The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-07
THE EASTER RABBIT.

h e Franks He plays and Cd d
l. gend s Id A bout Him
Not even the greatest students have
ever been able to learn how it happens
that the rabbit lays Easter eggs. All
they. know is that little children, and
particularly children III Germany, make,
as their granGfathers did before them.
warm nests of hay during Easter week
in which they find on Easter morning
lot of beautiful colored eggs laid there
of course. by the Easter rabbit
In America and other countries the
store windows in season were crowded
With Easter rabbits, and the Easter cards
as aften as not show the Easter rabbits
picture. Ask somebody why it is a rabbit
instead of a woodchuck or any other
animal You will find nobody that can
tell you. Nobody knows. All they can do
is o'make shrewd guesses at it.
Going back behind ytheofirst books men
have found that the rabbit was regarded
people all over the World. Even the
american an Indians, Yho bad never 50 far
feast of the great hare or rabbit, and in
the sixth century before Christ, before
the early Inhabitants Of what is now
or rabbit is said to have been sacred to
Ostara, the goddess Of dawn and of
spring. ox.l
there mas been for centuries and still is
a story which connects the rabbit with
Easter in curious way. The spots on
the surface of the moon form, as these
natives say. the perfect image of a rab-
bit. And as the moon sets or dies and
rises again every thirty days it sent the
rabbit to take its message to the children
of men. p
Co said the moon to the rabbit. Ego
and say to the men that even as die
and rise again. so shall they also die
and rise again. - ftf'' - SItT97 s'etz*s ~
But the rabbit was wicked and did not
carry the message straight
Tne moon says. the rabbit told the
South African natives. that even as I
die and do not rise again. so shall you
also die and not rise again.
When the rabbit came back and told
what he had done, the moon was natural
ly angry and struck at him with match
ct. The blow struck the rabbit and split
its upper lip. People who doubt the story
are asked to notice that the rabbits lin
is split to this day. And besides having
it's lip split the rabbit was mucn fright
ened at the moons anger, so that it ran
away and hid in hole in the ground and
has been timid ever since.
Going over into Asia it is found that
the rabbit still holds it's place as
sacred animal In China and all other
countries where the religion of Buddha
prevails the story runs that the great
Buddha himsel was at one time terribly
hungry, and wandered up and down on
the surface of the earth, looking for
something to eat, but found nothing.
Finally Fin f,4 the tU,, rabbit saw the hungry god
so that Buddha could not fail to see him,
the rabbit lay down at his feet.
Eat me- said the rabbit to Buddha.
But the Chinese divinity was not to be
outdone in generosity: Instead of eating
the rabbit he transported it up to the
moon, and there TO this day the little
Chinese children can see it.
nd f06o in nj "a fi1rn0 of hn
celebration of the great moon festival,
which corresponds in season to Easter
in Christian lands, the figure of the
rabbit is stamped on the moon cakes
which relatives and friends exchange
among each ether in the place of Easter
cards.
So the children who credit the Easter
rabbit with laying the Easter eggs are
simply following a tradition so old that
no man knows its beginning, and in ev-
dren-white, black, yellow or red--are
in one way or another" paying allegi-
ance to the same tradition.
HOW TO TALK.
Talk hope! The world is sad enough
Without your uttered doubts and fears
A little word of hope let fall
VIII scatter help for future years
Talk faith and let all .unbelief
Dc1OI0 your IdIlult1HSSS OSpdlI,
The shining radiance of your trust
May cheer a comrades fainting heart
Talk purity We've heard enough
OF woman's shame9and mans disgrace;
In every soul tho thick sins crust,
OF love divine we find a trace
Talk charity! For you and I
Have sins enough and some to spare.
Tho others err, we cannot know
How much they had to do and dare.
Talk lovei For love it is, you know,
Which makes the universe revolve
And many things that puzzle us
This simple rule of love would solve.
Talk Christ! And tell his wondrous love
For saint and sinner friend and foe.
His life taught mercy for us all
In dor In nf sir below