The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-27
The Giant Rabbit.
PART |. BY ". s. WALLACE.

The Giant Rabbit sat in the sun washina his face with his forepaws and nibbllng every now and then at the bark of a tall young tree which stood near. At a little distance the Giant Rabbit looked like a small knoll covered by snow.s for he was perfectly white, like an ordinary rabbit, with pink eyes and long ears, pink Inside. He was so real a giant in size that he conld easily nib ble the tender hemlock buds way up on the young tree, although 1t was tall one.
 What had made the Giant Rabbit grow so large he could not tell; probably he did . not know that he was so much larger than / all the other beasts, for In every tiing else he was Just like any other rabbit especially in tlmidity. Even the sudden ehirp of little bird on the branch of tree close to his ear made him hop away with his foolish heart beating like anything. And when he felt squirrel drop on his ba k and run down to the ground, as they did sometimes, be would run away himself far more rapidly than the squirrel Of course he could not live with any of hls brothers and sisters. They went easily in and out of their burrows, and hid themselves from the fox and the dog. while he was obliged to trust to hls heels and run away. Sometimes in his fright he would jump over 8 great deer or bear, that would run for It's life, with ears down and tail-- what it had of lt--showing signs of the greatest fear. Why the poor rabbit could uBL ltll, IDT l6 It4l ludL O4e Ol Inose EfEal beasts would make only mouthful5 of him.
 The Great Rabbit was very lonely, having no one to play with. Often he sat on the edge of the lake and watch the animals com Ing to drink or to bathe.
 How 1 should like to play with that pretty spotted creature like eat. or that lovely striped one with a white chest. he said to himself one day. When they come this way 1 will ask them to playwith me-
 After a while the tiger and the leopard one after the other, walked slowly up The hll, and when they had drawn near where the Giant Rabbit sat, he sprang out in a playful manner toward them. But no sooner had the two cats caught sight of him than they both ran away in differentsdfrections showing signs of fear and ama4ement. The poor rabbit was left standing sorrow. fully looking after them and wondering why they fled. The Giant Rabbit returned to his clover field and sat, in a very dejected frame of mind, watching the other beasts who were still playfully frlsklng abont the river One of these, handsome, graceful giraffe, with yellow and black stripes on his back and a white belly, was walking up the hill where the Giant Rabbit stood
 This creature" thought the poor rabbit twill be playfellow for me, for he is so tall he can see my shape and look at my face.
 Now, when the giraffe came near where the poor, lonely rabbit was sitting -the latter came timidly out-not with his ustaiN N<ask and bound, bnt quite difidently. He looked wistfully down into the giraffe's face. The giraffe was startled, nevertheless, and turned to escape, when the Giant Rabbit said Wont you stay and play with me?" There was something so gentle and sad in the Giant Rabbits voice, so different from what Ithe Giraffe expected of so great creature, that he stopped and even rubbed his head against the Giant Rabbits neck in atfriendly man ner. This quite delighted the rabbit. You are so big, you know" said the Giraffe, "how can we play together?'' "Oh, we can run races" cried therabblt We both run faster than anybody" Let us run to that tree over there," said the Giraffe, "and see who will get there first"
 They started for the tree the Giant Rab bit making great hops or bounds through the air the Giraffe galloplng like a horse, with mighty strides. The Giraffe reached the tree Arst. but the Giant Rabbit was only too glad to have found some one to play with to care nbout that. Let us now run back again. ha said. and away they went. This time the Giant Rabbit was beaten as before, but he only frisked affectlonately up against the Giraffe's sides and exclaimed, "Oh, how fast you run!'' Yes" answered the Giraffe, .'you can never beat me. Suppose we jnmp?" "Oh," said the Giant Rabbit 'athatt1 can do better than you
 They both began jumping The Rabbit sprang through the air like treat hill of snow; but the Giraffe made such funny, clumsy leaps that the rabbit wanted to laugh. He was too kindhearted and too well pleased with his playmate to do so. This time the Rabbit jumped further than the Giraffe, who became little angry and snid:"Oh, I do not feel like jumping any more. Besides, I want drink. Come let us go down to the water" The Rabbit hopped along by the side of the Giraffe down to the water.
 ITO BE CONTINUED.