. While Uncle Wiggly Long Ears and Papa Little Tail were on their way, poor Sammy, left all alone in the woods with his left hind foot caught in a cruel trap, felt very lonely indeed. I'll never take any more cabbage without looking all around it to see if there is a trap near it, he said to himself, No indeed I will not. And then he tried to get out of the trap, but could not. Pretty soon he saw his father and his uncle coming over the snow toward him, and he felt much better. Now he must be very careful, said Uncle Wiggly Long Ears, to Papa Little Tail. There may be more traps about. So he sat up on his hind legs, and Papa Little Tail sat up on his hind legs, and they both made their noses twinkle like stars on a very frosty night. For that is the way rabbits smell, and these two were wise bunnies who could smell a trap as far as you can smell perfumery. They could not smell any traps, and they could not see any with their pink eyes. So they went quite close to Sammy, who was held fast by his left hind leg. Does it hurt you very much? asked his Papa, and he put his front paws around his little rabbit boy, and gave him a good hug. Not very much Papa replied Sammy, but I wish I was out. We'll soon have you out, said Uncle Wiggly Long Ears, and then with his strong hind feet he kicked away the snow and dried leaves from the trap. Then Sammy could see how he had been fooled. The trap was so covered up that only the cabbage stump showed, so it is no wonder that he stepped into it. The two rabbits tried to get Sammy out, but they could not, because the trap was too strong. Well, shall we do, asked Papa Little Tail, as he sat down and scratched his left ear, which he always did when he was worried about anything. The trap is fast to a piece of wood by a chain, said Uncle Wiggly Long Ears. We will have to gnaw through the wood, and then take Sammy, trapped, chain, and all, home. Once there we can call in Dr. Possum, and he can open the trap and get Sammy's leg out. So the two big rabbits set to work to gnaw through the wood, to which the chain of the trap was fastened. Sammy Little Tail tried not to cry from the pain, but some tears did come, and they froze on his face, close to his little wiggly nose, for it was quite cold. I should have given you a lesson about traps, said Uncle Wiggly Long Ears. Then perhaps you would not have been caught. I will give you a lesson to-morrow. Finally the wood was gnawed through, and Sammy, with his uncle on one side and his Papa on the other, to help him, reached home. The trap was still on his leg, and he could not go very fast. In fact, the three of them had to go so slow that a hunter and his dog came after them. They managed, however, to jump down the hole of the underground house just in time, and the big dog did not get them. He soon got tired of waiting, and went away. Then Dr. Possum was sent for, and with his strong tail he quickly opened the trap, and Sammy was free. But his leg hurt him very much, and Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy put him in a bed of soft leaves, and gave him some sassafras and elderberry tea. Dr. Possum told Sammy he would have to stay in the burrow for a week, until his leg was better. Sammy did not want to, but his mother insisted on it. And to-morrow night I will tell you an adventure that happened to Susie Little-Tale when she went to the store for some cabbage. End of Story 2. Story 3. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story 3. What Happened to Susie Little-Tale? It was very lonesome for Sammy Little-Tale to stay in the underground house for a whole week after he had been caught in the trap. He had to move about on a crutch, which Uncle Wiggly long-ears, that wise old rabbit, gnawed out of a piece of corn-stock for him. Oh, dear! I wish I could go out and play, exclaimed Sammy, one day. It's awfully tiresome in here in the dark. I wish I could do something. Would you like a nice, juicy cabbage leaf, asked Susie? Wouldn't I, though, cried Sammy? But there isn't any in the pantry. I heard Jane Fuzzy was he tell mother so. I'll go to the store and get you some, offered his sister. I know where it is. The cabbage store was a big field where farmer Tooker kept his cabbage covered with straw during the winter. It was not far from the borough, and, though it was not really a store, the rabbits always called it that. So that was where Susie little tale went. She scraped the snow off the straw with her hind-feet, and kicked the straw away, so she could get at the cabbage. Then she began to gnaw off the sweetest leaves she could find for her little sick brother. She had broken off quite a number, and was thinking how nice they would be for him when she suddenly smelled something strange. It was not cabbage, nor turnips, nor carrots that she smelled. Nor was it sweet clover, nor any smell like that. It was the smell of danger, and Susie, like all her family, could smell danger quite a distance. This time she knew it was a man with a dog and a gun who was coming toward her, for Uncle Wiggly Longhears had told her how to know when such a thing happened. Oh, it's some of those horrid hunters I know it is, exclaimed Susie. I must run home, though I haven't half enough cabbage. She took the leaves she had gnawed off in her mouth, and bound it off towards the underground house. All at once a dog sprang out of the bushes at her, and the man with the gun shot at her, but he did not hit her. She was so frightened, however, that she dropped the cabbage leaves and ran for her life. Oh, how Susie little tale did run! She never ran so fast before in all her life, and, just as the dog was going to grab her, she saw the back door of her house, and into it she popped like a cork going into a bottle. Oh, oh, oh, she cried three times, just like that. I am safe! And she ran to where her brother was on a bed of leaves. Why Susie he called to her, whatever is the matter? Yes, why have you been running so, asked Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy? What happened? A big dog chased me, answered Susie, but I got away. Where is my cabbage, Sammy wanted to know? I am so hungry for it. Oh, I'm so sorry, but I had to drop it when on Susie. Oh, Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, is Papa home safe? Where is Uncle Wiggly Longhears? I hope neither of them is out, for I'm afraid that the hunter and his dog will see them. Your uncle is asleep in his room, said the muskrat nurse. His rheumatism hurts him this weather. As for your Papa, he has not come home yet, but I guess he is wise enough to keep out of the way of dogs. Now don't make any noise, for your mama is lying down with a headache. I have a little preserved clover done up in sugar put away in the cupboard, and I will give you some. That is better than cabbage, declared Sammy joyfully. But just as Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy went to the cupboard to get the sugared clover, something ran down into the underground house. It was a long, thin animal with a sharp nose, sharper even than Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy's, and when the nurse saw the curious little beast, she cried out in fright. Oh, run, children, run, she screamed. This is a very dreadful creature, indeed. It is a ferret, but I will drive him out, and he shan't hurt you. Then nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, dropping the pan of potatoes she was peeling for supper, sprang it the ferret. And tomorrow night, if you're good children, you shall hear how Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy drove the ferret from the underground home and saved the bunny children. End of Story 3. Story 4. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garrus. Story 4. Papa Little-Tale's picture. When nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy called out to the two bunny children to run away from the ferret, Sammy and Susie were so frightened that they hardly knew what to do. Their mother came into the sitting-room of the burrow, from the dark bedroom where she had gone to lie down because of a headache, and she also was much alarmed. Also was Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears, who was awakened from his nap by the cries of the nurse. Run and hide, run and hide, called Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, and all the rabbits ran and hid. The ferret, which was a long slender animal, something like a white rat, had been put into the burrow by the hunter, who stood outside at the back door, hoping the rabbits would run out so he could shoot them. But they did not. Instead they went into the darkest part of the underground house. Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy went bravely up to the ferret. Now you get right out of this house, she said. We don't want you here. The ferret said nothing, but kept crawling all around, looking for the rabbits. He was careful to keep away from the muskrat, for, in spite of her soft name, nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy had very sharp teeth. Come on now, get right out of here, the nurse said again, but the ferret would not go. He wanted to catch the rabbits. Then the muskrat jumped right up on his back and bit him quite hard on one of his little ears. The ferret squealed at this. Next Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy nipped him on the other ear. Not very hard, you know, but just hard enough to make that ferret wish he had stayed out of the underground house. Now will you go, asked the nurse. Yes, said the ferret, I will. And he turned around and walked right out of the house. The hunter was very much surprised when his ferret appeared without having driven out any rabbits. He could not understand it. Well, he said, I guess I made a mistake, but I was sure I saw a rabbit go down that hole. I guess I had better be going. So he called his dog, put his ferret into his pocket, and went away. And oh, how glad Sammy and Susie Little-Tale were. Pretty soon Papa Little-Tale came hurrying home. As soon as he entered the burrow the children noticed that he was rather pale. He said that he had had a terrible fright, for as he was on his way home from Mr. Drake's house, a boy had pointed a big black thing at him which clicked like a gun, but did not make a loud noise. Then Susie told him about the dog who chased her and how the ferret had frightened them. It is a good thing you were not shot, said Mama Little-Tale to her husband. I don't know what we would have done if such a dreadful thing had happened. How terrible boys are! I did have a narrow escape, admitted Papa Little-Tale. The boy had sort of a square black box, and I'm sure it was filled with bullets. It had a great round, shiny eye that he pointed at me. And when something clicked he cried out, There! I have him! But I did not seem to be hurt. I know what happened to you, said Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears. And he rubbed his leg that had the worst rheumatism in it. You had your picture taken, that's all. My picture taken, repeated Papa Little-Tale as he scratched his left ear, which he always did when he was puzzled. That is it, said the children's uncle. It happened to me once. The boy had a camera, not a gun. It does not hurt to have your picture taken. It is not like being shot. Then I wish all hunters would take pictures of us instead of shooting at us, said Sammy, and Susie also thought it would be much nicer. And Uncle Wiggly told how lovers of animals often take their pictures, to put in books and magazines, for little boys and girls to look at. Well, said Papa Little-Tale, I suppose I should be very proud to have my picture taken, but I am not the least bit. Then he gave Sammy some nice pieces of chocolate-covered turnip, which Mr. Drake had sent to the little boy with the lame leg. You think I can get out to-morrow, asked Sammy, after supper? My leg is quite well." I think so replied his Papa. I will ask Dr. Possum. Which he did, and Sammy was allowed to go out. He had a very curious adventure, too, and I think I shall tell you about it to-morrow night, if you go to bed early now. End of Story 4. Story 5. