Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-11
How the Biggest Rabbit in Virginia
Was Caught.

How the Biggest Rabbit in virginia
was Caught.
A GRANDNoTHER's STORY.
SUNDAY? Yes, il was on a Sunday, and
because it was on that day 1 got the first
whipping of my life aud the only one. Sis
ter and Katie was l / and l 1O--had moth
ing to do of that quiet Sunday afternoon.
Father had a dinner party, some neighbors
who had come. and we did not care for the
restraint Of the drawing room. We were
dressed in our best, short waists long sashes
and bows, aud were to make an appearance
afterward II was lovely, cool afternoon,
and we thought we might take just little
stroll and pick some blackberries. / think
when said to sister, Lot us pick some ber-
ries, had some idea of rabbits. Katie con-
sented, 30 of we went, swinging our summer
hats, and soon came to the berry patch. not
a quarter of a mile from the house. The
berries are ripe and sweet, and we picked
aud picked them. ] must say l was half
disappointed at sighting no rabbit Katie,
said |, are rabbits so very good that they do
not come out Of a Sunday? Uncle Billy told
me yesterday that the king of the rabbits
lived just round here, and do believe have
seen him twice. He is just as big as two
ordinary rabbits and his tail is longer than
his ears
"'What likely bush' said Katie, point
ing to a thick bunch of bramble. Now.
whether she meant for blackberries or rab.
bits did not know. Elegant, said l. and
Just black with the berries on it a regular
rabbit bush, too Then peered cautiously,
and, sure enough, squatting right in the
shade was the biggest rabbit 1 ever saw.
Now, came from a hunting family, and
though a little girl then, the instinct of the
race was strong in me. held my breath, so
did Katie.
"'We have got to catch that rabbit said
Katie in a whisper.
"'Of course we must, 1 replied decidedly.
"'Wont you-that's a dear, dear sister-go
for fathers hunting horn ? asked Katie. 4
am 30 big that some one would be sure to see
me, and you are little. Then father and
mother would forgive you, and they wouldn't
me, because you are spoiled, you know 1
don't care who gets the whipping though.
will stand by you. Now that's a dear go
back across the hill, skirt the peach orchard,
and get to the stable door. It wont take six
minutes. The horn hangs on the nail Just
rattle it, and you can get all the dogs you
want. Run, Annie, run, and will stay here
and fascinate that rabbit, like the snake does
in the story-book, and he will stay right here
until kingdom come. Don't you toot the
horn-only just breathe in it. Keep the
dogs quiet, and come on to me here Just a.
gently as you can-and then the lots of fun
we are going to have
ut was too much for me to resist such an
| appeal. l skirted the peach orchard, climbed
a fence, Indifferent to ribbons and tucks went
past the negro quarters, and reached the sta
ble door. There, alongside Of that door, hung
the tin hunting horn. Horns to call the dogs
had been suspended there for over 100 years.
Beaute, fathers pet hound, was apparently
asleep by the kennel, but she opened one eye
aud wagged her tail as 1 approached her.
| She looked astonished as l reached up my
hand to take the horn. just breathed thro'
| il, aud Beaute gave a little whimper-a sweet
ripple Of sound-just as much as 10 say, It's
Sunday, my little mistress, but if you really
mean hunt for earnest, l will take n run with
| you, and Beaute rose and shook herself and
| opened her mouth Just littlo louder. Then
| Cowslip, her brindled sister, and Daisy, her
aunt, and Pamela, and Towser and the Doc
| tor, came bouncing in and wanted to sing too,
| but looked cross at them and they were qui-
eted. Then hid the horn under my skirt
and beokoned them on. The news seemed TO
spread at once in the dog world for in plung
ed Brutus, Major, Nap, Lively, Soult Dim
pie, Snort, Yellow Legs, Venus and her two
| puppies. Ihed my finger up and they seem
ed to understand it was a still hunt, for they
all held their peace. OF we went l had
Beaute by her long, pliable ear, and she led
like lamb, the rest following close. Pres
emily, with my heart in my mouth, afraid as
| death that the puppies would begin singing
we all got through the fence along the or
ohard. and presently saw Katie's blue-and-
| white skirt. She was as motionless as a statue,
| pointing with an outstretched finger. Buany
had not moved an inch no more had sister
Katie. Then Beaute got the scent. She
knew it was a rabbit, and she kind of looked
at me with her lovely hazel eyes, as much as
to say, See here, Annie, your father wouldn't
| like it but just then Venus's puppies, that
werr young aud foolish, saw Bunny and jump
| ed for him. Then Beaute couldn't stand it
any louger, for she Just scattered the puppies
and sprnug for the lead, Bunny having good
fair start. Oh, it was lovely a dozen fox
| hounds, puppies aud all, and the whole band
playing. Oh started the rabbit on the full
| run, Katie abreast of me, and we following
the dogs Run l think l could in those
days. and could keep up with any of my
brothers. 1t WAS all working lovely. Bunny
took to the hollow away from the house, and
as we had good clear path along the ridge,
| dogs and rabbit were in sight all the time.
Oh such fun but pretty bad for ribbons for
they were pulled off by the limbs of trees.
My hair was streaming out behind me; one
shoe had gone in the first twenty yards of ths
run, and had kicked OF the other, but that
| was no mhttef, IOT WAS hccuHtou5u " Iuu
bRrefooted.
II looked as if the kill was sure, and that
we would have all the fun TO ourselves, aud
nobody in the house would know about it, and
the torn dresses could be accounted for. But
Just where a little creek had a fall of about
three feet, who should come up but a wretch
ed cur belonging TO a neighbor-and that
brute always fought our pack. What did that
beast do but make right for Beaute, Bunny
saw her chance and doubled right there Ka-
tie was equal to the emergency, for she took
a rock and hammered and pounded that cur
until he let go his hold Tnen poor Beaute,
though her ear was all in ribbons, like ouI
skirts, was game, took up the scent again,
dashed right up the bank, got on the track,
aud away with big burst of speed they went,
every dog on the full yell. did not take the
least notice of where wo were going, and be-
fore knew it Bunny was in the broad car
riage road, lined with Paradise trees that LED
right up 10 the house. 1t must have been Q
pretty sight to see the dogs all in cluster,
Beaute Just a nose ahead, the puppies trail
ing, and Bunny not 20 feet in tho lead, doing
his very bit How we shot past the house.
''Fathe heard the dogs at once, and cam'
out on tic serandah followed by the whole
dinner party All the servants were there
aud they waved their Napkins kind of cheer
ing us on. We were fox-hunting family
slaves and all, and remember that old An
! thony, the most dignihed of cOlored buffers