E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor, David King, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made
available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)



Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
      file which includes the original lovely illustrations.
      See 65568-h.htm or 65568-h.zip:
      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/65568/65568-h/65568-h.htm)
      or
      (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/65568/65568-h.zip)


      Images of the original pages are available through
      Internet Archive. See
      https://archive.org/details/runawaybunny00smit





THE RUNAWAY BUNNY


      *      *      *      *      *      *

Books by LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH


    Bear and Bunny Book, The
    Bunny Boy and Grizzly Bear
    Bunny Bright Eyes
    Bunny Cotton-Tail Junior
    Candy-Shop Cotton-Tails, The
    Children’s Favorite Stories
    Circus Book, The
    Circus Cotton-Tails, The
    Cotton-Tail First Reader, The
    Cotton-Tail Primer, The
    Cotton-Tails in Toyland, The
    Drills and Plays for Patriotic Days
    Games and Plays
    Hawk-Eye, An Indian Story Reader
    Language Lessons from Every Land
    Little Bear
    Little Eskimo
    Merry Little Cotton-Tails, The
    Mother Goose Stories
    Primary Song Book
    Roly-Poly Book, The
    Runaway Bunny, The
    Seventeen Little Bears
    Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes
    Tale of Bunny Cotton-Tail, The
    Three Little Cotton-Tails

    Published by
    A. FLANAGAN COMPANY
    CHICAGO

      *      *      *      *      *      *


THE RUNAWAY BUNNY

by

LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH

Illustrated by Dorothy Dulin






1923
A. Flanagan Company
Chicago

Copyright, 1923, by A. Flanagan Company.

Printed in the United States of America




                                CONTENTS


Chapter I

TIME TO RUN AWAY 7


Chapter II

THE HUNGRY RABBIT 20


Chapter III

A LOAD OF EASTER EGGS 35


Chapter IV

MOTHER BUN’S VISITORS 48


Chapter V

THE ANIMALS’ FOURTH OF JULY 58


Chapter VI

THE COUNTY FAIR 66


Chapter VII

THE BUNNY SCHOOL 77


Chapter VIII

THE TELL-THE-TIME RABBIT 88


Chapter IX

THE THANKSGIVING DINNER 101


Chapter X

CHRISTMAS AT MOTHER BUN’S 112




[Illustration: “A very old Rabbit peeped out” (Page 35)]




                               Chapter I
                            TIME TO RUN AWAY


                 The Runaway Rabbit has formed the habit
                   Of running away, I see.
                 Oh, Runaway Rabbit, please form the habit
                   Of staying awhile with me.


The Runaway Rabbit sat on the doorstep of his own little house, saying,
“By my cottontail, it is time for me to run away!”

He took out his little brown traveling bag and packed it full.

[Illustration: “Packed it full”]

He was in such a hurry to run away that he did not even stop to clear
off his breakfast table. He did not even stop to wind his clock or lock
his front door!

Hippety-hop, lippety-lop, he went down the path, carrying his little
brown traveling bag.

“Where are you going?” asked the Whistling Wind.

“Where are you going?” asked the Smiling Sun.

To them both, the Runaway Bunny replied:

                   “Oho! I’m happy to have such fun;
                   It’s such a pleasure to run and run!”

He did not tell anyone where he was going. Many years ago he had made up
his mind that some day he would run away and visit his grandparents.

Now wasn’t it funny? At this very minute Old Mother Bun was saying:

                   “My old legs get so stiff; it’s funny!
                   I wish I had a little Bunny!”

She wanted a little Bunny to travel up and down the cellar stairs for
her.

At this very minute Old Father Bun was saying:

                        “I would pay a mint of money
                        If I had a visiting Bunny!”

He wanted a little Rabbit to bring in wood and water.

[Illustration: “Took out her field glasses”]

Suddenly, without any warning whatever, Old Mother Bun took out her
field glasses. And as she looked out of the window she remarked, “I
think I see a little figure away over in the field coming this way very
fast!”

Old Father Bun put his long ears close to the window to listen.

He had wonderful hearing, and he said, “I think I hear the far-off
patter, patter, patter of little feet. Some one is coming. He should be
here in five minutes.”

[Illustration: “Father Bun took out his watch”]

Father Bun took out his watch and kept looking at it, while he went
outdoors to wait. He had not long to wait, for the Runaway Bunny soon
came in sight. He cried:

              “I’m the Runaway Bunny. I’ve come all the way
              To say, ‘How do you do?’ and wish you good day.”

He set down his traveling bag and kissed his grandparents.

Old Mother Bun said, “You are our own dear grandson.”

Father Bun said, “Come right inside, my dear.”

The Runaway Bunny was glad to sit down by the kitchen stove and eat
cookies as fast as Old Mother Bun took them out of the oven.

Now he had heard the old Rabbits wishing before he had entered the
house. So he went pitter, patter, clitter, clatter, down to the cellar
and brought up a great green cabbage. He put it into a chopping bowl and
chopped it up for dinner.

Then he went pitter, patter, clitter, clatter, down to the cellar and
brought up many other good things.

Old Mother Bun said:

                   “You are such a little treasure,
                   To keep you here will be a pleasure.”

[Illustration: “The Runaway Bunny winked one eye”]

At this the Runaway Bunny winked one eye; for he never stayed anywhere
very long.

He had formed the habit of running away.

He next went with a hop and a skip and a bound, and brought in wood and
water.

Old Father Bun was delighted. He said:

                 “I swear, by my long and floppy ears,
                 I will keep you here for years and years!”

[Illustration: “Opened his traveling bag”]

The Runaway Bunny looked cross-eyed; but he had a merry time all day.

He said, “Grandmother Bun, what a fine pantry you have!” and
“Grandfather Bun, what a fine garden you have! Will you take me riding
in your wheelbarrow?”

When evening came he and his grandparents popped corn. And when it was
bedtime the Runaway Bunny opened his traveling bag and brought out a
brand new nightcap for Old Mother Bun and a brand new pipe for Old
Father Bun.

They said:

               “We love you so, we’ll keep you, honey.
               Please say you’ll live with us, little Bunny.”

