THE JACK RABBITS 



In the early spring two babies looking the strongest intention of staying all 



like small balls of soft gray fur hopped night, but perhaps springing up to begin 



about a field where a farmer had begun an elaborate toilet very much like that 



the labor of seedtime. They were very of a cat. 



young, having first seen the world but a He rebelled against being caged at 



few days before, inexperienced and timid: night and as he grew and became strong, 



but curious. They ventured near the would sometimes strike such a blow with 



farmer tilting their long ears forward, his hind legs that the girls lacked the 



bulging out their bright eyes and rapidly courage to pursue the contest and called 



moving their nostrils. What curious upon their elders. 



creature was this? He made a rapid A spoiled and petted darling, he led a 



movement toward them trying to pick life of luxury and mischief, eating many 



one up. They dodged, and laying their things which his ancestors never dreamed 



long ears far back on their shoulders, such as pastry of all kinds, cheese, pre- 



each made his maiden run in a different serves and wall paper — a great delicacy, 



direction. gnawing holes in clothes and nibbling 



One hid and became the smallest pos- the house plants when he thought him- 

 sible ball of gray with a fast beating self unobserved by the much tried house- 

 heart, but otherwise as motionless as wife from whose hand he sometimes re- 

 the sod that aided his concealment, ceived chastisement. At such times he 

 The other, the farmer pursued with un- uttered a piteous cry very much like that 

 relentless energy. In vain he dodged of a hurr^an baby and crept to his darkest 

 and doubled ; a coat descended upon him corner to bound out and repeat his act 

 at the right moment and the farmer, of mischief as soon as her back was 

 breathless but triumphant, bore him away turned. 



to make his future home with a large Thus he grew to be a large and beau- 

 family of noisy children. tiful jack rabbit and as autumn ap- 



He rapidly became accustomed to his proached, the fur next his skin took on 



changed manner of living, drank milk a whitish look showing that by winter 



from a saucer after carefully examining his coat would be as colorless as the 



it on all sides, sorted out his favorite snow. 



vegetation from the bunches of green From the first, the dog was his avowed 



the children brought him and lay hidden enemy. Whenever he appeared in sight, 



in some safe corner during the day. the rabbit bounded to some one's pro- 



At evening, his natural time for frolic, tecting arms. One day when romping in 



he would come out and romp with the the yard he strayed too far from his 



children, seeming to enjoy being chased protectors and the children, seeing the 



about the room, hopping under or leap- dog and realizing his danger, uttered the 



ing over the furniture, or hiding in un- cries that precipitated it. The dog, tak- 



thought of nooks and jumping out sud- ing it to be a command, gave chase and 



denly. It was certainly not because he shook their pet to death before their 



feared them for often if one gave up the horror stricken faces. 



chase and sat down he would bound to That evening they buried him in a box 



her lap, softly lick her hands or turning lined with autumn leaves, and wet with 



round and round a great many times, many childish tears, 



scratch her dress rapidly with his fore The other rabbit was claimed by his 



paws and bite it savagely with his sharp parents after his mate was carried away, 



little teeth, as though making a nest in Being fortunate enough to be in charge 



the wild grass, then nestle down as with of those who better understood the re- 



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