_The wild animals have feelings that should be regarded and rights
that should be respected._
Johnny had caught a rabbit in his trap. He had intended eating all
the rabbits he caught, but this one was so beautiful he just could
not eat him, so he built a pen for him and intended keeping him.
Then he went for a stroll in the woods. After walking a long
distance he sat down under a tree to rest. Suddenly a black bear
and a gray fox appeared in the clearing. They looked very fine and
gay as they stood there watching Johnny.
“What shall we do with that bad boy?” asked Mr. Fox of Mr. Bear.
“You know so much about everybody’s business, and where every one
is, you can go and call all the animals together. Then we’ll decide
what is best.”
The fox disappeared and in a short time Johnny began hearing
rustling sounds in the bushes about him. Suddenly the clearing was
crowded with animals. A big old rabbit with ragged whiskers and
long fur frightened him more than the bear or the fox, because he
remembered all the rabbits he had caught.
Mr. Bear sat down beside Johnny and cleared his throat.
“This little boy,” he began, “has caught a rabbit, and has put him
in a pen. He may kill it and eat it. Now, we don’t know when he may
take a gun and come out to shoot us.”
All the animals looked solemnly at Johnny. Mr. Bear went on: “This
is his first trip so far into the woods alone. Shall we send him
home to his mother?”
Mr. Fox looked at Johnny through his narrow eyes, then said: “Let’s
chase him through the woods and see how he likes it; guess that
will teach him a lesson.”
Johnny was frightened almost to death and his lips trembled. He
looked straight at Mr. Fox, but he didn’t cry. Mr. Bear laid his
big paw on Johnny’s shoulder. Then old Mr. Rabbit spoke:
“I don’t think he meant to do us harm. You know he has been a good
boy up to this time. Suppose we give him one more chance.”
Most of the animals did not like this idea, but Mr. Bear, the
judge, thought it would do. So he dismissed court, and with Mr.
Rabbit escorted Johnny to the edge of the woods where they let him
go.
Johnny went home and gave the little rabbit some carrots, then
filled a basket with cabbages and turnips, and took the basket and
the rabbit to the edge of the woods. Off scampered the rabbit and
told the other animals about the basket. That night there was a
great feast in the woods, and Johnny was much happier than he would
have been had he kept the poor little rabbit.