The Runaway Bunny coughed politely and took his little brown traveling
bag and went pitter, patter, clitter, clatter, upstairs.

He put on his little white nightcap and night robe.

[Illustration: “Tucked him up snug and warm”]

Old Mother Bun tucked him up snug and warm in bed, and Old Father Bun
sang:

                   “Tra, la, la, la! To sing’s a habit.
                   Pleasant dreams, dear little Rabbit!”

When the little fellow was asleep, Old Mother Bun said:

                   “I hope he will stay a year and a day,
                   I think he forgot about running away.”

Old Father Bun remarked:

             “If he stays through one night, all will be well,
             But in Rabbit Land you never can tell.”

In the morning the Runaway Bunny was gone!

He left his little brown traveling bag, so it looked as though he
intended to come back some time. He also left a polite note to thank his
grandparents for their kindness.

                  *       *       *       *       *

                   Now if you really want to know
                   Where the Runaway Bunny will go,
                   Just take this book and read and read;
                   You’ll have a lively time, indeed!

[Illustration: The Bunny]




                               Chapter II
                           THE HUNGRY RABBIT


                    The Runaway Bunny went hippety-hop;
                      He was hungry as could be.
                    Oh, Runaway Bunny, will you stop
                      And take a bite with me?


The Runaway Bunny took out his little toy watch and looked at it. And,
though he could not tell time, he said, “My fur and cottontail! It seems
to be time for something to eat.”

He decided to ask the first animal he met for some breakfast.

He went hopping and skipping along until he met Pit-A-Pat, the Cat. He
told her how very hungry he was.

[Illustration: “Told her how very hungry he was”]

She said, “Come home with me and I’ll give you a saucer of milk.”

The Runaway Bunny replied:

              “I don’t drink milk, though you think it funny;
              I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

Then he whispered to Pit-A-Pat that he wished he had stopped for Old
Mother Bun’s breakfast, and he went hopping down the path.

Pit-A-Pat remarked, “I ought to have asked who Mother Bun is. I might
want to know some day.”

My, how hungry the Runaway Bunny was! By and by he met Rough Coat, the
old tramp dog, and asked him for a tiny bite of breakfast.

[Illustration: “By and by he met Rough Coat”]

Rough Coat said, “If you come with me I will give you a fine bone I
buried last week.”

The Runaway Bunny bowed politely and said:

               “I can’t eat bones, though you think it funny;
               I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

“What are you running away for?” asked Rough Coat.

But the little fellow was in too much of a hurry to stop to answer him.
He could not forget how hungry he was.

He sang:

                    “The Runaway Bunny is sad, you see,
                    For he is hungry as he can be.”

A wise old owl in the tree overhead, who said his name was Who-Who,
offered the Rabbit a juicy bat.

But the Runaway Bunny replied:

               “I can’t eat bats, though you think it funny;
               I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

He went on hippety-hop, hippety-hop, until he met Old Brother Bear, who
offered him a taste of honey.

Now Old Brother Bear loved honey. So he was relieved when the Runaway
Bunny replied:

               “I can’t eat honey, though you think it funny;
               I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

He went on his way, singing about Old Mother Bun’s coffee and rolls and
doughnuts.

He sang:

          “Oh, the best things to eat for a Bunny on the run
          Are the rolls and the doughnuts of our Grandmother Bun.”

Next he met Foxy-Lox, that sly old fellow! The Runaway Bunny fairly
shouted:

                “My fur and whiskers! I have to shout,
                I’m so hungry I don’t know what I’m about.”

Foxy-Lox crept up very, very close and whispered in the Runaway Bunny’s
right ear:

                  “Hungry for carrots and everything nice,
                  I can supply you in just a trice.”

Then Foxy-Lox, that crafty old fellow, crept up and whispered in the
Runaway Bunny’s left ear:

                “Hungry for cabbage and vegetables green,
                You’re the hungriest Bunny I’ve ever seen.”

No wonder the Runaway Bunny was hungry. No breakfast, no dinner, no
supper!

Foxy-Lox said:

                     “Come with me into my den,
                     My children are little gentlemen.”

The Runaway Bunny followed him, muttering:

                  “At the home of good Old Mother Bun,
                  There are plenty of meals for everyone.”

They went along until they came to the den.

There was a table set with carrots and cabbage and tender green
spring-flower shoots and everything else, in fact, that a hungry Bunny
would like to eat.

[Illustration: “Waiting their turn to be served”]

Sure enough, the six little Foxy-Loxies sat like little gentlemen round
the table, waiting their turn to be served.

Old Foxy-Lox invited the Runaway Bunny to eat a good square meal.

Nodding his head in the direction of the visitor, he whispered to his
little Foxes:

                     “You will make a meal, ’tis true,
                     Then we’ll make a meal of you!”

The Runaway Bunny had sharp ears. He began to twitch them nervously to
and fro.

He could not hear what Old Foxy-Lox was whispering about. But he thought
the old fellow was up to some mischief. So he said:

              “I won’t eat cabbage, though you think it funny;
              I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

Then he looked at the carrots and said:

              “I won’t eat carrots, though you think it funny;
              I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

Then he waved his paw toward the table of tempting things.

And he shouted:

              “I won’t eat at all, though you think it funny;
              I am a peculiar Runaway Bunny.”

Then he gave one bound and was out of the den before Foxy-Lox could wink
an eyelash.

His talkative little ticking Watch made this remark:

                  “We don’t care how hard the climb;
                  Friend Bunny, you got out just in time!”

The Runaway Bunny was thinking hard again, “No breakfast, no dinner, no
supper!” He sat down on a log to think.

Pitter, patter, clitter, clatter, came the sound of two little feet. And
another Bunny stood in the path before him.

This new friend now said:

                “I went to the side show and took in money,
                So you may call me a wee Circus Bunny.”

[Illustration: “Then he stood on his head”]

Then he stood on his head and did several circus tricks, as cunning as
could be. At any other time the Runaway Bunny would have laughed. But he
only said mournfully:

                  “The world is large, the world is wide,
                  And I am empty quite—inside!”

