The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-03

Then again 1t Is very nice to know just who your relatives are. You see, IT you cannot be proud of yourself, you sometimes can be proud of your rela- tives. and that is the next best thing. Anyway, that is what Peter Rabbit says, and Peter ought to know. Promptly at sun-up the second morn- ing of school Peter and Jumper the Hare were on hand to learn more about their family. Old Mother Nature smiled as she saw the eager curiosity shining in their eyes. She didn't wait for them to ask questions.
 Yesterday" she began, T told you about your water-loving cousin, the Marsh Rabbit. You have another cous- in down in the Sunny South who is al- most as fond of the water Some folks call him the Swamp Rabbit and others the swamp Hare. The latter is the proper name, because he is a true Hare"
 And does he truly like the water?" asked Jumper, looking as if such a thing was hard to believe.
 He surely does,' replied Old Mother Nature. "He lives in swamps instead of marshes, but he is a fine swimmer and very fond of the water. When danger is near he always makes for the nearest pond or stream"
 How big is he?" asked Jumper
 Just about your size," replied Old Mother Nature. If anything, he is little bit heavier. But his hair lies much smoother than yours and if you were sitting beside him you probably would look just a little bit bigger, but only little. As in the case of his cous- in, the Marsh Rabbit, the hair on the soles of his feet is thin. His toes are rather long and he can spread them widely, great help in swimming. Be- ing a good runner he doesn't have to take to the water as his little cousin does, but he does take to it as the easiest way of getting rid of his ene- mics. The Marsh Rabbit and the Swamp Hare are the only members of your family in all the Great World who like the water and are quite at home in it."
 Peter gave a wistful little sigh. q wish I liked it." he confessed, but just thinking of it makes me feel shivery all over.'
 Me, toon' exclaimed Jumper. "I don't mind getting my feet wet, but to go in all over-ugh!"
 Old Mother Nature laughed. Tt is a good thing everybody doesn't have the same likes and dislikes," said she. Now, of whom shall I tell you?"
 Our biggest cousins" cried Peter and Jumper together. "The ones you told us yesterday are bigger than Jumper" added Peter. "It is hard to believe there can be any bigger than he"
 The pleasant twinkle was in Old Mother Natures eyes as she replied:
 "One of the hardest things in the world is to believe a thing of which you know nothing at all. Compared with these other cousins. Jumper really isn't big at all He seems big ta~ you, Peter, but if he should meet his cousin, Snow White the Arctic Hare who lives way up in the Frozen North, he would feel small. Snow White looks very much like Jumper in his winter coat. for he is all white but the tips of his ears, which are black but he is twice as big"
 Does he wear white coat all the year round?" asked Jumper eagerly.
 When he lives so far in ths North that the snow and ice last most of the year he does" replied Old Mother Ma ture. When he lives where the snow disappears for while in summer he changes his white coat for one of gray"
 But how can he live so far in the North that the snow and Ice se1dop melt?" asked Peter looking very much puzzled. What does he find to eat?"
 That's a fair question:" said Old Mother Nature Even way up there