The Washington times., 1903-11-15

BUNNY BUTTER
AND THE BEETLE
BY ANNA MARBLE.

~ NE day Bunny Butter came run
ming around the house and
nearly stepped upon a large
black beetle. who was crawling
slowly along the gravel pathway in the
garden.
Bunny Buffers cheeks were flushed
and his hat hung over his shoulders by
the elastic, for he had been chasing
the chickens until the father rooster
grew angry and ran after him. He hsd
TO hop aside quickly on one fat little
leg 10 get out of the black beetles way;
then he thrust both small hands In his
trousers pocket and said:
Well. Mr.. Beetle. nearly 'souashed'
you that time. didn't I?'
Mr.. Beetle looked up at Bunny But
ter very gravely You are very kind.
indeed. boy, to be so careful" he said,
blinking his tiny black eyes.
Now there are lots of people who
might not have heard Mr.. Beetles re-
mark. even II they had been standing
close by, but Bunny Butter was so
friendly with the rugs. the birds and
the beasts that they cften talked to
him OF many things about which they
would not have spoken to grown up
people - ALL
When the beetle said that he was
kind 1t made Bunny feel shy.
"Oh. don't mention IT," ne replied
politely. taking or his big straw hat
and tanning himself with It.
do you know what would have hap
pened II you had killed me?" asked the
beetle
NO: whatg" asked Bunny Butter.
wondering II beetles went TO heaven
when they died
why. ny poor wife would have
waited and waited and waited for me TO
come home. and then after while she
would have heard OF my death and have
wept and wept and wept until she died.
Ny wife is very fond OF me-
How would she know that YOU were
dead IL you didn't come home any
more?" inquired Bunny. scraping the
toe OF his new shoes against the gravel
.'Oh. some of our friends or relatives
would have found my body on the path
way and would have brought the sad
news home TO her and the poor chill
dren"
"Oh. how many children have you?"
asked Bunny. who always liked to know
about things exactly.
only ten" sighed the beetle But
think of leaving my poor, wife alone to
take care OF them She is so very fond
Bunny thought he was a very nice old
beetle 70 remember his family and 10
forget how bad it must feel TO be dead.
Wouldn't you Ike to visit my wife2"
suggested the beetle, Hospitality. she
viii be delighted TO see you. and you
Will amuse Tteodosia. OF course. 1 shall
have TO explain that you are not a com
mon boy. ono OF the sort who would
Ike TO tramDie on u.s. or else they might
all be afraid % you.
Where do you live?'' asked Bunny
much interested and who is Theodo-
sia7"
we live just across the road in the
next field under the stump Of the big
oak tree that was struck by lightning
last summer. Come with me and on the
way I win tell you about Theodosia."
Bunny Butter followed The beetle. who
scuttled across the road toward The
field. talking all the time
''Theodcsia IS my eldest daughter. She
IS an invalid. poor child. and has 20 be
wheeled soout in a chair In fact. she
can't WALL at all It happened last
spring. when we were changing our
clothes"
DO you change your clothes In the
spring 20 put on thin ones for summer
like I do2" asked Bunny.
"Oh. yes. we always change our
clothes once year but not for summer
ones. just FOR new suit. You see, our
old suit gets worn out after we have
used II for a season We don't have a
Sunday suit like you; our everyday one
has 10 do for all the time. Then again.
we are not ike you, for when we do
change our suit we change our feet.
TOO"
That's very strange" said Bunny
Butter. and he was silent for a moment.
Then he added, II think I should Ike
10 change my feet for big ones like Uncle
Fred's. could run so much faster
then"
The beetle went on talking. s'Weu,"
he said "our feet are very small and
thin and they get pretty well worn
out in a season. for we do a great deal