The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-05-04
The rroubIes os Jackie.

to be expected, as there were seven ba-
bies and each had four legs. Besides
Jackie always made matters worse.
He did so love to play tricks. And
how can a fellow help it?' Jackie
would answer. when his eyes are shut
so tight he can't see wink. wish
they'd hurry and open. | guess I'll rub
them. Maybe that will help" Rub
bing, however, only made them sore,
30 he soon stopped 1t. Then one day
they opened all by themselves, and
he was proud indeed. But very soon
he found something to grumble about.
Don't take my fur" he said. 1T Is
too thin"
do stop complaining" answered his
mother. "A week ago you had no fur
at ALL 1t will be as thick as mine in
time"
We'll, my legs won't get any bet
ter, anyhow he went on. Just see
them. My front ones are ever so much
shorter than my back ones. Why are
they not alike?"
For shame!" cried his mother. NO
take jong jumps If our legs we're all
the same size? You should see your
father jump"
Our .father!" cried all the bunnies.
''Iiave we a father?"
ITO be sure you have" replied Mrs.
Rabbit. when you are little older
we will all go out to see him" After
this Mrs. Rabbit had very little peace.
Jackie especially was always asking
her questions.
Il suppose II is because he has a Sill
perior mind" she told herself. Never
theless, 1t was very tiresome. At last
canlc the important day when the chill
dren were to see their father for the
first time. They had grown quite big
and were looking very pretty indeed
with their new grayish brown topcoats,
their whitish vests and their cunning
little upturned white tails. Their faith
or was very proud when he saw them.
He was a big rabbit, with long whis-
kers, and very wise in rabbit ways, SO
of course they learned many things
from him. He showed them how to
gnaw bark, SO that their teeth, which
were growing all the time, might not
get too long, and how to hold their
ears SO that they could hear the least
sound and run for cover. He also
showed them how to crouch down
among the grass and leaves and lie
so still that an enemy would never
guess they were there. Besides this
he told them where they could find the
juicy young vegetables and the tender
green things that rabbits SO love.
No wonder they felt very, very wise
as they seampered home after the
talk was over.
Tomorrow l shall try all those
things" Jackie decided. But alas! in
them in great trouble. MY children"
she said, "the reapers are out. They
are coming nearer and nearer, and
soon our home will be torn open and
We ourselves killed perhaps. There is
no time to talk she went on, seeing q
question on Jackie's lips, do just as
tell you. l will wait until those dread
full men are looking the other way.
Then, when say run don't stop a
second, but follow right after me.
know good hiding place If we can
only reach it."
OF course the little bunnies were ter
ribly frightened. That is, all except
Jackie. He was more anxious to find
out what made the strange noise he
heard. So when his mother, waiting
her chance, cried run" he went only
few steps beyond the burrow and
there stopped. "I'll soon see what 1t
is" he said to himself. But alas! Just
then some one. called: There goes a
bunny. Catch him, quick!" and before
he had time to jump hand was out
stretched and he found himself pris-
oner.
Now, indeed, he regretted not obey
ing his mother. Oh, how good he would
be II he could only get back to her once
more! he thought, but struggle as he
would, he could not get away. So,
with his heart beating wildly, he triea
| to resign himself TO his fate. At last,
after what seemed long, long time
to unhappy Jackie, the voice said:
Poor little bunny, he does seem so
miserable, think must let him so.
wonder If he can find his mother"
Jackie's heart leaped with Joy. "Yes,
yes, will find her." he tried to say,
"and, oh, I'll be so good after this!-
so good!" Then, all at once, the ter
rible hands seem to fall away from him
and for one delicious moment he could
not move, so great was his happiness.
In the next he had darted away, just
as straight as he could go for the
thicket where his unhappy mother
watched and waited.
And how she fondled him! Smooth
ing out his roughened coat and rub
bing her nose against his little wrink-
led one. His brothers and sister, too,
gathered about him and told him how
| glad they were to have him back.
"Oh, mother, dear, mean TO be so
good" whispered Jackie, as his mother