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story 5. Sammy Little-Tale digs the burrow. Sammy Little-Tale found that his leg was quite well enough to walk on without the corn-stock crutch, so the day after his Papa's picture had been taken, the little rabbit boy started to leave the burrow. Come along, Susie, he called to his sister. I will go also with you, said Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears. I will give you children a few lessons in digging burrows. It is time you learned, for some day you will want an underground house of your own. So he led them to a nice place in the big park on top of the mountain, where the earth was soft, and showed Sammy and Susie how to hollow out rooms and halls, how to make back and front doors, and many other things a rabbit should know. I think that will be enough of a lesson today, said Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears, after a while. We will go home now. No spoke, Sammy. I want to dig some more. It's lots of fun. You had better come with us, remarked Susie. But Sammy would not, though he promised to be home before dark. So while Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears and Susie Little-Tale started off, Sammy continued to dig. He dug, and he dug, and he dug, until he was a long distance underground, and had really made quite a fine burrow for a little rabbit. All at once he felt a sharp pain in his left foreleg. Ouch! He cried. Who did that? I did, answered a little furry creature all curled up in a hole in the ground. What do you mean by digging into my house? Can't you see where you're going? Of course answered Sammy, as he looked at his sore leg. But couldn't you see me coming, and tell me to stop? No, I couldn't see you, was the reply. Why not? Why not? Because I'm blind. I'm a mole, and I can't see. But I get along just as well as if I did. Now I suppose I've got to go to work, and mend the hole you made in the side of my parlor. It's a very large one. The mole you see lived underground, just as the rabbits did, only in a smaller house. I'm very sorry, said Sammy. That doesn't do much good, spoke the mole, as she began to stop up the hole Sammy had made. She really did very well for a blind animal, but then she had been blind so long that she did not know what daylight looked like. You had better dig in some other place, the mole concluded, as she finished stopping up the hole. Sammy thought so himself, and did so. He went quite deep, and when he thought he was far enough down, he began digging upward, so as to come out and make a back door, as his uncle had taught him to do. He dug, and he dug, and he dug. All at once his feet burst through the soft soil, and he found that he had come out on top of the ground. But what a funny place he was in. It was not at all like the part of the park near his burrow, and he was a little frightened. There were many tall trees about, and in one was a big grey squirrel, who sat up and chattered at the side of Sammy, as if he had never seen a rabbit before. What are you doing here, asked the squirrel? Don't you know rabbits are not allowed here? Why not, asked Sammy? Because there are nice trees about, and the keepers of the park fear you and your family will gnaw the bark off and spoil them. We never spoiled trees, declared Sammy, though he just then remembered that his uncle, wiggly long ears, had once said something about apple tree bark being very good to eat. There's another reason went on the squirrel, chattering away. What is it, asked Sammy? Look over there, and you'll see was the reply, and when Sammy looked with his little body half out of the hole he had made, he saw a great animal, with long horns coming straight at him. He tried to run back down the hole, but he found he had not made it large enough to turn around in. So Sammy little tail, frightened as he was at the dreadful animal, had to jump out of the burrow to get ready to run down it again, and just as he did so the big animal cried out to him. Hold on there. He shook with fright and did not dare move, but, after all, the big animal did not intend to harm him, and what happened, and who the big animal was, I will tell you tomorrow night. Sammy and Susie Little Tail by Howard R. Garrus. Story Six Sammy and Susie Helped Mrs. Wren The big animal with the horns came close to Sammy. What are you doing here? He asked. I—I don't know, replied the little rabbit boy. How did you get here? I was digging a new burrow, and I—I just happened to come out here, but I'll go right away again, if you'll let me. Of course I'll let you. Don't you know it's against the rules of the park to be here? What do you suppose they have different parts of the park for, if it isn't to keep you rabbits out of certain places? I'm sure I don't know, was all Sammy could say. Do you know who I am? Asked the horned creature. No—no, sir. Well, I'm a deer. My—my mother calls me that sometimes, when I've been real good, said Sammy. No, I don't mean that kind at all. And the deer tried to smile. My name is spelled differently. I'm a cousin of the Santa Claus reindeer. But you must go now. No rabbits are allowed in the part of the park where we live. You should not have come. And the deer shook his horns at Sammy. I—I never will again, said the little rabbit boy, and then, before the deer knew it, Sammy jumped down his new burrow, ran along to the front door, and darted off toward home. When he was almost there he saw a little brown bird sitting on a bush, and the bird seemed calling to him. Wait a minute, rabbit, said the bird, why are you in such a hurry? Because I saw such a dreadful animal, was Sammy's reply, and he told about the deer. Poo! Deer are very nice creatures indeed, said the bird. I used to know one, and I used to perch on his horns. But what I stopped to ask you about was whether you know of a nice nest which I could rent for this spring. You see, I have come up from the south a little earlier than usual, and I can't find the nest I had last year. It was in a little wooden house that a nice man built for me, but the wind has blown it down. I didn't know but what you might have seen a little nest somewhere. No, said Sammy. I haven't. I'm very sorry. So am I, went on the little brown bird, but I must tell you my name. I am Mrs. Wren. Oh! I have heard about you, said the little rabbit. Are you sure you don't know of a nest about here, she asked anxiously. I don't want to fly all the way back down south. Suppose you go home and ask your mother. I will, said Sammy. Don't you want to come too? Yes, I think I will. Oh, dear, I'm quite hungry. I declare I had such an early breakfast I'm almost starved. I know my mother will give you something to eat, said Sammy politely. That is, if you like cabbage, carrots, and such things. Oh, yes, almost anything will do. Now you go ahead and I will follow. So Sammy little tail bounced on along the ground, and Mrs. Wren flew along overhead. Where do you live, she asked Sammy. In a burrow. What is a burrow, she inquired. Why, it's a house, said Sammy. You are mistaken, said the bird, though she spoke politely. A nest is the only house there is. Well, a burrow is our house, declared Sammy. You'll see. He was soon home, and while the bird waited outside, he went in to ask his mother if she knew of a nest Mrs. Wren could hire. What a funny question, said mom a little tail. I will go out and see Mrs. Wren. So she went out, and the bird asked about a nest. But as the rabbits never had any use for them, the bunny knew nothing about such things. Oh, dear exclaimed the bird, wherever shall I stay to-night. Oh, what trouble I am in. You might stay with us to-night, said mom a little tail kindly, and look for a nest to-morrow. I never lived in a burrow, said Mrs. Wren, but I will try it. So she flew down into the underground house, and to-morrow-night I am going to tell you how she did a great kindness to Uncle Wiggly long years. End of Story 6. Story 7. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Cammie and Susie Little Tail by Howard R. Garris. Story 7. Uncle Wiggly gets shot. Early the next morning Mrs. Wren, who had spent the night in the home of the Little Tail family, got up. She had some cabbage leaves for her breakfast, and then started to leave the burrow where the rabbits lived. Where are you going, asked Susie Little Tail. I must go hunt for a nest, said the little bird. You see, I want to begin housekeeping as early as I can this spring, and as there are so many birds coming up from the south I want to get a house before all the best ones are taken. So having thanked Sammy Little Tail for showing her the way to the burrow, and also thanking his mama and papa, the bird flew away. She promised, however, to come back if she could not find a place. That Mrs. Wren is a very nice creature indeed, said Mama Little Tail. Indeed she is, agreed Papa Little Tail, as he started off to work in the carrot store, where he was employed as a bookkeeper. It is a nice day, said Uncle Wiggly long years after a while. I think I will go for a walk. It may do my rheumatism good. Can I come, asked Sammy, but his uncle said he thought the little boy rabbit should stay home. So Sammy did, and he and Susie found a place where some nice clover was just coming up in a field. Just before dinner time Uncle Wiggly long years came limping back to the burrow. He was running as hard as he could, but that was not very fast. Why, Wiggly, whatever has happened, asked Mrs. Little Tail, who had come to the front door to see if her children were all right. Is your rheumatism worse? Why do you limp so? Because, answered Uncle Wiggly long years, I have been shot. Shot? cried Mrs. Little Tail. In the left hind leg went on Uncle Wiggly, the same leg that has the rheumatism so bad. Oh dear, I wish you would send for Dr. Possum. I will right away. Sammy, she called, come and go for Dr. Possum for your uncle. He has been shot. How did it happen, Wiggly? Well, I was down in the swamp looking for some snake root which Mr. Drake said was good for rheumatism when a man fired at me. I jumped, but not in time, and several pieces of lead are in my leg. Oh, how dreadful! cried Mama Little Tail. In a little while Sammy came back with Dr. Possum. Ha! This is a bad business, spoke the long tailed doctor when he looked at Uncle Wiggly long years' leg. I fear I shall have to operate. Anything, so you get the shot out, said the old rabbit. So Dr. Possum tried to get the leaden pellets out, but he could not. They were in so deep. This is very bad business indeed, he went on. I fear I shall have to take your leg off. Will it hurt? asked Uncle Wiggly long years. Um, er, well, not very much, said the doctor, as he twirled his glasses on his tail. Just then who should come into the burrow but Mrs. Wren? She was very much surprised to see Uncle Wiggly lying on a bed of soft grass with the doctor bending over him. What is the matter? she asked. I have been shot, said Uncle Wiggly, and the doctor cannot get the bullets out. Suppose you let me try, said Mrs. Wren. I have a very sharp bill, and I think I can pull them out. Then you are a sort of doctor, said Uncle Wiggly. Go ahead and see what you can do. Yes, do urge Dr. Possum. So the little brown bird put her beak in the holes in Uncle Wiggly's leg, where the bullets had gone in, and she pulled every one out. It hurt a little, but Uncle Wiggly did not make a fuss. There, said Mrs. Wren, that is done. Then Dr. Possum put some salve on the leg and bound it up, promising to come in next day to see how Uncle Wiggly was getting on. Did you find a nest house? asked Mama Little Tail of the bird. No was the answer. I think I shall have to stay with you another night, if you will let me. Perhaps I shall find a nest tomorrow. So she stayed with the Little Tail family another night, and tomorrow night I will tell you how she found a nest. End of Story 7. Story 8. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little Tail by Howard R. Garris. Story 8. Susie and Sammy find a nest. Sammy Little Tail was up early the next morning. He had not slept very well, for Uncle Wiggly Long Ears had grown very much because of the pain in his leg where he was shot. Sammy thought if he got up early and went for some nice, fresh carrots for his uncle, it would make the old rabbit feel better. While Sammy was digging up some carrots in a field not far from the borough where he lived, he saw the same gray squirrel that had warned him about not going into the deer park. What are you doing now, asked the squirrel? It seems to me you are always doing something. I am digging carrots for Uncle Wiggly Long Ears that was shot, said Sammy. That is a very nice thing to do, the gray squirrel said. You are a better boy rabbit than I thought you were. What are you doing here, Sammy asked the squirrel? Me? Oh, I am moving into a new nest. I am getting ready for spring. A new nest, exclaimed Sammy, and all at once he thought of Mrs. Wren who could not find a nest-house to live in. What are you going to do with your old nest, the little boy rabbit asked? Why leave it, to be sure, I never moved my nest. Don't you want it any more? Not in the least, I am through with it. May I have it, asked Sammy, very politely. You? What can a rabbit do with a nest in a tree? They live in burrows. I know that, Sammy admitted, I was not asking for myself. And then he told the squirrel about Mrs. Wren. May she have your old nest? He asked. Why yes, if she likes it, the squirrel replied. Only I am afraid she will find it rather large for such a little bird. I will hurry home and tell her, spoke Sammy. All right, tell her she can move in any time she likes, called the gray squirrel after Sammy, who, filling his forepaws with carrots, started off toward home as fast as he could run. He found Mama Little Tail getting breakfast, and at once told her the good news. Then he told Mrs. Wren, who had gotten up early to get the early worm that always gets up before the alarm clock goes off. I will go and look at the nest at once, said the little bird. I am very much obliged to you, Sammy. Where is it? Susie and I will show you, spoke the little boy rabbit. Only we cannot go all the way, because rabbits are not allowed in the deer park, but I can point it out to you. So after breakfast, Sammy and Susie started off. They ran on the ground, and the little brown bird flew along over their heads. She went so much faster than they did, that she had to stop every once in a while and wait for them. But at last they got to the place where they could see the deserted squirrel nest. There it is, said Sammy, pointing to it. So I observe, said the bird. I will fly up and look at it, which she did. She was gone some time, and when she flew back to the ground, where Sammy and Susie were waiting for her, the children asked, Did you like it? I think it will do very well, replied Mrs. Wren. It is a little larger than I need, and there are not the improvements I am used to. There is no hot and cold water, and no bathroom. But then I suppose I can bathe in the brook, so that is no objection. There is no roof to it, though. No roof, repeated Sammy? No. You see, squirrels never have one such as I am used to, but when my family comes from the south we can build one. I will take the nest, and I hope you bunnies will come to see me sometimes, when I am settled and have the carpets down. We can't climb trees, objected Susie. That's so, you can't, admitted Mrs. Wren. Never mind. I can fly down and see you. Now I think I will begin to clean out the nest, for the squirrels have left a lot of nut shells in it. So she began to clean out the nest, and Susie and Sammy started home. But before they got there something happened, and what it was I will tell you, perhaps, to-morrow night, if the rooster doesn't crow and wake me up. End of Story 8. Story 9. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story 9. Sammy Little-Tale Falls In When Sammy Little-Tale and his sister Susie went off toward the underground house, after they had shown Mrs. Wren, where she could get the squirrel's old nest for a home, they felt very happy. They ran along, jumping over stones, leaping through the grass that was beginning to get very green, and had a jolly time. I wonder what makes me feel so good, said Sammy to his sister. It's just as if Christmas was coming, or something like that, yet it isn't. I don't know what it is. I know, spoke Susie, who was very wise for a little bunny rabbit girl. What is it asked Sammy, as he paused to nibble at a sweet root that was sticking out of the ground? It is because we have been kind to somebody, went on Susie Little-Tale. We did the little brown bird a kindness in showing her the squirrel's nest, where she could go to housekeeping, and that's what makes us happy. Are you sure, asked Sammy? Yes, said Susie, I am, and she sat up on her hind legs and sniffed the air to see if there was any danger about. You always feel good when you do anyone a kindness, she went on. Sometimes I wanted to go out and play, and I couldn't, because Nurse Fuzzy was he was away, and Mama had a headache. So I stayed home, and made Mama some cabbage leaf tea, and she felt better, and I was happy then, just as we are now. Well, maybe that's it, admitted Sammy Little-Tale. I am glad Mrs. Wren has a nice home anyhow, but I wouldn't like to live away up in a tree, would you? No indeed. I would be afraid when the wind blew and the nest shook. It is ever so much nicer underground in our borough, continued Sammy. It certainly is, agreed Susie, but I suppose that a bird would not like that. They seem to want to be high up in the air, but I don't like it. Once I went away up on top of Farmer Tucker's woodpile, because his gray cat chased me, and when I looked down I was very dizzy, and it was not as high as a tree. So the two bunny-children hurried along, talking of many things, and now and then finding some nice sweet-roots or juicy leaves which they ate. They paused every once in a while to look over the tops of little hills to discover if any dogs or hunters or ferrets were in sight, for they did not want to be caught. At length they came to a little brook that was not far from their home. The edge of the stream had ice on it, for, though spring was approaching, the weather was still cold. Ah! There is some ice. I'm going to have a slide, Sammy shouted. You had better not, cautioned his sister. You might fall in. I will keep close to the shore, promised her brother, and he took a run and slid along the ice. Come on, he cried. It's fun, Susie. The little bunny-girl was just going to walk out on the ice, and Sammy, who had taken an extra long run, slid right off the ice and into the water. Oh! Oh! Susie! he screamed. I've fallen in. Help me out! What shall I do? asked his sister, as she stood up on her hind legs and waved her little paws in the air. Get a stick and let me grab it, called Sammy, but don't come too close or you may fall in, too, for Sammy was very fond of his sister and did not want her to get hurt. He clung to the edge of the ice and shivered in the cold water, while with her teeth Susie gnawed a branch from a tree. The branch she held out to her brother, who grasped it in his mouth, and was soon pulled up on shore. But oh! how he shivered, and how his fur was plastered down all over him, just like a cat when it falls in the bathtub. But I hope none of you children ever put Pussy in there. You must run home at once, said Susie, and drink some hot sassafras tea, so you won't take cold. Come on, I'll run with you. So they started off, running, leaping and bounding, and by the time they got to their borough, Sammy was quite warm. Down the front door-hole they plunged, and as soon as Sammy's mother saw him, she cried out, Why, Sammy, you've been in swimming. Didn't I tell you never to go in swimming? I haven't been swimming, mother, said Sammy. Yes, you have. Your hair is all wet, she answered. Then Sammy told how he had fallen in. Uncle Wiggly Longhears, the old rabbit, heard him, and said he guessed he would have to give Sammy and Susie some lessons in swimming. And if you are good, I will tell you tomorrow night what happened on that occasion. End of Story Nine. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clareka. Sammy and Susie Little Tale by Howard R. Garris. Chapter Ten. Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy Gives a Lesson. Uncle Wiggly Longhears was a very wise old rabbit. He had lived so long, and had escaped so many dogs and hunters, year after year, that he knew about all a rabbit can know. Of course, that may not be so very much, but it was a good deal for Uncle Wiggly Longhears. So the day after Sammy came home from having fallen in the brook, the old rabbit got ready to give Sammy and Susie Little Tale their swimming lesson. You will want to know how to get out of the water when you fall in, he said. You come with me, and I will show you. It is not very cold out, and I will give you a short lesson. Be careful not to let them drown, cautioned Mama Little Tale. I will, promised Uncle Wiggly Longhears, and he started from the burrow, followed by the two bunny children. But just as their uncle got out of the front door, he was seized with a sharp spasm of rheumatism. Oh, oh, oh dear! He cried three times, just like that. What is the matter, asked Sammy? Rheumatism answered Uncle Wiggly Longhears, and he put his left front paw on his left hind leg. I have it very bad. I don't believe I would dare go in the water with you children today. We will have to wait. Yet I don't like to, as you ought to learn to swim. I wonder if you could learn if I stood on the bank and told you what to do. I think it would be much better if you could come into the water and show us, said Susie. Of course it would, admitted Uncle Wiggly Longhears. Of course it would, my dear. Only you see. Ouch! Oh me! Oh my! And poor Uncle Wiggly Longhears wrinkled his nose and made it twinkle like a star on a frosty night, and he wiggled his ears to and fro. Oh! That was a terrible, sharp pain, he said. I don't believe I'd better go, children. I'm awfully sorry. Let me take the children and show them how to swim, said nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, who had just finished peeling the potatoes for dinner. She could peel them very nicely with her long, sharp front teeth, which were just like a chisel that a carpenter uses. Yes, I guess you could teach them, said Uncle Wiggly, as he rubbed his legs softly. You are a much better swimmer than I am, but can you spare the time from the housework? You see, Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy had to do all the housework for the Little Tail family, but, as she was a very good muskrat, she was able to do it, and she often had time to spare. So she answered, Yes, I can just as well go as not, for I have the dinner on the stove, and Mr. Little Tail will not be home to lunch. I will give the children a swimming lesson. It will not take long. Well, spoke Uncle Wiggly Longhears, I wish you would. I must go and get something for my rheumatism. You had better try a hot cabbage leaf, said Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy. I have heard that is good. I will, said the old rabbit, and he crawled back down into the borough, while Susie and Sammy, with nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, went on to the brook. The muskrat was a very good swimmer, indeed, and as soon as she reached the water she plunged in and swam about to show Sammy and Susie how it ought to be done. She dived and she shot across. She swam on her side and in the ordinary way. In fact, she swam in a number of ways that you and I could not. At length she swam entirely under water for some distance, and the bunny children were afraid she was drowned, but she came up smiling, showing her sharp teeth, and explained that this was one of the ways she used to escape from dogs, boys, and other enemies. Then the nurse muskrat gave the bunny children their lesson. She had little trouble in teaching them as they learned quickly. She was just showing them how to float along, with only the tip of the nose showing, in order to keep out of sight, when suddenly there was a noise on the bank. No, it was not someone after the bunny rabbit children's clothes, for they had left them at home when they went to take a lesson. But it was a number of boys with a dog who were making the noise. As soon as the boy saw the rabbits and the rat, they gathered up a lot of stones, and one boy cried out, Oh, look there, two rabbits and a muskrat, let's catch them and sell their skins. Oh, dear! exclaimed Susie, who is very much frightened, whatever shall we do? Don't be alarmed, said nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, calmly, as she started to swim downstream. Just follow me, swim as I do, with only your nose out, and I will save you. The boys ran along the bank, throwing stones at the little creatures, and the dog barked, and to-morrow night I will tell you how Sammy and Susie got away, and were saved by Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy. That is, if you think you would care to hear the story. End of Story 10. Story 11. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Story 11. Sammy's and Susie's terrible time. You may be sure the two little-tailed children were very much frightened when they were floating down the stream, behind nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, with the boys on the bank throwing stones at them, and the dog barking as hard as he could bark. Sick the dog in the water after them, called one boy. No, this dog doesn't like water, said the boy who owned it. We'll hit him with stones, and then poke him out with sticks. Oh, how Sammy and Susie shuddered when they heard those words. They did not know Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy was going to save them. The muskrat looked around to see how the children were swimming. Don't be afraid, she called. But of course the boys could not understand what she said. The dog could, being an animal and understanding animal talk, but the dog couldn't tell the boys. Don't be afraid, said the nurse. Sammy, keep your head under more. Susie, strike out harder with your forepaws. The two bunny children did as they were told. Just then a stone came very close to Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, and she went completely beneath the water. The muskrat's gone, cried a boy. No, said another, it can swim under water. But don't bother with the rabbits. They're little and their fur isn't much good. Kill the muskrat, for we can get fifty cents for the skin. Oh, how mean boys are, thought Susie little tale. To talk about selling poor Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy's skin, aren't they terrible? The boys now gave all their attention to throwing stones at the muskrat, but she was very wise and kept under water as much as possible, so they could not hit her. They did not throw at Sammy or Susie. Presently, Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy swam backward under water and came up near Sammy. She put her sharp nose close to his ear and whispered, Down the stream a little way is a burrow where I used to live. The front door is under water, but if you hold your breath you can dive down, get in and come up in the dry part. Then you can dig a way out in a field and we can go home and escape the boys. Jane told the same thing to Susie and pretty soon, when they came to the place, the two bunny children took a long breath and dived down under water. Jane told the same thing to Susie and pretty soon, Sammy and Susie took hold of the long tale of Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy to guide them in the dark, and, though it seemed a terrible thing not to breathe under water, the three suddenly found themselves in a little underground house, much like their own, where they could breathe again. Now we are safe, exclaimed the muskrat. Dig a back door and you can get out. So Sammy and Susie did so, and pretty soon they found themselves in a nice field, some distance back from the water. They could see the boys and their dogs still watching near the bank to catch Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, and the boys never knew how the muskrat and the rabbit children escaped. My, but that was exciting, said Sammy, when they were on their way home. And it was, agreed Susie, I am so frightened that I have almost forgotten how to swim. It will all come back to you the next time you go in the water, said Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, but I must hurry home now, or dinner will be late. They got to the borough without anything more happening. Mama Little-Tale and Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears were much alarmed when told about the narrow escape. Those boys cried the old rabbit, if I wasn't laid up with rheumatism I'd show them, and he snapped his teeth in quite a savage manner indeed, for a rabbit can get angry at times. After dinner Mama Little-Tale asked Sammy and Susie to go to the cabbage field store for her, but as Sammy wanted to stay home and make a whistle out of the carrot, Susie went alone. As she was walking along under a big tree she heard a noise in the branches, and, looking up, she saw a number of squirrels. Susan was the squirrel who had given her old nest to Mrs. Wren. The little grey chaps were running about, seemingly much excited over something. Presently they all scampered down, and Susie saw that they had their mouths full of nuts. They put them on the ground in a little heap, and then the little bunny girl noticed that there was, nearby, an old stump, and it was set just like a table, with dried leaves for plates, and the tops of acorns for cups. What is going on here, Susie asked the squirrel whom she knew. I am giving a party in honour of having moved into my new nest, said the squirrel. Wouldn't you like to come? Yes, said Susie very politely, I would like very much to. Then, said the squirrel, hop up on the stump and I will get an extra plate for you. Susie did so. It was the first party she had ever attended, but I can't tell you what happened until tomorrow. CHAPTER XII. Susie goes to a party. Up and down the big oak tree, scampered the squirrels, bringing nuts and acorns from hollows, where they had been hidden all winter. Hey, bushy tail, cried the squirrel, whom Susie knew, addressing another who was on the ground at the foot of the stump. Bring up a big leaf. What do you want with a big leaf, inquired the squirrel, who was called bushy tail? Susie little tail is going to stay at the party, replied the squirrel who was giving it, and I want the leaf for a plate to her. She will need a large one. Up the old stump climbed bushy tail with the leaf in his mouth, and he put it in a vacant place. The stump was quite large enough for the squirrels and rabbit to move about upon, and still leave room for the table to be set. Susie saw the squirrels placing nut-meats on the different plates, and putting oak leaf tea in the acorn cups. Suddenly the squirrel whom Susie knew, and whose name was Mrs. Lightfoot, exclaimed, There! I never thought of that. Of what? asked Susie. Why, we haven't anything that you like to eat. You don't care for nuts, do you? Not very much, answered Susie, who wanted to be polite, yet she still wanted to tell the truth. I thought so, spoke Mrs. Lightfoot. Whatever shall I do? I've asked you to the party, and now there is nothing you like. It's too bad, for I want you to have a good time. I could go to the cabbage field store and get some leaves, and I could bring some carrots and eat them, suggested Susie. Yes, but it wouldn't be right to ask you to a party, and then have you bring your own things to eat, objected Mrs. Lightfoot. That's what they do at surprise parties, went on Susie, who had heard Uncle Wiggly long years, till of one he had once attended. It was given by a chipmunk. Yes, but this isn't a surprise party, said Mrs. Lightfoot. I don't know what to do. We can pretend it's a surprise party, went on Susie. I know I was very much surprised when you asked me to come to it. Were you indeed inquired the squirrel? Then a surprise party it shall be. Listen, she called to the other squirrels. This is a surprise party for Susie Little-Tale. Pfft! I don't call this a surprise, grumbled an old squirrel, whose tail had partly been shot off, but nobody minded him as he was always grumbling. So Susie went and got some cabbage leaves and carrots, and brought them to the party. She had to eat them all alone, as the squirrels did not care much for such things. The only thing Susie could eat, which the squirrels did, was some ice-cream made with snow, maple syrup, and hickory nuts ground up fine. This was very good. Susie had a grand time at the party, and after the hickory nut ice-cream and other good things had been eaten, she and the squirrels played Ring Around the Old Oak Stump, which is something like London Bridge and Ring Around the Rosie, mixed up together. It was lots of fun, and Susie almost forgot to go to the cabbage-field store. But she did go there, though it was just about to be closed up, and when she got home with the cabbage leaves for supper, she told about the surprise party. Then Sammy wished he had gone to the store instead of remaining at home to make a whistle out of a carrot. I never had anything nice like that happen to me, said Sammy, in just the least bit of a grumbly voice. And what do you think? The very next day something happened to Sammy, only it wasn't very nice. He was out walking in a field when he met a big cat. Where do you live, asked the cat, in quite a friendly voice? Over there, said Sammy, pointing toward the burrow. Can you take me there, asked the cat, and she wiggled her whiskers and licked her nose with her tongue, for she was hungry. Yes, I'll show you, agreed Sammy, and he led the cat toward the burrow. Now he did not know any better, for he did not stop to think that cats will eat rabbits, and the cat was just thinking how easily she had provided a good dinner for herself, when Jane Fuzzy wasy, who was peeping out of the front door of the burrow, saw Pussy. The muskrat knew at once the cat had come to eat the little rabbits and the big ones, too, and the only reason she did not eat Sammy was because she wanted more of a meal. So the nurse showed her sharp teeth, and the cat ran away. But she knew where the burrow was, and this was a bad thing, for she might come back again in the night, when Sammy and Susie were asleep. We must move away from here at once, said Uncle Wiggly Long years, when he heard about the cat. We must find a new burrow, or make one. Sammy, you acted very wrongly, but you did not mean to. Now you must help us pack up to move. And tomorrow night, if all goes well, I shall tell you what happened when the Little Tale family went to their new home. End of Story 12. Story 13 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Story 13. The Little Tale family move Did you ever see a rabbit family move? No, I don't suppose you have, for not