The San Francisco call., 1904-07-03

NHE glorious Fourth came to the
dear rabbits in Bunnyville just
the same as In real people out in
-. the big world and they enjoyed
their celebration of il perhaps
more than even a child does.
There is one good thing" remarked
Papa Hare the day before the Fourth,
lit. never gets too warm in the forest
II Bunnyville, even in July. and we are
always cool, Notwithstanding our fur
coats. while the big two-legged giants
raiied nen are roasting with the heat.
=. n here is always a breeze in the tops
.,of these great redwood trees. and when
il SETS little warm down on the
Enund we can run up the tree and be
Perfectly comfortable. I am glad I am
q Ia b9it instead OF d man"
Well. there had been great prepara-
.tors for the Fourth Of July in Bunny
N-lie, and al the nimble-footed furry
- site iQhsbitants were ready TO do
their part in the celebration. Mr.. and
Mrs White had once heard their hu-
man friends telling all about the Dec
laration OF Independence, and how the
american people celebrated it, so it
was 10 be carried out in Bunnyville as
nearly like that as possible. The morn
ing of the Fourth dawned bright and
clear. not too hot nor too cold. and
there was great scurryfng and purrfng
with the whole rabbit village.
Mamma. can I wear my new hat7
an wear my new dress? Can wear
my best shOes?" These and many
other questions were asked bv the
-enildren OF the numerous families
They were just like real children in
many. ways. you see. and the rabbit
. manmas would say like real nammas.
30. my dear, you might get your hat
ruined with fire crackers" or some
such reply. At last came the hour for
she great parade. All the streets of
bunnyville and the windows and doors
.ot The tree and bush homes were
crowdec and filed with eager pink and
.1roAp eyes and cold. sniffy noses.
while little and big paws, brown and
white and OF softest fur, were waving
. Their handkerchiefs as they saw the
parade approaching First OF all were
ne most prominent citizens Of Bunny
Mile. headed by the mayor. They were
IN pumpkin carriages drawn by souir-
.rels, with gopher coachrnen. and in the
-;front carriage sst Mayor Jack Rabbit
he looked very imposing, with his long
ears tec with red. white and blue rib
bo1s and a flower in his buttonhole
Great VAS the shouting and claiming
- hanos when his carriage passed. but
. those who wanted 10 make a noise had
DTS of wood inside each hand, as the
lgr prevented them from being heard.
lere comes the band" Screamed
the children. strsining their funny 1T
Tie ears 10 hear the sweet sounds pro-
teeainE from the pumpkin-stem flutes
aAa ciafionets, the violins with long
gray moss FOR strings and a piece OF
cofnstaik for a bow. the big drums
MADE out Of huge oak balls and cornets
OF Attle crooked-necked gourds.
II was q dne combination, and all
re. citizens Of BunnyviIle felt Justly
proud ~ their local talent AS fhe
band played the "star-spangIed Ban
ner' and America" ali ,be ,.ro,va
Joined in with their voices. To bu-
man being fl would only have sounded
like r multitude OF purrs. big and III
tie but then human beings are So
eull, anyway One must have the
gifts Of fairy and the heart ~ chua
10 hear and understand these tbtnes
And now the Belgian twins. the IittIe
Ilares, Whites. casters. Bunnvs eto
all began TO cry and say:
~Oh. the big bogie mani Taks h,n,
away 1 am afraid-the big devil u,,rI
eat us up" And the maunmas lo,,,,,.-
y assured them by saying: .Ob no,
he viii not hurt you. That is only tba
big Dragon-Hare, and he loves chr
dren- He can't help being so ugly. He
don't mean any harm by it."
Here II came. wriggling and squirm-
ing and splitting firecrackers. Vol
unes OF smoke and one explosion afts-
another came from its great eyes and
mouth No wonder the dear little rab-
bits were afraid But the mammas and
pspas knew it was not a really"