The Circus Bunny said:

                  “We’re very near a garden plot,
                  We shall find a good meal, like as not.”

[Illustration: “They had a fine meal”]

They went hippety-hop until they came to the garden. Here they ate the
tops of some early spring flowers and some bits of tender lettuce. They
had a fine meal before they were through with it. The Circus Bunny said:

            “Let’s live in the garden a night and a day.
            There’s plenty of lettuce; come, what do you say?”

            But the Runaway Bunny was off with a hop,
            With his ears and his tail going flippety-flop.
            The surprised Circus Bunny remarked, “That is funny!
            That rabbit is surely the Runaway Bunny.”




                              Chapter III
                         A LOAD OF EASTER EGGS


As the Runaway Bunny hopped along, it began to rain very hard.

He heard a voice singing:

                     “I like the thunderstorm and rain;
                     Just why I do I can’t explain.”

The voice came from a wee house in the woods. The Runaway Bunny stopped
and knocked politely at the door.

His little heart went thump, for he did not know what he should find
inside.

The door opened a little and a very old Rabbit peeped out and said:

                    “I am Old Mother Give-Away;
                    And now, sir, what have you to say?”

The Runaway Bunny hung his head, for he had never been generous enough
to give away anything in all his life. But as the rain was falling fast,
he wanted to go in and dry his fur and whiskers.

So he said:

                    “May I do any errands for you today?
                    I like to travel away, away.”

In answer to this, the door was opened wide and he hopped inside.

My, what a wonderful sight he saw!

There were Easter eggs on the table and Easter eggs on the floor, Easter
eggs on the window-sill and Easter eggs in baskets! They were painted in
gay colors—red, blue, and gold.

Old Mother Give-Away said:

                 “A messenger I thought I’d borrow;
                 You may help me take the eggs to-morrow.”

[Illustration: “Painting piles and piles of Easter eggs”]

Then she told him how she and Father Give-Away had spent many days
painting piles and piles of Easter eggs.

She said she wanted every Rabbit in the world to have an Easter egg on
Easter morning. She wanted the eggs well hidden, so it would be fun to
hunt for them.

[Illustration: “Splashing the colors upon them”]

She went on painting the eggs, dashing and splashing the colors upon
them. The Runaway Bunny planned where he would hide the Easter eggs in
every wee house he visited.

He thought he would put them back of books and in vases and back of
clocks and in cups and bowls and baskets. There are so many good places
to hide wee Easter eggs.

By and by the two Bunnies curled up on the rug and fell asleep.

Very early next day the Runaway Bunny woke up.

He said:

                  “May I start with the Easter eggs today?
                  Please let me go, Mother Give-Away.”

To his surprise Old Mother Give-Away answered, as though she were half
asleep:

                 “Speak to the Rubbers on the floor;
                 They’ve heard that question asked before.”

The Runaway Bunny laughed and slipped four little Rubbers on his four
little feet to keep them dry, this misty, moisty morning.

Then he asked again:

                 “May I start with the Easter eggs to-day?
                 Please let me go, Mother Give-Away.”

Then the Rubbers piped up to answer him:

                       “Ask the Umbrella in the hall;
                       It may not answer you at all.”

[Illustration: “The Umbrella was in a very good humor”]

The Umbrella was in a very good humor and, as the Runaway Bunny opened
it, said:

                     “Ask the Raincoat what he will say
                     About going out on a rainy day!”

The Runaway Bunny chuckled as he slipped on the Raincoat that hung on a
nail.

He asked as before:

                 “May I start with the Easter eggs to-day?
                 Please let me go, Mother Give-Away.”

The Raincoat replied:

                  “Ask the Rain Cap; perhaps he’ll explain
                  Why we’re happy when we hear the rain.”

The Runaway Bunny knew they were happy to get out in the rain. But he
asked again:

                 “May I start with the Easter eggs to-day?
                 Please let me go, Mother Give-Away.”

The Rain Cap replied:

                 “Ask the Wheelbarrow, for he knows
                 The home into which each Easter egg goes.”

Then the Runaway Bunny ran out into the yard and said to the
Wheelbarrow:

                 “Let’s start with the Easter eggs to-day;
                 Come, Mr. Wheelbarrow, what do you say?”

And the Wheelbarrow said, “I am ready to start this very minute.”

[Illustration: “About 246 Easter eggs in the Wheelbarrow”]

Then Mother Give-Away came out and helped the Runaway Bunny pile about
246 Easter eggs in the Wheelbarrow. She covered them well to keep them
dry.

The Runaway Bunny remarked:

                “Now I should call this perfect fun,
                If I’d had breakfast with Grandmother Bun.”

“Who is Grandmother Bun?” asked Old Mother Give-Away.

The wind whistled so hard that the Runaway Bunny did not hear the
question. But he went rolling the Wheelbarrow merrily along, singing:

                 “Perhaps you may think it very funny
                 That I should be called an Easter Bunny.”

[Illustration: “He left eggs at every Rabbit house”]

He left eggs at every Rabbit house he passed, and by and by the
Wheel-barrow was empty.

He left it in the road and went hippety-hop along, singing:

                    “I wish you all a glad Easter Day.
                    I’m running away! I’m running away!”




                               Chapter IV
                         MOTHER BUN’S VISITORS


                 Said Mother Bun, “You may think it funny,
                 But I miss my little Runaway Bunny.”

Old Father Bun thought a long time before speaking.

                  Then said Father Bun, “Would it be wise,
                  In all the papers to advertise?”

Old Father and Mother Bun talked on about the Runaway Bunny, saying:

                     “In every newspaper in the wood
                     We’ll advertise. It may do good.”

So Old Father Bun sat down by a table and said:

                 “By my stubby tail, I shall have to think
                 How to use paper and pen and ink.”

He was not used to doing much writing.

“Click, click, click,” went Old Mother Bun’s knitting needles.

“Puff, puff, puff,” went Old Father Bun’s pipe.

By and by he wrote the following:

                     “Rabbit lost, Rabbit lost!
                     Get him back at any cost.
                     He runs away o’er hill and dale,
                     He has long ears and stubby tail.”

