Middletown transcript., 1904-04-02
EASTER IN BLJNlNYvILLE !.
we're many families
BY JESSIE JULIET KNOX

%
pure white, with the loveliest
mink ewes. The little gray rabbits did
not feel at all envious of them, though,
for being SO beautiful. because the white
rabbits were so good and kind to them
all that they were glad to see them SO
pretty and white. There was the great
est excitement in Bunnyville tonight,
for it was Easter Eve, and it had GER
tainly been the busy day OF the white
rabbits. They had been laying bright
eggs for whole year, just to have enough
for every child when the happy Easter
tide should come. They we're only to
give to the California children, though,
and there we're other Easter rabbits for
all the other States; but for all they had
to supply SO many children, they did
not forget every little rabbit in Bunny
willie, too, and they had their Easter Just
before the real children did. All the
dear little rabbit babies went to sleep
that night in their cozy nests OF gray
moss. and had beautiful dreams of the
day that was coming. They could hear
the wind blowing the branches OF the
big redwood trees where they lived, but
this only served to soothe them to sleep,
and they were too sleepy even to notice
that the papa and mamma rabbits were
whispering in their peculiar rabbit way,
and that the mamma slipped up to the
nest and rubbed her cold nose against
their cold little noses in goodnight
rabbit kiss.
Mr.. and Mrs. Easter and the Easter
children started out as soon as they
thought all the little gray rabbits would
be asleep, and the dear little Easter chill
dren thought it great fun, as they had
never before been allowed to accompany
their parents. But they could really be
such help to them in carrying the bas-
kets that the papa and mamma said they
might 90 and begin to learn all about
it, as they would soon be grown, and
then they would have to know. The
only trouble was that they were SO full
of rabbit giggles that they positively
could not be quiet. 1t was such great
fun, they thought. So they started out
just as soon as it was real good and dark,
and decided to walk through Bunnyville,
as thew would not need the carriage until
the next night.
They had SO many baskets that it
would have been Dreadful if they had
taken a tumble, but they were very sure
footed, and SO they did not fall, but crept
softly on-on-until they came to the
first home to be visited. This was Mr..
and Mrs. Belgian and their two little
children. They lived in deep moss
lined hole in the ground. They peeped
in, and could see the dear little Belgian
twins sleeping soundly, cuddled up BY
their soft. warm mamma and papa, and
they knew they would not hear them,
SO they fixed little nest Of gray moss
just outside the door and filled it with
such teeny, weeny eggs, too small for
anybody but rabbits.
Then, softly creeping on, they came
next to the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Bunny.
They were the very First family" OF
Bunnyyille, the oldest residents, in fact,
and Bunnyville was named for them.
They lived in bundle of hay in
wild-rose bush-a very beautiful home
indeed, and it would not be long before
the bush would be covered with pink
wild-roses. Looking around for some
place to put the eggs, they discovered
an empty birds nest snugly placed ON
the under boughs OF the bush.
This is the very thing, purred Mr..
Easter. They will think the mother
bird has put them there.
How pretty the vacated nest looked,
SO full of bright little eggs! They could
not keep from spreading their funny
rabbit-mouths in broad smile as they
looked at it. Hearing a faint squeak
come from the bundle of hay, they hur-
ried away so fast that they almost fell
over the youngest one, who was in front,
but they caught themselves in time to
keep from breaking the eggs.
The squeak came from the Bunny
baby, who had got wet feet that day,
and was threatened with Group. His
mamma pulled the warm hay up closer
about him, though, and cudded him up
close in her soft, furry arms, and he was
coon sleeping soundly again, never dream
ing of the beautiful nest of eggs perched
on the boughs of his rose-tree home.
Next came Mr.. and Mrs. Hare, who,
you may remember, lived in the big
hollow redwood tree, and had perhaps
the incest home of all. After having
had such perfectly lovely time Christ
mas, the Hare children felt as if they
could never be surprised at anything,
but they were, because this was 80 very
different from Christmas. AS they ap-
preached the tree, they could see a faint
light coming from the hole which they
used as door.
Why, I wonder what is the matter
they said. Some of the children must
be sick.
So they tiptoed up and peeped in, but
found that the light was only the glow
worm, which they always kept burning
all night, as the Hare children did not
like to sleep in the dark, and the glow
worm gave such nice soft light that
it did not hurt their eyes.
Papa Easter stepped on twig at the
door, and the noise awakened Mr.. and
Mrs. Hare, who jumped up in alarm.
thinking it might be dogs coming after
them to eat up their children T; but look
ing up, they were delighted to see that
1t was only the dear Easter rabbits with
their kindly faces, looking in upon them,
their pretty pink eyes shining in the
light from the glow-worm's lamp. As
long as they were awake. they could tell
them where to put the eggs. Mamma
Hare had made very beautiful basket