_In which is shown the folly of close imitation to the methods of
others._
The Rabbit lived with his grandmother, and sometimes found it a
hard matter to get enough food for both, especially in winter when
the snow was on the ground and ice was on the pond.
One day, as he was traveling through the forest, he came upon a
hut, near the bank of a river. Looking in he saw the Otter at
home, and very comfortable indeed, with a string of dried fish hung
out over the door, and some corn left over from last season.
“Come in,” said the Otter, “and sit by the fire. I am not cold
myself, but you look frozen.” So the Rabbit went in and sat down
and looked up at the fish and corn. He looked so hungry that the
Otter said, “Stay to dinner with me, and I will catch you a string
of eels.”
So the Rabbit agreed to stay to dinner. Then the Otter said he
would go out and catch the eels. The Rabbit said he would go along
and see how he did it. They went out to the river bank where the
Otter got on an ice-slide and coasted down into the water. He went
under and soon came up with two eels in his mouth.
“By my life, that is an easy way to fish,” said the Rabbit. “Those
fishermen certainly have a good time,” and then he and the Otter
went into the hut and cooked the eels in corn, and had dinner.
After sitting around for awhile and talking about the weather,
and how mischievous the hunters and the dogs had been the Rabbit
invited the Otter to take dinner with him on the next Sunday. Then
the Rabbit went home.
The rest of the week he was busy making an ice-slide into his pond.
He made it out of packed snow and ice and smoothed it down with a
stick until it was ready for use. On Sunday the Otter came looking
for a dinner of dried turnips and winter cabbages.
After talking for awhile the Rabbit said, “Now, friend Otter, I
will catch you some eels,” and he led the way to his ice-slide.
Getting on the slide he let go and went plump! into the cold water.
Down he went and came up wet and shivering, but with no eels.
“I missed them that time,” said the Rabbit, “but wait while I try
again,” and down he went on the slide and into the water. But again
he caught no eels. By this time the Otter was hungry but he stopped
to laugh at the Rabbit, who was a sad sight.
“Friend Rabbit,” said he, “I have eels enough at home, and I came
here for turnips and cabbages. Come in and cook me what you have
and I shall be content.” And so the Rabbit found out that he could
not catch fish and that he need not try. But they did have a good
dinner of dried turnips and cabbages.