every one has had that chance. But the Little Tale family, as I told you last night, had to move because a big cat had found out where their burrow was. I shall go out at once and see if I can find a new place, said Uncle Wiggly Long years, after the excitement caused by Sammy bringing home the cat had calmed down. We need a larger burrow anyhow. I will find a nice one. Can you go out with your rheumatism, asked Mama Little Tale? You are very lame, you know. Perhaps you had better wait until Papa Little Tale comes home to-night, and he will go. No, we must lose no time, said the Uncle. I can manage with my crutch, I guess. So he started from the burrow, leaning heavily on a crutch Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy had gnawed from a corn-stock. Be careful of the cat, cautioned Susie. Oh, no cat can catch me, even if I have the rheumatism very bad, said her uncle, and he limped away. While he was gone, Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy promised to keep a sharp lookout for that cat. Uncle Wiggly Long Ears was gone for some time. When he returned to the burrow, Papa Little Tale had come back from where he worked, in a carrot factory, which was a new position for him, and he had heard all the news. Well, he asked Uncle Wiggly, did you find a new burrow? Yes, answered the uncle, I did. I will tell you all about it. I walked a long distance, and I met several friends of mine. I asked them about burrows, and they said the best ones were all taken. I was afraid you would have to dig a new one until I met Mr. Groundhog, and he told me of one next to him, on the bank of a little pond. We can get it cheap, he said. Has it all improvements, asked Mama Little Tale? I want a good kitchen and a bathroom. It has everything, said the uncle. It has three doors, and we can get in and out easily. It is near a cabbage field and a turnip patch. We can bathe in the pond, so we don't need a bathroom. Where is it, asked Papa Little Tale? I must be near the trolley, you know. It is not far from the cars, went on Uncle Wiggly long-ears. Have you ever heard of Eagle Rock? None of the family had. Well, it is not far from there, said Uncle Wiggly. I went out on the rock, and my, what a view there was! I could see away over the big meadows where some of your relatives live, Miss Fuzzy-Wuzzy, and then I could see something called New York. What's New York, asked Suzy Little Tale? I don't know, answered her uncle promptly. I imagine it must be something good to eat. But of course, children, you know how mistaken he was. Uncle Wiggly told more about his walk, and finally it was decided to take the new burrow so the cat could not find them. The next day the Little Tale family moved. That is all they did, they just moved. They had no packing or unpacking to do, except that Sammy took the whistle he had made out of a carrot, and Uncle Wiggly carried his corn stalk crutch. By noon they were all settled, and Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy had cooked some of the new cabbage, which had been left in the field all winter, and also some turnips, which were piled under a lot of straw out of doors. She also found some potatoes, which she peeled with her sharp teeth. That afternoon, as Sammy was hopping about his new home, he heard some one exclaim. Hello! Hello! replied Sammy, who always wanted to be friendly. Where do you live, the voice went on, and all at once Sammy thought of the cat. No you don't, he cried. You can't fool me again. I know you. Oh, do you, asked the voice? Well, seeing that I'm a stranger here, and you are, too, I don't think that you know me. Sammy looked on top of a clot of earth once the voice came, and saw a big frog. Oh, it's you, is it, he asked faintly. Of course replied the frog. My name's Bully, what's yours? Sammy told him. Ever hear of me went on the frog? And when Sammy said he had not, the frog continued. Well, let's see who can jump the farthest. And with that he began to get ready. Sammy, who is a very good jumper, did also, and just as they were about to see who was the better at it, there, suddenly. But there I shall have to wait until tomorrow night to tell you what happened next. End of Story 13. Story 14 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clareka. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story 14. How the water got in. Let me see, where did I leave off last night? Oh, I remember now, I was telling you about Sammy Little-Tale's new playmate, Bully, the frog, and how they were about to have a jumping contest when something happened. This is what happened. Bully was crouching down for a spring when he suddenly looked up. This was not hard for him as his eyes were nearly on top of his head, but Sammy had to get on his hind legs to peer upward properly, and this is what both of the little creatures saw. A big bird, with long legs and a very long bill, was standing on one leg right over the frog. The bird was looking intently at Bully. Come on, cried the frog to the rabbit. We must get away from here as quickly as we can. Why, asked Sammy Little-Tale? Because, said Bully, that bird will eat us. My father warned me never to stay near that bird. Let us go away at once. What sort of a bird is it, asked Sammy, who now had no wish to jump? I'm sure it can't be very harmful. The only birds that I have to look out for are owls, eagles, and hawks, and it isn't any of them. No, I'm not one of them, spoke the bird with the long legs, snapping its bill as if sharpening it. I'm a blue heron, that's what I am, though some folks think I'm a stork or a crane. Well, spoke Sammy, you're not dangerous, are you? Not for you, went on the blue heron, and he snapped his beak again, just like two knives being sharpened. I came for that fellow, and the bird lowered the leg it had hidden under its feathers, and pointed at the frog. I came for you, the heron went on. You wanted it once. What's your name? Sammy Little-Tale thought the bird might have asked the frog's name first, before saying that Bully was wanted, but the bird did not seem to consider this. What's your name, the long-legged bird, asked again? Bully answered the frog in a trembling, croaking voice. Hmpf! exclaimed the heron. That's a good name, mine is Billy. Bully and Billy go well together. I'm called Billy because I have such a long bill, you see, the heron explained to Sammy Little-Tale. But enough of this, I've come for you, Bully. I'm hungry, I'm going to eat you. That's why you're wanted at once, and immediate. I think there's some mistake, faltered Bully. No mistake at all, snapped the heron, it's all in the books. Cranes, storks, and herons always eat frogs, mice, and so forth. I never ate any and so forth, but I imagine it must be very nice. At any rate I'm going to eat you. And he snapped his bill like three knives being sharpened. Oh, are you, cried Bully the frog? And he suddenly gave a great jump, greater even than that which the jumping-frog that Mark Twain wrote about gave, and into the pond he plunged, and went right to the bottom. Now, what do you think about that? Yes, sir, he went right to the bottom, where the blue heron couldn't get him. Then he called up, in a voice which sounded very hoarse because it came from so far underwater. Ha! Who got left? I suppose he means me spoke the heron to Sammy, and the bird, very much annoyed, fanned itself with its long leg. I don't believe that's fair the heron went on, it's in all the books. And then, with the great flapping of wings, the tall creature flew away, and Bully the frog came out. You had a narrow escape, said Sammy. Oh, I'm used to that, replied the frog. Now let's practice jumping. Which they did. Then the frog always jumped into the water, and Sammy remained on dry land so they never could tell who was the best at it. Then they played other games and became very good friends. The frog pond was very near the new borough where Sammy lived, and the two used to meet quite often. One day, the frog said, I think it would be very nice if you would dig away from your borough to my pond. Then, when it rained, I could come to see you without getting wet, and you could come to see me. That is a fine idea, declared Sammy, I'll do it. So without saying anything to his mother or sister, or Uncle Wiggly long airs, Sammy began to dig underground to reach the pond. It took him some time, but at last he came out just above the top of the water, near where Bully lived. This is great, cried the frog, as he looked in the hole. Now when it rains we will not get wet. And what do you think? It rained that very night. It rained so hard that the pond rose higher and higher, until the water began to run in the hole Sammy had dug. It awakened the little tale family in the middle of the night, and when Uncle Wiggly long airs saw the water creeping nearer and nearer to him, and felt the rheumatism worse than ever, he cried out, A flood, a flood, we must swim out, or we shall all be drowned. Now you will have to be patient until tomorrow night to hear what took place, but they were not drowned, I'll tell you that much. Story 15 Sammy and Susie at the Circus Of course you remember how Sammy Little Tale dug a tunnel from the burrow to the pond, and how the water came in, of course. Well Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy made a raft of corn stalks, and on this the whole rabbit family floated out of the burrow. Bully, the frog, who was a playmate of Sammy's helped them. They had to go right out into the rain, and it was not very pleasant. Whatever are we going to do, asked Mama Little Tale, but she did not scold Sammy for digging the tunnel and making all the trouble. Yes, we must get in out of the wet, or my rheumatism will be so bad I shall not be able to walk, complained Uncle Wiggly long airs. I know what we can do, proposed the muskrat nurse. What! asked Susie Little Tale. We can ask Mr. Groundhog to let us stay all night in his burrow, suggested the nurse. I'm sure he will let us, for he has plenty of room. Mr. Groundhog, who was an elderly creature, very fond of sleep in the winter, welcomed the rabbits to his burrow, and there they stayed out of the rain. In the morning the sun was shining brightly, and before very long the water all dried out of the bunny's underground house, so that they could go back in it. One day, about a week after this, when Uncle Wiggly long airs was out walking with Sammy and Susie, going quite slowly because he was a trifle lame from rheumatism, Bully, the frog, came hopping up to them. Are you going to the circus, he asked? Circus? What circus? asked Sammy, who was interested very quickly. You may be sure. Why, the animal circus that is always held in the woods every spring. They do all sorts of queer things to get ready for the summer. I'm going. It's lots of fun. Better come. I haven't seen any circus posters up, remarked Susie. Of course not, answered Bully. The animals never put them up, because they don't want a lot of people coming to look on and bother them. Do you want to come? It's not very far. But we have no one to take us, spoke Susie. Yes you have, exclaimed Uncle Wiggly Long Airs quickly. I will take you myself. It would never do for you children to go to a circus alone. I will take you. But your rheumatism is so bad you can hardly walk, objected Susie. Besides, it will be worse if you sit in the woods. Never mind about that, answered the Uncle Bravely. I'll manage to stand it. I am determined you children shall not go to that circus alone. Of course I don't care anything about a circus myself, but I must take care of you. And the elderly rabbit looked very brave, though the pain of his rheumatism was quite bad. My father is going to hop over three stumps, said Bully the Frog, quite proudly. Come on, or we may be late. So Uncle Wiggly took Sammy and Susie to the