Old Mother Bun said:

                       “I would nail that on a tree,
                       Where every animal can see.”

Old Father Bun did not agree with her. He knew it paid to advertise in
newspapers. So he put on his old felt hat, took his walking stick, and
started out to a real newspaper office. He took his notice to
Chatterbox, the Monkey newspaper man. So all the animals soon read in
their newspapers about the Runaway Bunny.

[Illustration: “He took his notice to Chatterbox”]

When Pit-A-Pat read the notice, she smacked her lips and said:

                    “Here is a chance to have some fun,
                    I’ll make a call on Old Mother Bun.”

So by and by it happened that Old Father Bun said, “I hear the patter,
patter of little feet.”

Old Mother Bun said, “Do look out and tell me who is coming.”

Pit-A-Pat came to the door and bowed politely, saying:

                 “I long for milk. May I have a drink?
                 I can help you find the Rabbit, I think.”

[Illustration: “Gave her a saucer of warm milk”]

They gladly let Pit-A-Pat in and gave her a saucer of warm milk in their
best blue-rimmed saucer.

While she was licking her chops, Old Father Bun said:

                   “To inquire of you seems rather funny,
                   But did you meet our Runaway Bunny?”

Old Mother Bun said:

                 “To call him Bunny we’ve formed the habit,
                 He is also known as the Runaway Rabbit.”

“Did he have long ears?” asked Pit-A-Pat, winking slyly. “Did he have a
tiny stubby tail?”

“Yes, yes,” shouted Father and Mother Bun eagerly.

“Did he have a habit of running away?” asked Pit-A-Pat, looking narrowly
out of her green eyes.

“Yes, yes,” shouted Old Father and Mother Bun again together.

Then the most astonishing thing happened!

Pit-A-Pat got up slowly, humped her back, and without another word
walked out of the open window!

Old Mother Bun remarked:

                  “No use to cry for spilled milk, I see:
                  Pit-A-Pat played a trick on me.”

Old Father Bun said:

                   “I think her actions are very funny.
                   She must have met our Runaway Bunny.”

“Rap-a-tap-tap,” sounded on the door.

And in walked Rough Coat, saying politely:

               “I’m a lonesome fellow; I live alone.
               Could you give me as much as a chicken bone?”

As luck would have it, they had a whole plate full of chicken bones in
the house. So Rough Coat had a wonderful meal.

Old Father Bun said, “Did you meet our Runaway Bunny?”

Rough Coat said, “Did he run as though he would never stop?”

“Yes, yes,” cried Father Bun excitedly.

“Did he sometimes say, ‘My fur and whiskers’?” asked Rough Coat.

“Yes, yes,” cried Father and Mother Bun together.

Rough Coat gave himself a great shake, remarking:

                    “I enjoyed my lunch, I do declare;
                    Ask your questions of Brother Bear.”

[Illustration: “Whisk! with a bound he was gone!”]

Whisk! with a bound he was gone!

Father Bun said:

               “We’ll have other visitors some fine day,
               No telling, though, what our guests will say.”

At this very minute the Runaway Bunny read in the newspaper about
himself.

He read, “‘Bunny lost.’ That must be I.”

He twitched his long ears to and fro and turned to look back at his
little stubby tail.

He did not want to go back and visit his grandparents yet. So he started
on, saying:

                 “I won’t stay still for a purse of money,
                 I am such a funny Runaway Bunny!”




                               Chapter V
                      THE ANIMALS’ FOURTH OF JULY


                  “We’ll have fun and frolic by and by,
                  For soon will come the Fourth of July.”

So sang all the wild animals in the woods.

The Runaway Bunny ran on and on until he could run no longer. Then he
set up a shout, for he had been traveling in a circle, and here he was
back at his own little house in the woods!

There was his wee spinning wheel in the corner. There were his dishes on
the table as he had left them.

[Illustration: “Then he began to spin furiously”]

He hopped into his wee bed and slept a week and a day. Then he went down
cellar and got a cabbage to eat. He felt very happy. He wanted to work.
Then he began to spin furiously, singing:

                 “I can spin quite well if I only try,
                 I will buy a flag for the Fourth of July.”

“Rap-a-tap,” sounded on his door and in walked Pit-A-Pat, big as life
and twice as natural! She told the story about her little kittens who
had lost their mittens. The Runaway Bunny listened earnestly, for he had
known what it was to be cold.

                “When I sell the goods I spin,” said Bunny,
                “For mittens I’ll give you a pile of money.”

Pit-A-Pat bowed her thanks and the Runaway Bunny began to spin again in
real earnest, saying:

              “I can spin quite well if I only try,
              “I’ll buy firecrackers for the Fourth of July.”

“Bowwow,” sounded outside the window.

[Illustration: “There stood Rough Coat, growling”]

There stood Rough Coat, growling, “I need a new collar. I want one with
my name and address upon it, so if I get lost some one can lead me
home.”

The Runaway Bunny knew how hard it was to want things. So he whistled,
and sang:

                  “When I sell the goods I spin to-morrow,
                  I shall have money for all to borrow.”

Rough Coat went away happy.

“Whir, whir, whir,” went the cunning little spinning wheel.

All day long the Runaway Bunny kept on spinning and telling what he
wanted to buy for himself with the money, after his goods were sold.

All day long the animals came and begged him for money.

At last he ran to the store and sold the cloth he had spun. When he had
given the animals the money they wanted, he said:

                 “I’m a Runaway Bunny and here I sigh,
                 I’ve nothing left for the Fourth of July.”

“No flag, no firecrackers, no fireworks,” called Old Who-Who, the Owl.

The Runaway Bunny dried his eyes, for he was so disappointed he had shed
a few tears. And he said:

                    “As long as I can make a rhyme,
                    I’ll run away and have a good time.”

[Illustration: “Pit-A-Pat came with a large flag”]

He was just starting to run away when there was a great noise and
Pit-A-Pat came with a large flag as a present, and Rough Coat brought
firecrackers. Soon all the animals gathered together for a surprise
party and they set off fireworks and drank red lemonade.

