Part 34 (1/2)

THE FORCED RABBIT.

A FUNNY FACT TOLD IN VERSE.

You have heard of forced potatoes, have you not, dear little folks?

Of melons forced, and cuc.u.mbers, and grapes in purple cloaks?

But I have seen, and handled, too--and oh, the sight was funny!-- A rabbit forced, a tiny one, a snow-white little Bunny.

Two little girls of ten and twelve--I love them very much-- Once thought a tenant they would like for their new rabbit-hutch, So off to town they drove one day, and there a rabbit bought, And home the furry tenant in their pony-carriage brought.

They petted, nursed and fondled it, and showed it every care, And said before it went to bed its sheets of straw they'd air; They also begged it very hard itself at home to make, And hoped, although its bed was strange, it would not lie awake.

How happy was this Bunny white I really cannot tell, But certainly it happy looked, and was extremely well; Its eyes were bright, its nose was cool, its tongue a lovely pink.

And for its pulse--well, that was strong and regular, I think.

When summer came, the little girls were taken to the sea, And left their rabbit with the groom--a youth of twenty-three.

They bathed and dug upon the sh.o.r.e, and played with Cousin Jack; They heard the band upon the sand, and rode on donkey-back.

Then home they came, and went at once to see their Bunny dear, To stroke his ribs, and pat his head, and feel each wiry ear; But oh! alas! they found him not--the rabbit was not there!

His hutch, like Mrs. Hubbard's shelf, was very, very bare.

Now, where is he? They called the groom, the youth of twenty-three, And said, ”Oh, George, where's Bunny gone? Oh where, oh where is he?”

”He's in the hot-house,” George replied; ”the gardener put him there, For he was growing thinner, miss, and losing all his hair.”

They trotted to the garden then, and there the Bunny found, And 'neath a vine beheld their pet reposing on the ground.

”Why, what is that?” they both exclaimed; ”can that a rabbit be?

I never in my life before so strange a thing did see!”

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE RABBIT.]

They were surprised, and certainly the sight was strange to view, For Bunny looked so very huge, and such a bundle too!

Such fat he had, and lots of hair, they longed a bit to pull; He was exactly like a ball of living cotton-wool.

No tailor ever did produce a coat so superfine, 'Twas white as snow, and very thick on stomach, chest and spine-- As thick as heads of stupid boys with countenances glum; And oh! the hair was very long--as long as any sum!

A host of friends and neighbors came the funny sight to see, To one and all a rabbit forced was quite a novelty; And everybody petted him, and loved him very much, And brought him goody-goodies for the larder in his hutch.

One day--and now my pen and ink the deepest mourning wear-- They let him out upon the lawn for exercise and air; They turned their backs, two dogs rushed up, and one, with swelling chest, Seized Bunny by his woolly throat, and--you must guess the rest.