Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-31
Artie and the Easter Rabbit
BY Maud Walker

realize that life and safety lay within the
big woods, where its home had been before
1t ventured into the field of corn shocks
over the hill So It put forth every energy
and redoubled its speed for one last terri
Die run for beloved life. Artie also quick
ened his flying legs, determined to recap-
ture the pretty little animal that was strug-
Cling so for its liberty.
Into the woods IL dashed. Artie followed
close behind. Round fallen log and to its
furthermost end-which, ah, lucky accidentl
was hollow. Into the place OF concealment
darted the little gray rabbit, its heart no
doubt beating almost out Of Its duivering
body. Artie saw where 1t hid and took his
seat close to stump which faced the hoI !.
low log about five feet away. I'm sit very
quiet here, and after a while Lady GREY
will think no one is near and will come
slipping out to find food and water, and
maybe her father and mother, too"
SO Artie sat patiently beside the stump.
half hidden by 1t. But the time passed on
and on, the sun went high and higher to-
ward the meridian, and still no rabbit came
from the hollow log on which Artie's eyes
kept fastened.
After he had sat there for at least an
hour Artie heard a creeping noise behind
him, and, looking back, was SO frightened
at what he beheld that his hair stood right
up on end and his eyes bulged from their
sockets. rabbit almost as large as an
elephant stood near him, its great eyes
looking straight through him, while from
their depths shot sparks OF fire. Artie's
blood ran cold in his VEINS and he tried to
cry out, but fear made him dumb. He
crouched beside the stump hoping to be-
come invisible to the giant rabbit that stood
menacing him. Then, one by one, other
huge rabbits-all as large as the first terri
flying one-came into line, forming a circle
at last about him. Then one, a horrid
long-eared one, came to him, and before
he could say a word begging for mercy the
monster had grabbed him in his paws and
carried him to a very large fallen tree, into
whose hollow trunk Artie was thrust Then
bars were fastened over the opening and
he found himself a prisoner AS he lay
there, tears streaming from his eyes, cry
ing loudly for his mother and father,
there approached him the same little gray
rabbit that he had held imprisoned for a
week and that had led him into this woods
1t came quite close to his prison and sat
looking at him.
"oh, oh! I want TO get out OF here"
walled Artie. Lady Grey. can't you use
your influence with those giant rabbits to
have me freed2 shall die in this place
away from my dear mamma and papa and
friends"
You have water and food; what more
can you ask?" said Lady Grey "You are
taken good care Of here ana will prove a
great novelty to u.s. Wen have much
sport in watching you in your prison cage
II you become tanned sufficiently we shall
let you out sometimes. but we'll keep q
rope tied about your neck to prevent your
running away, should such a notion come
into your head You see. the tables have
been turned; that's all, my young friend
If II was good sport for you to keep me ir
a cage as a curiosity and source OF amuse.
ment Il may prove the same to US In having
you our victim. Rabbits are but learning
from human beings, Your example hai
been followed"
But I'm a human being. not an animal,
walled Artie. al need my mamma ana papt
and my home and my toys and my chumi
and my-my-freedom. oh, please, pleast
see II you cannot do something to get m'
out OF herel" And Artie beat his poo
hands and head against the strong bar
that held him prisoner.
oh, no indeed. you are quite too fnnn!
10 be let 60 Oh. don't be O poor Ounce
boy, for we've got you good and strong
You are ours now. just as / was your
this morning. All hai How do you sup
pose you'u pass your Easter Sunday ?
, Then the little gray rabbit really smile
at Artie in a most tantalizing manner.
"oh. oh, tomorrow Is Easterl" WALES
Artie. And my mamma has fixed o
, many nice Easter eggs for me. on, Oh
I'm so unhappyi ! shall die in this hollo,
i tree Oh. why did l not stay at homer"
d why did you capture meg" asked IN
little gray rabbit II was doing you n
) harm. never once came near your hous