They all had a happy Fourth of July.

The Three Little Kittens wore their new mittens and Rough Coat wore a
new collar. All the animals hugged and kissed the Runaway Bunny and
begged him to stay with them in the woods.

Suddenly, without any warning whatever, he took his flag and, singing a
song to himself, went hippety-hop down the road.

He sang:

                  “The Fourth of July is a holiday;
                  And I’m running away, I’m running away!”

All the animals clapped their paws and cried:

                 “Please stay with us and forget the habit
                 Of running away, dear Runaway Rabbit!”




                               Chapter VI
                            THE COUNTY FAIR


The Runaway Bunny went hopping along, singing:

              “When I am lonesome I’m always singing
              Of a jolly old kite that used to fly
              At the end of the string I was often swinging,
              And I said to old earth, ‘Good-bye, good-bye!’”

“Good-bye, good-bye,” called a merry voice; and there in the path before
the Runaway Bunny stood the Circus Bunny.

The Circus Bunny said:

                “I’ll run along with you, if you don’t care;
                I’m off for a trip to the county fair.”

“To whom were you saying good-bye?” asked the Runaway Bunny.

“I will answer that question when you tell me about the wonderful ride
you had with the kite,” answered the Circus Bunny.

But the Runaway Bunny had already forgotten about the kite and could
think of nothing but the fair. He was delighted to have company on the
way; and he remarked:

                 “What shall we do when we get to the fair
                 And find all the animals gathered there?”

The Circus Bunny replied:

                 “Your question to me seems rather funny;
                 We shall hire a tent and make some money.”

What a fine trip they had!

Everyone was going to the fair. Some of the animals were going on foot
and some were going on horseback. Some of them rode in state in cars.
Some of the animals traveled alone and others took the whole family.

The Runaway Bunny said to everyone he passed:

                 “I’m off to the fair. Good day, good day!
                 I’m running away, I’m running away.”

The Circus Bunny kept saying a little rhyme over and over:

                 “Will you spend a penny and form the habit
                 Of calling to see the Circus Rabbit?”

They arrived at the fair. But just as they were going to set up a wee
tent of their own and make money for themselves, some one picked them up
by their long ears and put them in a wire cage.

[Illustration: “Picked them up by their long ears”]

The Circus Bunny whispered:

                   “Well, this is a pretty how-do-you-do!
                   I don’t know how to get out. Do you?”

The Runaway Bunny answered:

                     “I really haven’t a word to say,
                     This may cure me of running away!”

By and by a man came and called out:

                “Performing Rabbits! Step this way!
                Hear what the Bunnies have to say;
                Their tricks are funny, and each small Bunny
                Is well worth all your admission money.”

Now crowds and crowds gathered around the cage. The Circus Bunny stood
on his head and turned somersaults and said:

                 “Will you spend a penny and form the habit
                 Of calling to see the Circus Rabbit?”

All the animals in the crowd cheered and clapped, and cried, “Do it
again! Do it again!”

By and by the Circus Bunny grew tired of performing his tricks, and it
was the Runaway Bunny’s turn to entertain the crowd.

He had never done a trick in all his life and was wondering what to do,
when the Circus Bunny reminded him:

                   “You were singing a very comical song,
                   As I was coming along, along.”

So the Runaway Bunny sang:

              “When I am lonesome I’m always singing
              Of a jolly old kite that used to fly
              At the end of the string I was often swinging,
              And I said to old earth, ‘Good-bye, good-bye!’”

[Illustration: “Up, up, up he began to sail”]

At this very minute the most surprising thing happened!

The Runaway Bunny was so little that he squeezed out through the wires
in the cage door! He took hold of the string of a kite that was near,
and up, up, up he began to sail, higher and higher, until he soon looked
like a speck in the sky.

“Well,” remarked the Circus Bunny, “it was certainly fortunate that the
jolly old kite was waiting for him. That is a new way he has found of
running away. I believe I will squeeze out of this cage, too.”

So while the crowd was watching the Runaway Bunny, he tried to get out
of the cage. But he stuck halfway, until kind-hearted Old Mother Bun
pulled him out and tucked him safely in her market basket.

Old Father Bun said, “What is in your basket?”

Old Mother Bun said, “I will tell you when we get home.”

Up, up, up sailed the Runaway Bunny.

When he had sailed up a week and a day, down, down sailed the kite and
he arrived in his own little back yard, at home.

He said, “I shall have a fine kite story to tell my
great-great-grand-children some day. That was a fine ride I had!”

Then he repeated in a singsong way:

              “When I am lonesome I’m always singing
              Of a jolly old kite that used to fly
              At the end of the string I was often swinging,
              And I said to old earth, ‘Good-bye, good-bye!’”

He made himself a nice little supper and for once was contented to sit
in his wee house. But that night he dreamed that he was running away,
singing:

                   “For a county fair I do not care,
                   I can run away from anywhere,
                   Wherever I go this thing I say,
                   ‘I’m running away! I’m running away!’”




                              Chapter VII
                            THE BUNNY SCHOOL


The summer had passed and September had come. All the school bells were
ringing.

The Runaway Bunny said:

                    “There is one thing I can remember,
                    School begins in glad September.”

[Illustration: “Went hippety-hop down the path”]

He packed his neat little dinner pail and went hippety-hop down the
path, singing happy little songs like this:

                     The Runaway Bunny, as a rule,
                       Likes to run away,
                     The Runaway Bunny said, “To school
                       I go this September day.
                     “I don’t know the words,
                       I don’t know the tune.
                     I’m the Runaway Bunny;
                       I’ll get to school soon.”

“Don’t be so sure of that,” called Pit-A-Pat.

“Don’t be so sure you’ll get there soon,” said Rough Coat.

“You may not get there until afternoon,” growled Old Brother Bear.

                 “I never before have made a rhyme,
                 But I think you’ll not get there on time!”

whispered Old Foxy-Lox, peering at the Runaway Bunny from his hiding
place.

The school bells all sang:

                        “Come to school. Ding, dong!
                        Don’t be late. Run along!”

