You remember in the last story that the Circus Elephant gave Uncle Lucky
and Billy Bunny tickets to go to the show. Well, I'm awfully sorry to
tell you they didn't go, and the reason was because the tent caught
fire, and before the firemen in Bunnytown could put out the flames the
spangles were all burnt off the circus queen's dress and the ice cream
cones were all melted and the peanuts roasted blacker than a coal, and
the lemonade boiled over and burnt the alligator's tail so that he
wouldn't stand on his head.
And oh, dear me! The circus folk all had to sleep with the animals, and
the fat lady couldn't get into the monkey cage, so she had to lie down
on the grass underneath for the night, and she caught an awful cold and
almost had the chickenpox.
Of course Billy Bunny and his good, kind uncle were dreadfully
disappointed, and when they got home they played on the victrola a new
song called: "If you want to borrow money don't you ever come to me,"
and after that they went to bed, and when they woke up they heard the
little sparrow singing on the front porch:
Sing a song of summer,
And the happy flowers;
Sing a song of sunshine
Through the golden hours
Always sing of gladness
Through the live-long year
Even in December,
When it's cold and drear.
"I'm going to take some crumbs out to that cheerful little bird," and
kind Uncle Lucky sprinkled sponge cake crumbs all over the porch, and
the sparrow and her little birdies had a scrumptious feast.
And after that the telephone rang and Mrs. Bunny called up to find out
how Billy Bunny was. And when Uncle Lucky said he was very well she said
she was glad, because if he had been sick she would have wanted him
brought home im-me-die-ate-ly.
But as long as he wasn't she wanted him back anyway, because she was so
lonely without him. And then of course the little rabbit had to say
good-by to his dear kind uncle and start right oft for the Old Brier
Patch.
Well, sir! He hadn't gone for more than a million hops, and maybe a few
skips and jumps, when he came across his old friend the Brown Horse.
"Hello, there!" said the good-natured animal; "how is your Bunny
Highness?"
"I'm all right," said the little rabbit, "but what are you doing here in
the woods?"
"Ssh!" whispered the Brown Horse. "I ran away to-day and I'm afraid the
policeman will catch me for exceeding the speed limit."
"So I'm hiding here." And just then they heard a whistle, but you'll
have to wait to find out whether it's a policeman or a locomotive engine
until the next story, for I've no more room in this one.