animal circus, and Bully the Frog went also. Bully had a free ticket because his father was one of the performers. They had reserved seats on big toadstools, though Bully said they ought to be called frog stools, as frogs used them more than toads did. Then the performance began, after the birds had sung an opening chorus. The bunny children had a jolly time. They saw some pigeons give airship exhibitions that were better than any flying machines you ever heard of. They watched the snakes make hoops of themselves, through which jumped squirrels and rabbits. It was so exciting that Uncle Wiggly long ears clapped his paws as hard as he could. Then Dr. Possum, who was not very busy taking care of sick people that day, hung downward from a limb by his tail ever so long. But when Bully's papa jumped over three big stumps at once without so much as touching him, well, you should have heard the clapping and shouting then. Best of all, Sammy and Susie liked the baby deer, who stood up on his hind legs and danced while a crow whistled. It was so exciting that Sammy and Susie almost forgot to eat the candy-covered carrots and the molasses-cabbage which their uncle had bought for them. It was the best time they had ever remembered, and they talked of nothing else on their way home. Even Uncle Wiggly's rheumatism seemed better. Now, if nothing happens, I'm going to tell you tomorrow night of an adventure Sammy Little Tale had with a snake. Sammy and Susie Little Tale by Howard R. Garris Story 16 Sammy and the Snake Sammy said Mama Little Tale to her little bunny boy one fine day. I wish she would take this basket of cabbage leaves and preserved clover over to Mr. Groundhog. He was so good to let us go in his burrow that night the flood came in here that I want to do him a kindness. But Susie come to Mama asked Sammy, who did not like to go through the woods alone, especially since there were so many boys wandering about on top of the Orange Mountain, now that Spring was getting near. Yes, Susie may go if she wants to, answered the rabbit children's mother. Do you want to, dear? Oh yes, I'll go with Sammy, but I think he ought to carry the basket. Of course I will, said Sammy, and the two set off to the burrow where Mr. Groundhog had his home. It was not far from the underground house where the rabbit family lived, and the children soon reached it. They knocked on the door, and a voice called out. Who's there? Sammy and Susie Little Tale, answered Sammy. We have some cabbage leaves and preserved clover that Mama sent you. That is very nice, remarked the Groundhog. Come right in. I'm afraid to come to the door, you know. Sammy and Susie walked in and gave Mr. Groundhog the things in the basket. Even Susie, who is very curious, asked him a question. Why didn't you want to come to the door, she inquired. Because, whispered the Groundhog, looking around as if he was afraid someone would see him, I might see my shadow again, you know, and that would make winter longer than ever. You know I went out candle-mustay and I saw it, and it frightened me so I rushed back in here, and I'm not going out again until March 16th, which will be just six weeks. If I hadn't seen my shadow, winter would not last so long, at least that's what people say. I don't know whether to believe them or not, but I am not going out again until warm weather is here, so I'm very glad your Mama sent me something to eat. The Groundhog gave the Bunny children some bits of dried sweet potato he had put away, and they started for home. I don't believe much in that shadow business, said Sammy, as he and his sister walked along. How could a Groundhog, seeing his shadow, make winter any longer? I don't know, answered Susie, but it must be so, because everyone says so, even Uncle Wiggly long years. I'm going to ask Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy when I get home, declared Sammy. Come on, let's go round by Farmer Tucker's cabbage patch. Maybe we can find a stump or two to gnaw. I'm getting hungry. Mr. Groundhog didn't give me enough sweet potato. Perhaps that was all he had, suggested Susie. They were walking along through a little wood, when, all of a sudden, the two bunnies heard a hiss, just like the steam coming out of the radiator. What's that, cried Sammy? It's a snake, shouted Susie. Look out, Sammy, or he will grab you. Sammy tried to jump out of the way, but he was too late, and the big black snake grabbed him. The snake coiled around poor Sammy and bit the little rabbit's ear to make him keep quiet, I suppose, for Sammy was trying to get loose. Oh, oh, oh! exclaimed Susie. You bad snake! Let my little brother alone! But the black snake never said a word. Only he clung the tighter to poor Sammy. Run for help, Susie, called the little boy rabbit. Run and ask Mr. Groundhog to come and drive the snake away. So Susie ran as fast as she could, and did not even stop to wrap on the burrow door where Mr. Groundhog lived. She went right in and told the elderly creature that a bad snake had her little brother. And won't you please come and get him loose? asked Susie, who was crying. If you shut your eyes you won't see your shadow and be frightened. I will lead you to him. Never mind about my shadow, exclaimed Mr. Groundhog. I don't care whether I see it again or not. I'll go and save Sammy Little-Tale, who was so kind to me. So he ran and hit the snake with a club, until it was glad enough to let Sammy loose, and it was quite time, too, for poor Sammy's breath was nearly squeezed out of him. Then Sammy, after he had thanked Mr. Groundhog, ran home with Susie. Now, if you remind me of it, I shall try to tell you, tomorrow night, something about Susie and the white kitty. End of Story 16 Story 17 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clareka. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story 17 Susie and the White Kitty Susie Little-Tale had gone for a walk in the woods. It was coming on spring, but the little bunny girl did not go to see if there were any wild flowers peeping up. Indeed, she cared very little about flowers, except the kind that were good to eat, and these were mostly clover blossoms. So that is what Susie went out to look for. Uncle Wiggly Longhears had said to her that day, It seems to me, Susie, that it's getting quite warm out. My rheumatism is better, and it never does get better unless it's getting warm. So of course it must be getting warm. Susie thought so, too. Then, if it's getting warmer, it must be almost spring went on her uncle. Now, if I were you, I would go take a walk and see how the clover is coming on. Some nice fresh clover would taste very good. I'll see if I can get you any, spoke Susie, who was a very good little rabbit girl, and who always was kind to her old uncle. So that is why she was walking in the woods. She was almost through the place where the tall trees grew, and was just going to step out into a field that looked as if it had clover in it, when she heard a funny little noise. It was a sort of squeak, and at first Susie thought it might be Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, for sometimes the muskrat started off of the squeak when she wanted to talk. But it was not her nurse whom Susie saw, instead it was a dear little pussy kitten. Did you make that funny noise, asked the little rabbit girl of the kitten? Yes, answered Pussy, but I don't call it a funny noise. I do, went on Susie. It was not at all funny, and I don't see anything to laugh at, spoke Pussy, and then Susie saw that the white kitten had a large tear in each eye. That was a mew, the kitty said. Why did you mew, Pussy? Because I am lost, and I don't know my way home. I guess you would mew if you couldn't find your papa or mama. No, said Susie, I wouldn't mew, but I would be very much frightened. But why don't you go home? And Susie sat up and wrinkled her nose, just like water when it bubbles in the tea kettle, for that was the way she smelled, and she wanted to see if she could smell danger. How can I go home when I don't know the way, asked the white kitten? Which way did you come in here? If I knew that, I would know which way to go back home, the Pussy replied, and the large tears, one in each eye, fell out and dropped on the ground while two more came into her eyes. Are you crying because you are lost, asked Susie? Of course, wouldn't you? Perhaps answered Susie, but you see, I never was lost, I can always smell my way home, no matter how far off I go, and she wiggled her nose so fast that it made the kitty quite cross-eyed to watch it, and being cross-eyed made Pussy sneeze, then the Pussy felt better. Can you show me the way home, asked the kitty of Susie? Not to your house, for I don't know where it is, answered Susie, but I could show you the way to mine. Then the white kitty wanted Susie to do this, but the little rabbit girl thought it might not be safe, for the little kitty might show the big cats where the new underground house was. What is your name, asked Susie of the kitty? My name is Anne Gora, but everyone calls me Anne. That is a funny name, said Susie. I don't think it is at all, went on the kitty. It is no funnier than Susie, and she began to cry again. Oh, don't cry, exclaimed Susie, and she patted the kitty on the back with her foot. Come with me, we will walk through the field, and maybe we will see your house. I think you must live in a house with people, for kitties never live in the woods like the squirrels or in burrows as we do. We will look until we find a house with people in it, and maybe you belong there. That will be fine, cried the kitty, and she dried her tears on her paw. So Susie and the kitty walked on together, and pretty soon Susie saw a little girl coming toward them. The little girl was looking in the grass, calling Anne, Anne, in a soft voice, and when she saw the little kitty she ran to her, and caught her up in her arms and hugged her. Then Susie little tale ran home, for she was afraid of little girls, and on the way she saw that the clover was coming up nicely, so she told Uncle Wiggly. Now if it is not too cold tomorrow night, I am going to tell you about Sammy and the black doggie. End of Story 17. Story 18. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story 18. Sammy and the Black Doggy. One day when Sammy Little Tale was on his way home from Dr. Possum's house, where he had gone to get some sweet flag-root for Uncle Wiggly Long-Ear's rheumatism, something happened to the little boy rabbit. He was coming through a big field where the grass was quite high when he heard a little bark. He knew it once that it was a dog, and Sammy was afraid of dogs, as all rabbits are, so he started to run. But the dog called out. Don't run, little rabbit! Why not, asked Sammy? I'm afraid of you. But I won't hurt you when on the dog. You might, answered Sammy. Dogs always hurt rabbits. Not all dogs continued a little black one. Besides, I am what they call a doggie. A doggie is a small dog, you know, and small dogs won't hurt rabbits. Are you sure, asked Sammy? Perfectly sure. Besides, I am a trick dog, and trick dogs are so well fed at home that they do not have to hunt rabbits to eat. Are you sure, asked Sammy again? Perfectly sure. You just watch me, and you will see that I do not eat you. Watch me carefully. Oh, I meant, are you sure that you are a trick dog, went on Sammy? Of course I am sure. I can do lots of tricks. I can play dead. I can turn a back somersault. And I can walk on my hind legs. Oh, I can do that, too, interrupted Sammy. Yes, I know. I saw you do that a little while ago. But can you walk on your front legs with your hind ones up in the air? Now can you do that? And the black doggy looks straight at Sammy. I never tried that, replied Sammy. No, and I guess you'd better not, unless you want to fall. I fell lots of times before I learned it. But I can do it now, and every time I do, my master gives me a sweet cracker. What's a sweet cracker? asked Sammy, who thought it sounded very nice. Don't you know what a sweet cracker is? asked the doggy, who was much surprised. No, I don't, declared Sammy. Well, you ought to. I'm astonished at you. It's sweet, and it's a cracker. That's all I can tell you. You ought to know such things yourself. Look here, cried Sammy, who thought the doggy was trying to show how smart it was. Do you know what molasses-carats are? No, said the doggy. I don't believe there are any such things. Yes, there are, declared Sammy. I have had them to eat. So you see, if I don't know what a sweet cracker is, you don't know what molasses-carats are. We're even now. Oh, let's talk about something else, said the doggy quickly. I will show you some of my tricks, if you like. I would like to see them very much, answered Sammy politely. So the little black doggy walked on his hind legs, and then he walked on his front legs. Next he played dead, and Sammy was quite frightened, until with a bark the doggy jumped up and turned three back somersaults, one after the other, just as easy as you can upset the salt-seller. After that he made believe to say his prayers, and rolled over and sneezed like any boy or girl. It was so natural. Sammy was becoming very much interested, for the doggy's tricks were almost as good as those Sammy had seen at the circus, when, all at once, who should come along but a big man. He whistled to the little black doggy, and the doggy, who was trying to stand on the end of his tail, got down and ran to the man. Sammy was so frightened that he ran too, only he ran home. Sammy told his papa and mama and Susie and Uncle Wiggly what had happened to him, and they told him he must be careful not to go near black doggies again. Oh, promised Sammy, I won't you may be sure, but Uncle Wiggly, are squirrels all right to play with? Oh yes, squirrels are very nice, said his uncle, but did you see some? Yes, I met two, and they said their names were Billy and Johnny Bushy-tail, and they are coming over to see me some time. That will be nice, remarked Susie, may I play with them too? I guess so, replied Sammy, but mama, I'm hungry, isn't there anything to eat? You can have some bread and butter, said his mama. With sugar on, asked Sammy. We are all out of sugar when on Mrs. Little Tail, you must run to the store for some. I will promised Sammy after I eat something. All out of sugar, remarked Uncle Wiggly. That reminds me, I must make some maple sugar soon. I will have it when Billy and Johnny Bushy-tail come over to see you, or perhaps before then, if you are good children. So Sammy and Susie said they would be good, and in another book after this one I'm going to tell you about Billy and Johnny Bushy-tail, the little boy squirrels and what they did. They lived near Sammy and Susie Little Tail. But the story tomorrow night will be about Uncle Wiggly making maple sugar. End of Story 18. Story 19. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little Tail by Howard R. Garris. Story 19. Uncle Wiggly makes maple sugar. Uncle Wiggly long ears walked out of the burrow. First he stretched one leg, then he stretched another leg. Then he gave a big long stretch to his third leg, and then, would you believe it, he stretched his fourth leg. Next he wiggled both ears, one after the other, and said, I feel very fine indeed. Oh yes, and a boiled carrot besides. Very fine. She looked up at the blue sky, which had some little white clouds on it, just like small snow-banks, or bits of lamb's wool. I never knew when I felt better went on Uncle Wiggly long ears, even my rheumatism does not hurt much. Just then he saw Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy coming out of the burrow, and he spoke to her. Aren't Sammy and Susie up yet, he asked? They are just washing their faces in hands, ready for breakfast, answered the muskrat nurse. They will soon be out. Sure enough, in a little while the two bunny children came running out. Oh, what a lovely day, cried Susie little tale, and she wrinkled up her nose and made it go very fast, almost as fast as an automobile or a motorcycle. Doesn't it smell fine? She asked her brother, and she took a good long breath. It smells just like spring, answered Sammy. The wind is nice and warm, there are lots more birds around than there were, and the grass is getting greener and greener every minute. And he turned a somersault, he felt so glad that summer was coming. Ha, ha, ha, exclaimed Uncle Wiggly three times, just like that. Now I know what makes me feel so fine, it is because spring is here, we must get ready to boil maple sugar. What is maple sugar, asked Susie? What? I'm surprised at you, exclaimed Sammy. Maple sugar is that brown sweet stuff you buy in the store, and in the winter you eat it on your pancakes, or you can shave it up and put it on hot rice, or you can put it on fritters. That is what maple sugar is. I exactly went on Uncle Wiggly, and he stretched the leg with the rheumatism in it so that it hardly hurt him a bit. Well, children, we are going to make some maple sugar. Come with me, and I will show you how. Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, we shall have to ask you to help us. We need your sharp teeth to gnaw a hole in the tree. So Uncle Wiggly, Sammy, Susie, and nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy went off into the woods. Oh, it was a beautiful day, and in some places the tiny green leaves on the trees were just beginning to show through the brown buds. Just think, said Uncle Wiggly, as they walked along, it will soon be Easter, and oh, what a lot of work we rabbits will have then with all the eggs to look after, for you see rabbits always have to take charge of the Easter eggs, but of course you know that. So the rabbits and the muskrat nursed kept on through the woods, leaving Papa and Mama little tale at home in the burrow. Uncle Wiggly walked on ahead, and pretty soon he came to a tree where he stopped. This is a maple tree, he said, and we will get some juice from it to make maple sugar, so as to have it ready for Easter. Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy, will you kindly bite a hole in that tree? Of course I will, answered the muskrat, so she stood up on her hind legs and gnawed a little hole in the tree. Then Uncle Wiggly took a stem of last year's golden rod that was hollow and put it in the hole. Pretty soon what should happen, but that some juice, like water, began running out of that tree right through the hollow stem. That is maple sap, said the old rabbit, and when we boil it we shall have maple sugar. Suzy, you get an old tin can to catch the sap in, and Sammy, you build a fire to boil it over. So Suzy got an old tomato can and put it under the place where the juice was running out, and pretty soon, not so very long, the can was full. By that time Sammy and Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy had a fire built. Then they hung the can of sap over the fire, and it boiled, and it boiled, and it boiled. It took quite some time, but Uncle Wiggly tried it every now and then by pouring a little of the hot syrup on some snow he found in a hollow place. Eat this, he said to Suzy and Sammy, when it was cool. And oh, maybe it wasn't good. Better than the best candy you ever tasted. Then they boiled it and boiled it some more, and pretty soon, just as true as I'm telling you, if that sap didn't turn into maple sugar. Now what do you think about that, eh? Well, maybe those bunny rabbit children weren't glad. They made quite a lot, and took some home to Mama and Papa Little-Tale, who were very glad to get it. They ate several pieces, and then they put some away for Dr. Possum, and his little boy, Possum Pink-Toes. Then Papa Little-Tale said, I have just received a letter from some children who are anxious about their Easter eggs, as it is nearly Easter, so I think we had better begin to get them ready. Uncle Wiggly thought so, too, and to-morrow night, if there is no moon, I shall tell you about hunting the eggs. End of Story nineteen Story twenty Sammy and Susie hunt eggs This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clarica. Sammy and Susie Little-Tale by Howard R. Garris. Story twenty Sammy and Susie hunt eggs Sammy and Susie Little-Tale were leaping over the brown leaves and the pine needles in the woods. There was a little wind blowing, and it ruffled up the fur on the backs of the rabbit children, but they did not mind that. I wonder where we shall find the eggs, asked Susie of her brother, and she nibbled on a piece of maple sugar that Uncle Wiggly Long-Ears had made for them. I'm sure I don't know, answered Sammy, and he also ate some of the sweet stuff. But we are sure to find them because Uncle Wiggly said so. He would have come to show us only his rheumatism is worse again. We must ask somebody, said Susie, and just then whom should they see coming along through the woods but bully the frog. Hello, exclaimed bully. Let's see who can jump the farthest, Sammy. No, answered the little boy rabbit. I can't. I'm after Easter eggs. Do you know where there are any? Do you mean frog's eggs, asked bully, and he croaked a couple of times, just to keep from getting horse? I hardly think frog's eggs would do, and Sammy looked at his sister, and his sister looked at him, until, strange as it may seem, they were both looking at each other. No, said Susie, frog's eggs would never do. They are not large enough. We must get hen's eggs or duck's eggs. I know where there is a nice duck, went on bully. She lives near my pond. And I will take you to her. Maybe she will give you some eggs. So they went to where the duck lived. Bully, the frog, hopping along, and Sammy and Susie hopping after him. And every time the frog came to a bit of water, he hopped in and got all wet, and he didn't mind a bit, but I'm sure I would. However, pretty soon they came to where the duck lived. Mrs. Wibblewobble, said bully to her, for that was the duck's name. Really it was. I'm not joking. Mrs. Wibblewobble, here are Sammy and Susie Little Tail looking for eggs, said bully. Could you let them have any? Quack, quack, answered the duck. And it sounded just as if she said, what, what? So Sammy, thinking she was a little deaf, asked her himself. Can you please tell us where we can find some eggs? And he spoke quite loudly. Tut, tut, exclaimed Mrs. Wibblewobble. I heard bully when he asked me the first time. I merely said, quack, quack, because I was thinking. I always say that when I think. Now be patient. So she said, quack, quack, again, several times, and paddled around in the water, putting her head under every now and then to dig in the mud for some snails. No, she finally said, I have thought very hard, and I do not know where you could find any eggs. Sammy and Susie were quite disappointed, and bully said, perhaps you have some of your own you could let them have. No, answered Mrs. Wibblewobble. All my eggs have been turned into little ducklings. Here they come now. Then, all at once, as quick as you can scratch your chin, what should come walking down to the pond, but the dearest, nicest little ducklings you ever saw. They all said, quack, quack, which, as you know, meant that they were thinking, and Sammy and Susie did not want to disturb them. This is my family, announced Mrs. Wibblewobble. Family, those are the little-tailed children, and bully, the frog. Then the ducklings all said, quack, quack, again, which this time showed that they had stopped thinking, and they swam around, just like their mother. Well, said bully, we shall get no eggs here. Come on, we will go see Mrs. Cluck-Cluck, the fairy hen. Maybe she has some to spare. But on their way they lost the