At this very minute the Runaway Bunny thought of something he had
forgotten.

He stopped short in the path, saying:

                  “I’ll hide my dinner pail in the wood
                  And get me a pencil as a rabbit should!”

He put his dinner pail down by a log and went hurrying home to get a
lead pencil. Soon he came back hippety-hop with his pencil in his
overalls pocket.

He stopped to look for his dinner pail. It was gone!

He shouted to Pit-A-Pat, who had gone on ahead:

                  “To get to school I will not fail,
                  But where, oh where is my dinner pail?”

Pit-A-Pat said she knew nothing about the lost dinner pail.

Soon the Runaway Bunny caught up with Rough Coat and said:

                     “It makes me shake my stubby tail
                     To think I lost my dinner pail.”

[Illustration: “Brother Bear came up and whispered softly”]

Then Brother Bear came up and whispered softly:

                       “Ask Foxy-Lox down in his den,
                       And his little gentlemen!”

The Runaway Bunny was very angry to think Foxy-Lox would take his dinner
pail. He wanted to go to Foxy-Lox’s house and get it back.

But Old Brother Bear said:

                     “I’d rather lose a pail or two
                     Than have him make a meal of you!”

The Runaway Bunny saw that Brother Bear was right. It would never do to
go to Foxy-Lox’s house for his dinner pail. Besides, that sly fox would
never give it back.

So the Runaway Bunny ran on to school and got there just two minutes
late.

[Illustration: “All the Bunnies were in their seats”]

All the Bunnies were in their seats, ready for work. The Runaway Bunny
took his seat and began to learn a rhyme the rest were studying.

He said it over to himself:

                     “September’s here to visit us,
                       In gold and russet gown;
                     And we’ve been busy Bunnies since
                       September’s come to town.”

The Runaway Bunny was a smart little fellow. He liked to learn his
ABC’s.

He learned to read very well and he went to school sixteen days in
September.

Then one bright afternoon he heard the birds singing:

                  “Good-bye, good-bye! To the South we go;
                  Autumn is coming, and winter with snow.”

He wished he could fly like his feathered friends.

Suddenly he remembered how fast he could run.

He did not wait for the close of school but went hippety-hop out of the
window, singing:

                 “Long ago I formed the habit
                 Of running away. I’m the Runaway Rabbit.”

He stayed in the woods all the rest of September.

[Illustration: “Learned the names of the flowers”]

From Old Brother Bear he learned the names of all the fall fruits and
flowers.

Suddenly he decided to go to town; and he left the wild woods, singing:

               “The Runaway Bunny was made for play,
               I’m running away! I’m running away!
               Soon comes November, but still I’ll remember
               The things I have learned in happy September.”

The Runaway Bunny was running away toward town.

[Illustration: The Bunny.]




                              Chapter VIII
                        THE TELL-THE-TIME RABBIT


               The Runaway Bunny could talk in rhyme,
               But for years and years he couldn’t tell time.

One day the Runaway Bunny woke up in his own little house and sang:

                   “It is such a pleasant autumn day,
                   I’m really thinking of running away.”

He put on his Wrist Watch for company, though he could not tell time to
save his little stubby tail!

He was going hippety-hop along when he met Old Brother Bear. The Bear
passed the time of day, but seemed to be in a terrible hurry and
growled:

                  “What is the real time? I fear I’m late,
                  But I must get there, at any rate!”

“Where are you going?” inquired the Runaway Bunny.

But Old Brother Bear only hurried on.

Next Foxy-Lox came along and chattered:

                   “What is the real time? I cannot wait,
                   But I must get there, at any rate!”

“Where are you going?” asked the Runaway Bunny.

But Foxy-Lox had no time to answer him, and went hurrying down the path
without even a backward glance.

The Runaway Bunny said to himself:

                  “To tell the time’s a convenient habit,
                  For even a funny Runaway Rabbit.”

“Tick, tick, tick,” went the little Wrist Watch and it sang:

                “To talk a little is my turn,
                I’ll teach the time, if you want to learn.”

[Illustration: “The Runaway Bunny was surprised”]

The Runaway Bunny was surprised, you may be sure, and put his ear down
close to the little watch to listen.

The little Wrist Watch continued:

                  “To learn some things is in your power,
                  The short hand tells us all the hour.”

The Runaway Bunny skipped this way and that way, and sang:

                “’Tis more fun making a simple rhyme,
                With a little Wrist Watch to tell the time.”

The little Wrist Watch continued:

                 “Let’s run a race. Come, who will win it?
                 My long hand tells you of each minute.”

Then the Runaway Bunny ran on faster than ever and the tiny hands of the
Wrist Watch ran round its face. Before he could believe it, the Runaway
Bunny was learning to tell time.

He shouted:

                   “A quarter of eight! I won’t be late;
                   I’ve learned a little, at any rate.”

He learned half past and a quarter past and a quarter of the hours.

He sang merrily:

                    “Over this garden fence I’ll climb;
                    I know it is my breakfast time.”

He sat down and began to eat cabbage leaves. My! how fresh and crisp
they were!

He began to wonder about the animals he had met. He wondered where they
could be going. Don’t you wonder, too?

All this time Old Brother Bear was on his way to the home of Father and
Mother Bun. When he came in, those two old Bunnies were sitting by the
fire.

[Illustration: “Sitting by the fire”]

He took off his cap politely and said:

                     “May I come in and warm my paws?
                     Its freezing cold until it thaws.”

[Illustration: “Gave him a plate of cakes”]

Seeing that Old Brother Bear was friendly, Old Father Bun allowed him to
sit in a rocking chair by the fire. Old Mother Bun gave him a plate of
cakes, smoking hot, with honey on them. Old Mother Bun said:

                  “I hope, kind sir, that you like honey;
                  It makes me think of our Runaway Bunny.”

“Did he have long ears and a tiny tail?” asked Old Brother Bear.

“Yes, yes,” shouted Old Mother Bun.

“Did he carry a little Wrist Watch?” asked Old Brother Bear.

“Yes, yes,” shouted Old Father Bun.

