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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]