The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-07
CONFESSIONS OF A MAN WHO
MADE A RABBIT
By burgess JOHNSON.

rabbits. and In an astonishing uunlcr ~ rp,s,
they were failures for tho first time IN =, lam.
period Of ycnrs.
Mrs. Brown snid II was quite essential IL, sir
always in one direction. can understand ho,
that might no true. with In" t,lp of rnl,,, finn,
she produced. A confused stirring wnuld ,c,d B..
tangie the strings. In her ease the failure ou.
startling and pronounced that nn one r,uld III.
tempt to gloss IL over AMI pretend IL wa. rdpJ,
II was possible ,o draw out u spoonful inn, ,
thread that reached across the dining room yL.
thing wns a hair. not n rabbit.
Mrs. Thompson did u curious thing. II had
been the custom in her family from time hmm,
mortal Ia cut the crusts from n slice of l,renl
and rrumble the remainder into IN" rabbit. sir.
ring II In just before the beast is ready to cnor.c
from the chafing dish. ] understand that for
many generations this has made u remarkable
article Of food, quite famous In the various com.
munities where members Of the Thompson family
inheritors Of the secret, have resided.
On this particular occasion the rabbi, 70.
fused 10 assimilate the bread crumbs. There wa.
some exclusive quality about the cheese which
led 1t to withdraw to one side ~ the dish. vhuo
the crumbs segregated themselves in another
corner. mingling only with tome pale yellow fuiI
that seemed to be unrelated To any other Itart ~
the rabbit. Mrs. Thompson went. We under.
stood that 1t was the first time that this had han
lened since her great-grandfathc fed one " the
family rabbits to Thomas jefferson.
After this series of experiences I should nj,
have continued In my intention to build u rabbi,
myself. but 1t happened that a Miss wikiu,
visited our house. and In our efforts To- entertain
her she suggested a rabbit party. | ,rmurrDL
for ! must admit that there was nothing about
her that indicated genius. She was really "
quite Il commonplace type. the sort that j. do.
scribed as amiable and kind to her mother: ll'
my wife likes her and insisted upon the rabbi,
party:
The result Of Miss Wilkins's performance wa.
astonishing To me. She violated all If the rule.
Nobody grated the cheese for her. She droppel
II In In large chunks, just ~ ii came, aud didht
inquire whether II was fresh "r stale.
She chatted gayly about every ihiuy under he
sun while she was stirring it. moving the >pn,t
In any direction. throwing In hit~ If this and that
seasoning without counting the grains or pawn.
the slightest attention apparently. II was n Won.
derful rabbit. Every one wanted more. aud
know that after three helping> slept the slte,
Of innocent childho~l that night.
II was the night of her performance that gave
me renewed courage. If she could ,n il could
So I selected the occasion Of my wife'> birthday
and invited II number of friends IN for the cScuiu.
We began the rabbit m once. for >umcthiu. l"l
me that ] might want Ia max" one or two starr,
before getting int" my fun stride. n> /, wo-,
Moreover. wanted Ia d" everything mys'lf |
had gradually accumulated all Of the >o,r,'
and ! intended to exhibit them.
] fear that my first mistake lay in usii. 'n'.
milk and beer. Fortunately mixed them >ru.
raiely and the milk rurdlcd before | Wu> r....
To feed II to the rabbit. II WIS certified mi X anl
very good beer and I hated 10 waste the m\..
-" we poured il into the cats saucer. ur>
she has never been quite the sam" cat >.r.
night.
This WAS n false start. and while il dh| .o ,r
harm II destroyed some "f my "'utid,"