road and didn't know in which direction to go. Sammy, Susie, and bully walked on and on. They heard a noise in the leaves. Oh, such a queer, quiet little noise. And then what do you think? Why, the sly, sly old fox stuck his head out. Whom are you looking for, he asked, as softly as can be. We are looking for Mrs. Cluck-Cluck to get some eggs, said Sammy. Ah-ha-ho-ho, left the sly old fox. Come with me, and I'll show you her house. I'm sure she has some eggs. Sammy and Susie thought this very kind of him, and they were just going to follow that fox off when bully warned them. Don't go, he said. That fox only wants to eat Mrs. Cluck-Cluck up. Let's run away. So they ran away, and my how angry that sly old fox was. He almost bit his own tail. But Sammy and Susie did not mind. They were very thankful to bully for telling them of their danger. Then they hopped on and on until they were quite tired. They were afraid they were never going to find any eggs. But all of a sudden Susie cried, Oh look, Sammy! And there, on a nest in the grass, was Mrs. Cluck-Cluck, the kind lady hen, and she gave the rabbit-children all the eggs they wanted. Sammy and Susie carried them home to their underground house, and after a while they had a lot of fun with them. The next story will be about Susie learning to jump the rope, and I'll tell it to you if the cow doesn't fall off the top of the telegraph pole and tickle the ragdoll with her horns. End of Story 20 Story 21 Susie Little Tail Jumps Rope This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Clareka. Sammy and Susie Little Tail by Howard R. Garris Story 21 Susie Little Tail Jumps Rope And Susie Little Tail were coming home from school. Didn't I mention before that the little bunny-children went to school? Well, I meant to, I'm sure, and if I overlooked it, I hope you will excuse me, and I'll see that it does not happen again this spring or summer. Oh my, yes! They went to school in an old hollow tree, and an owl was the school teacher, a good kind old owl, who never kept the bunny-children in. So, as I said, they were coming home from school, and Sammy had stopped to play marbles with some of his little boy rabbit friends, while Susie walked on with some little rabbit girls. Some of the girls were jumping rope, and they invited Susie to join them. Come on, said one little rabbit with two pink eyes. We will turn for you, and you can have three slow pepper, Susie dear. But Susie couldn't, because she didn't know how to jump rope. Now isn't that strange? No, sir, she didn't know the first thing about jumping rope, for she had never had a chance to learn. So when she got home to the borough that afternoon, and Nurse Jane Fuzzywuzzy had given her a bit of chocolate-covered carrot, Uncle Wiggly Longhears noticed that the little rabbit girl looked rather sad. What is the matter, Susie? He asked. I can't jump rope, she answered, and all the other rabbit girls can. Your mind, said Uncle Wiggly, I will show you how. Come with me. Oh, dear, oh my goodness me, in some sassafras route, oh, oh! What is the matter, asked Susie, much frightened, for she had never heard her uncle cry so. Oh, it's only my rheumatism, Susie dear, he answered. Don't mind me, I shall be all right presently. Just ask Jane Fuzzywuzzy to bring me the water-cress liniment. So when the muskret nurse had brought the liniment, and Uncle Wiggly had rubbed some on his leg, he felt better. Now, Susie, he said, I will show you how to jump rope. I used to do it when I was a boy, but I am not so lively and nimble now as I was then. But I have no rope, objected Susie, though she felt a little more happy. I can't jump without a rope. Tuttutt, do not think about such a little thing as that, went on her uncle. I will have rope for you in a few minutes. Come with me. Just then Sammy came along, and after he had had some cornbread with preserved sweet cabbage leaves on, he went with his sister and his uncle in the woods. I'm going to learn to jump rope, said Susie, quite proudly. Don't you want to learn, Sammy? No, he said. That's only for girls. I'd rather play marbles and fly a kite, but I'll turn for you if we can find a rope, for you see, Sammy was always kind to his sister. We will have a rope in a minute, remarked Uncle Wiggly. I know where to find it. Just then, who should come walking along but paw some pink toes, and as soon as he saw the rabbits, he pretended to go to sleep. Oh, you do not need to go to sleep and make believe that you are dead, spoke Sammy. We would not hurt you for the world. Then paw some pink toes, who was only pretending to sleep, as he always did when he thought he was in danger, opened first one eye, then the other. I am going to learn to jump rope, said Susie to him. Ha! Jump rope, eh! exclaimed paw some pink toes. I know the very thing for you, a wild grapevine. It will make a fine rope. That's just what I was going to say, called out Uncle Wiggly. Come with me, and I'll show you where there are plenty of vines, went on the paw some, so they followed him, and pretty soon they came to the place. Sammy and Uncle Wiggly cut a long piece, and then they took hold of each end, and began to turn the rope for Susie. At first she could not do very well, even though there was a nice, smooth, grassy place to learn on. Then out of a pond jumped Bully the frog, and as he was one of the best jumpers in the woods, or for that matter, on Orange Mountain, he showed Susie just how to do it. So she learned to jump salt, which is slow, and pepper, which is fast, and double pepper, which is very fast indeed. Then she learned to jump with two ropes, one going one way and one the other, and finally she could skip as well as any little rabbit girl in the Owl's school. Uncle Wiggly tried to jump, but he was so stiff and his rheumatism hurt him so that he couldn't do it. Then they all started for home, and what do you think happened? Something quite serious, I do assure you, and I'm not fooling. A big hawk, not the kind good fish hawk, but another kind, who was out looking for early spring chickens, swooped down and tried to carry Susie Little Tail off to his nest. Now Uncle Wiggly was so old he couldn't do much, but Sammy was not going to see his little sister harmed. So what did he do but jump at that hawk with his sharp little feet, and kick him until the bad bird let go of poor Susie? She was quite frightened, but not much hurt, and maybe she didn't hug and kiss Sammy for saving her. Then they all hurried home to the borough, and if there is nothing to prevent it, tomorrow night's story will be about Sammy turning sky blue pink. End of Story 21. Story 22. Sammy Colored, Sky Blue Pink. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Story 22. Sammy Colored, Sky Blue Pink. Susie Little Tail was out on a nice, grassy place in front of the underground house, jumping her grapevine rope and having a very good time indeed. She had gotten all over the fright caused by the bad hawk trying to grab her, and felt quite happy. Sammy Little Tail had a very good time, and she had a very good time and felt quite happy. Sammy Little Tail had been searching for the hawk to have him arrested for being so cruel to the little rabbit girl, but he could not find the big bird, so he had come back to watch Susie jump. You see, it was Easter week, and they had no school. The old owl teacher was very glad of it, too, for he had more time to sleep and doze in the sun. Just as Susie finished doing three slow pepper, Nurse Jane Fuzzy-Wuzzy came to the door of the borough and called, Sammy, your mama wants you. What does she want? he asked. She wants you to go to the drugstore and get some stuff to color the Easter eggs with. Hurry, please, because she has lots to do. May we help color them? asked Susie, hanging up her grapevine rope on a low bush. I think so, answered the muskrat nurse. Now hurry, Sammy, your mama wants to get all done before your papa comes home from the carrot factory tonight. All right, answered the little boy rabbit. I guess I can help color the eggs, too. And he hurried off to the drugstore that was near Dr. Possum's house. Now, pretty soon, in fact, almost immediately, something is going to happen to Sammy Little Tail, so I want you all to sit quietly and not wiggle so that you'll break the couch, or I can't go on. That's better. Well then, Sammy went through the woods, and on his way he felt so happy that he sang this little song, which he had heard the kindergarten children singing at the Owl School a few days before. This is the song, but of course I can't sing it very well. Please don't laugh. I'll do the best I can, although, perhaps, I shouldn't get the words just right. Soldier boy, soldier boy, where are you going? Waving so proudly, you're red, white, and blue. I'm going to the war to fight for my country, and if you'll be a soldier boy, you may come too. That's the way Sammy sang it, anyhow, and just as he finished, he got to the drugstore. Who was that singing, asked Dr. Possum, who happened to be in the store just then. I was, said Sammy. Oh, indeed! I didn't know you sang, went on, Dr. Possum. That is very good indeed. I could not do better myself. Will you kindly sing it again? So Sammy sang it again, and then he got the colors for his mama to put on the Easter eggs. Now children, said Mama Little Tale, when Sammy reached home, get the eggs that Mrs. Cluck-Cluck gave you the other day, and we will color them. Oh, won't we have fun, cried Susie? Indeed, we will, said Sammy. So they first boiled the eggs good and hard, so that if they happened to drop one it wouldn't get all over the floor, and you know how unpleasant it is to say the least, when an egg drops and gets all over the floor. Isn't it really? Well, they boiled the eggs, and then Mama Little Tale had the die ready. Well, you should have seen all the colors she had. There was red and blue, and yellow and green and purple, and pink and old rose, and crushed strawberry, and ashes of roses and magenta, and Alice Blue and Johnny Red, and Froggy Green and Toadstool Brown, and Skiligamink. At last the storekeeper told Sammy it was a new color, very scarce. Since there isn't any more of it at the store, I can't just tell you what it looked like, except that it was a very fine color, indeed. Oh, yes. Well, Sammy and Susie helped their Mama dip the eggs in the die, and stained them all sorts of pretty colors. Some were all one shade, and some were half one tint and half another, and then there were some all speckled with different colors, and very hard to make. Then, after they were all dry, Nurse Jane Fuzzy wasy with her sharp teeth, just like chisels that a carpenter uses, drew pretty things on the eggs. Pictures of trees and birds and mountains, and flowers and fairy castles and lakes and hills, and all sorts of things. Oh, they were the prettiest Easter eggs you ever saw. Here is the last egg, said Sammy. May I dip this one in, Mama? Yes, she answered, but she never would have let him if she had known what was going to happen. I'll make this a skilligamink color, said Sammy, and he stood over the pot. Then, what do you think occurred? Why, Sammy leaned too far over, and he fell right in that pot of skilligamink color, he and the egg together. And oh, dear me, what a time there was! He splashed round and scattered the skilligamink color all over the kitchen, and when his Mama and Susie fished him out, if he wasn't died the most beautiful sky-blue pink you ever saw. Oh, but he was a sight. The skilligamink color made him look like a piece of the rainbow. Oh, Sammy cried Susie, how funny you do look! And Sammy grunted, ha, I guess it's nothing to laugh at. So they dried him with a towel, but the color didn't come off forever so long, honest it didn't. But they had a lovely lot of Easter eggs, anyhow, ready for the children, and so