Then Old Brother Bear, who was something of a joker, smacked his lips
and said:

                   “Such fine cakes are worth much money,
                   I also thank you for the honey.”

So saying, he bowed politely and walked out of the door.

Old Mother Bun remarked:

                  “I really think it very funny,
                  He would not talk of the Runaway Bunny.”

Old Father Bun’s head went nid-nid-nodding.

[Illustration: “Up walked Old Foxy-Lox”]

Up walked Old Foxy-Lox, tapping on the window pane.

Foxy-Lox asked for cookies and honey, but Old Mother Bun would not let
him in.

He went off, shouting:

                     “I saw the Runaway Rabbit to-day,
                     And as usual he was running away.”

“Call him back! Call him back!” called Old Father Bun, who had waked up
in time to hear Foxy-Lox shout.

Mother Bun shook her head as she counted her silver spoons, saying:

                 “Though it may seem to you absurd,
                 He sometimes robs good folk, I’ve heard.”

Old Father Bun said:

                “Alackaday! What shall I say?
                Will the Runaway Bunny come back some day?”

While all this was going on, the Runaway Bunny continued to eat as much
cabbage as he wanted.

The little Wrist Watch said to him:

                 “To tell the time is a useful habit;
                 Let’s see you do it, you cunning Rabbit!”

The Runaway Bunny had really learned to tell the time. But he wanted to
tease, so he said:

                    “It is bedtime, bedtime,
                    O’er all the world in every clime.”

Then he curled up in a hole in a hollow tree and went to sleep.

All the time, his little Wrist Watch ticked busily on.

For all who wanted to hear, it sang:

                  “For hours and hours I tick away,
                  A-telling time by night and day.

                  “My long hand always points the minute;
                  And how much good can you do in it?

                  “My short hand always points the hour;
                  To learn it is within your power.

                  “For telling time’s an easy trick
                  If you have learned arithmetic.”

That night the Runaway Rabbit cried out in his sleep:

                 “It is warm in a hollow tree, I declare;
                 It is dream time, dream time everywhere!”




                               Chapter IX
                        THE THANKSGIVING DINNER


[Illustration: “The Market Basket cried out”]

One day late in November, the Runaway Rabbit sang:

                    “To Grandma Bun I’ll hurry away,
                    To help her keep Thanksgiving Day.”

He had gone hippety-hop only a little way when he sat down on a stone to
think.

To his surprise, the Market Basket he carried cried out:

                 “Will you buy a turkey while on your way,
                 For Old Mother Bun’s Thanksgiving Day?”

“Dear me! My fur and whiskers, I never thought about that!” he cried.
“Of course I will—now that you suggest it!”

He rattled the pennies in his little bead purse. He rattled the dimes
and quarters.

He went hippety-hop to the market and said:

               “Will you sell me a turkey of eighteen pounds?
               How very grand that order sounds!”

[Illustration: “Surprised the butcher”]

To see such a little fellow with so much money surprised the butcher.
But he weighed the turkey and it quite filled the Market Basket.

The Runaway Bunny was starting merrily down the road, when the Basket
cried:

                      “Each Thanksgiving people sigh
                      For rich and spicy pumpkin pie.”

The Runaway Bunny saw a nice yellow pumpkin in a field and he managed to
tuck it under his arm.

He arrived home and began to make a pumpkin pie. He measured this,
weighed that, and cut up and cooked the pumpkin.

He baked a wonderful pumpkin pie and was about ready to set out again,
when the Basket cried:

                    “Fine potatoes are a treat
                    On Thanksgiving, if they’re sweet.”

The Runaway Bunny threw his little red cap up in the air, shouting,
“Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes!”

[Illustration: “He pared them and cut them up”]

So, leaving his turkey and pie, he ran hippety-hop to the grocer’s and
bought sweet potatoes and took them home. He pared them and cut them up.
He pared some carrots, too. Then he put them all on to cook.

He sang:

                  “I’m the Runaway Bunny; I talk in rhyme;
                  It is lucky I started out on time.”

The basket spoke again and said:

                “I don’t believe I have heard you say
                If you’ve cranberries for Thanksgiving Day.”

The Runaway Bunny ran quickly for cranberries.

He was back in less than no time, and began to pack his Basket to take
with him to spend the day with Old Mother Bun.

At this very minute “Rap-a-tap!” was heard on the door; and in walked
his old friends, Pit-A-Pat, Rough Coat, Old Brother Bear, and Foxy-Lox.

                Said Foxy-Lox, “Shall we be in the way,
                If we travel with you on Thanksgiving Day?”

Pit-A-Pat began to lick her chops as she smelled the gravy. For the
Runaway Bunny had the dinner all cooked to take with him, of course.

Rough Coat thought of the turkey legs. Old Brother Bear smelled the
sweet potatoes.

Old Foxy-Lox had a long head on him.

So he said:

                “Let’s set the table here just to see
                How fine your Thanksgiving dinner will be.”

The Runaway Bunny switched his ears to and fro. But he let the animals
help him set the table with turkey, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberries,
and pumpkin pie. And every minute he grew more and more hungry himself.

[Illustration: “He grew more and more hungry”]

Foxy-Lox said:

                “Though we do not intend to be impolite,
                Let’s taste to see if the dinner is right.”

The Runaway Bunny enjoyed a joke as well as anyone.

So he said:

                 “I am really amused at what you say;
                 Come, help yourself on Thanksgiving Day!”

Then they all had a fine feast.

The visitors felt a little guilty and whispered among themselves:

                 “We think our conduct is rather shocking,
                 But we will fill his Christmas stocking.”

The Runaway Bunny excused himself, saying he wanted some exercise.

And he sang:

                 “I like to travel; I’ve formed the habit;
                 I am well named the Runaway Rabbit.”

He ran off through the woods away, away, away! Would he never stop?

[Illustration: The Bunny.]




                               Chapter X
                       CHRISTMAS AT MOTHER BUN’S


Old Mother Bun was very busy making Christmas presents and Old Father
Bun was very busy wrapping them up and putting the animals’ names upon
them.

