Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-31

= one bad trait which was the i'm
lEH6 prisonlng of little wild animals
Szsss9 Some time before Easter he had
gone into a big field full OF corn shocks
(which had been cut and stacked there for
the cattle that were allowed to pasture In
the Valley and had adrotly set a trap to
catch a rabbit. 81 want a real live Easter
rabbit" he said TO himself that morning
when he saw the Easter pictures In a news
paper. II don't care anything about toy
rabbits nor picture rabbits 1 must have a
real live one with pretty fur on It and long,
long ears"
So he had studied out the means of trap
ping an innocent little gray rabbit that got
its living from the big and friendly corn
shocks that filled the field, where the cattle
were turned every day to get their fodder
On catching the little thing prisoner Artie
laughed with glee. The harder the poor
captive fought for liberty the more Artie
laughed at It, saying:
Now, don't be a little Ounce, rabble, for
you can't get away. I've got you safe and
sound I'll feed you and give you a nice
big cage. II you ever become tame I'll let
you run about the yard with a little rope
tied about your neck. so that you can't
ever get far away should the notion take
you TO do So"
That afternoon Arrie made a cage by
AeiAAhe SiANn VI NoOu dCTObS one open side
OF small box that he found In the barn.
Then he put the unhappy and badly fright
ened rabbit into the prison, scattered
bread, corn and other bits OF food on the
noor for his victim and also placed before
II tin cup of water. Had anyone said TO
Artie that his conduct was wicked he
would have said II was not so; that he was
kind to the little rabbit and gave It
warm cage with plenty to eat and drink
without its having to hunt for It. Indeed,
no would have said that the rabbit was
much better OF in his keeping than in the
woods and fields. That shows how much
Artie knew about such things at that time
But wisdom came to him within a very
short time
One morning-it was the Saturday before
Easter-Artie decided the cage of his little
Lady Grey" las he called the rabbit)
needed cleaning. So he pulled Off a slat
and put In his hand to take out the little
prisoner, that he might put It into another
box he had brought for the purpose AS
he thrust his arm into the cage he tore
MS wrist on nail which pierced the closed
side of the box. Internationally he with
drew his arm with cry OF pain, and began
to stop the flow Of blood with his hand
kerchlef So much occupied was he with
his hurt that he forgot about the opening
no had made in the cage ana suddenly the
little rabbit ran out, fairly leaplnR over
Arties bending figure. on II went like the
wind across the yard. Artie forgetting the
bruise on his wrist went in mad pursuit of
his former prisoner. The yard was fenced
In by high wooden paling and the rabbit
tried In vain TO pass between the palings,
which were very close together. The height
OF tho fence made II quite impossible for
the little animal to leap It at such close
Thus a
hither and thither lodging Artie from this
ana that side or corner OF the yard. Then
the wind, which Is always friendly 70 the
wild things OF nature, blew suddenly and
nercely across the yard, dashlng dust In
Artie's eyes and at the same time blowinr
the gate open. Out went the little rabbit
through the opening the WIND had so kindly
made for its exit. And as soon as Arti,
could clear his eyes OF the dust he tool
out In pursuit as fast as his legs could
carry him.
On down the big road they went, the
little rabbit gaining on Artie at first, bu
soon losing ground, for II had been weel
In confinement and had eaten scarcely any
thing. Consequently It was In a very veal
condition. To add to this the long chase 4
had endured In the big yard had exhausted
It.
Artie's wicked little heart bounded Will
pleasure as he saw himself gaining on IN,
rabbit. They were now OF the main roat
and going over a hin toward the river hal
q mile beyond. Artie hoped TO catch tn
runaway before It gained the heavy wood
that bordered the river, for then It's chance
OF escape would become easier, inasmuc
as Il could dodge behind stumps and falle
trees or crawl into q hollow log.
But Arties poor little victim seemed [