Every once in awhile, Old Mother Bun would say, “Did you remember Old
Father Chipmunk?”

Then Old Father Bun would say, “Did you remember Old Grandfather
Weasel?”

“Click, click, click,” went Old Mother Bun’s knitting needles, as she
knitted scarfs and sweaters and caps for the animals.

One evening Old Father Bun said:

                 “Are the stockings ready to hang? Because
                 It is almost time for Santa Claus.”

[Illustration: “There were three stockings”]

Old Mother Bun got out a big stocking, a little stocking, and a
middle-sized stocking, saying:

              “We’ll hang up three, though it seems so funny;
              We’ll put one up for the Runaway Bunny.”

So there were three stockings hanging by the fireplace. And every hour
it grew nearer and nearer Christmas Eve.

Now wasn’t it odd? At this very minute the Runaway Bunny was saying:

                 “By my stubby tail, at least I remember
                 That Santa Claus comes late in December!”

He looked down the path that led to the woods toward Old Mother Bun’s
home, singing:

                    “Ha, ha! I must be off to-day.
                    I’m running away! I’m running away!”

He ran on happily.

Suddenly he stopped and remembered he had no presents for Old Mother Bun
and Old Father Bun. So back he went hippety-hop, hippety-hop, to his
little house; and up he went into the attic and looked in an old trunk.

[Illustration: “Looked in an old trunk”]

                   “Ha, ha!” he cried. “I call this fun;
                   Here is a pipe for Grandfather Bun.”

Sure enough, there was a brand new pipe in a red velvet case. He looked
down deeper in the trunk and found something else.

                “Ha, ha!” he cried. “Presents for everyone!
                Here are spectacles for Grandmother Bun.”

He put his presents in a little bag and went off hippety-hop, singing:

                 “I hope I shall get there by break of day;
                 I’m running away! I’m running away!”

Sometimes he stopped to rest and cried:

                  “My fur and whiskers! It’s cold as ice!
                  I forgot my mittens, so warm and nice.”

His little sweater did not keep him warm enough.

[Illustration: “He was getting colder every minute”]

His little paws were very cold! His long ears were even colder! He was
getting colder every minute as he went hippety-hop across the snow!

The next minute he jumped into such a deep snowdrift that only his long
ears stuck out. The snow got into his nose and eyes until he could
scarcely breathe. He tried to wriggle out, but the drift held him fast.

Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle went some sleigh bells. And a funny old man,
dressed in fur from top to toe and carrying a big pack on his back, came
riding along.

He was singing:

                     “I carry presents, as is my habit,
                     Aha! I think I see a rabbit.”

He got out of his sleigh and waded into the snowdrift from which the
Bunny’s ears stuck out.

[Illustration: “Pulled the Runaway Bunny out”]

Then he pulled the Runaway Bunny out by the ears.

The Runaway Bunny shook the snow from his fur and looked at the funny
old man.

“Why, it’s Santa Claus!” shouted that surprised Bunny. “Hurrah!”

“Tut, tut! This is no time of night for little Bunnies to be out in the
cold!” cried Santa Claus. “Come with me and you shall ride in my pack,
where you will be warm and dry.”

So the Runaway Bunny jumped into Santa’s pack and almost buried himself
among the toys. Then he rode away, singing:

                     “It’s fun to go in Santa’s sleigh,
                     I’m riding away! I’m riding away!”

They slid down many chimneys and climbed over many roofs. Then away they
rode until by and by they came to the home of Father and Mother Bun.
They peeped in at the window. There sat old Father and Mother Bun fast
asleep in their armchairs.

[Illustration: “Crept down the chimney”]

As Santa Claus crept down the chimney, he whispered to the Runaway
Bunny, “You may help me, little Bunny. You may trim the stockings with
holly.”

So he took a bunch of holly from his pack and the Runaway Bunny fastened
sprays of it on the stockings.

Then Santa whispered:

                 “Curl up in a stocking and go to sleep;
                 Be still as a mouse, and don’t you peep!”

So the Runaway Bunny took off his little sweater, so that he would not
be too hot in the warm stocking. Then Santa tucked him into Old Mother
Bun’s stocking. He put her presents on the floor. Then he filled Old
Father Bun’s stocking from top to toe.

He left a card on the table. He wrote on the card:

                     “Santa was here to pay a call;
                     A merry Christmas to one and all!”

Did they have a merry Christmas? Well, I should think they did!

Early Christmas morning, Old Mother Bun awoke and cried:

              “I don’t see well, but it seems funny—
              Those look like the ears of the Runaway Bunny!”

Next Old Father Bun awoke and said:

              “I see very well—I have formed the habit;
              Those look like the ears of the Runaway Rabbit.”

Then Father Bun took hold of one ear and Mother Bun took hold of the
other ear, and they pulled the Runaway Bunny out of the stocking.

[Illustration: “Pulled Bunny out by the ears”]

They all cried, “Merry Christmas!”

Then the Runaway Bunny gave Mother Bun her spectacles and Father Bun his
pipe. And they had a merry time with the presents Santa Claus had
brought them.

Old Mother Bun gave the Runaway Bunny a new cap and sweater, and Old
Father Bun gave him a new sled. Then the pair kissed him on both cheeks
and begged him to live with them always. He said he would.

Then the Runaway Bunny put on his new cap and sweater and went coasting
downhill on his new sled.

[Illustration: “Went coasting downhill”]

               The very last words that I heard him say
               Were, “With Grandpa and Grandma Bun I’ll stay,
               And if I live a year and a day,
               I’m entirely cured of running away!”

I wonder if he ever ran away after that. I forgot to ask him!

                If I were a Bunny, I do declare,
                I’d hang up a stocking with greatest care;
                And I’d always be very good because
                I’d hope for a visit from Santa Claus.
                And every winter I’d have the fun
                Of spending Christmas with Grandma Bun.

                Who’ll fill our stockings from top to toe?
                  Jolly Old Santa Claus!
                Who’ll laugh at the stockings all in a row?
                  Jolly Old Santa Claus!
                And all the children and bunnies cry,
                “Hurrah! hurrah! he is riding by!”