“Goodness gracious meebus!” exclaimed the old gentleman rabbit,hanging his old wedding stovepipe hat on the hat-stand, “I’m as hungry as three bears!”

“So am I,” laughed the little rabbit, “I could eat a bag of animal crackers!”

“Dearest me! Somebody’s knocking,” exclaimed the old gentleman rabbit, as Little Miss Mousie brought in the lollypop stew. “I wonder if it’s Old Man Trouble?”“No, it isn’t,” answered Little Miss Mousie, peeking through the keyhole. “It’s Granddaddy Bullfrog.” “Ask him in! Don’t keep him waiting!” shouted dear hospitable Uncle Lucky. “You’re just in time for lunch,” he added, as the old gentleman frog hopped into the kitchen. Pushing up a chair, Little Miss Mousie made an extra place for him at the neat little table. But, oh, dear me! she forgot to give him a napkin, and because the old gentleman frog was too polite to ask for one while eating a raspberry tart, one of the raspberries rolled down his white waistcoat! “Goodness gracious meebus!” exclaimed dear Uncle Lucky, suddenly seeing the big red stain, “were you signing checks with red ink this morning?” But before the embarrassed old frog could answer kind Little Miss Mousie washed off the spot with a gasolene cloth. After the meal was over Uncle Lucky and Granddaddy Bullfrog hopped out on the front porch to play pinochle and the little rabbit went out to talk to the Old Red Rooster, who was still polishing his spurs in the Old Red Barn. By and by the little bunny grew restless and, thinking he had better be going, he hopped around to the kitchen to say good-by to Little Miss Mousie. After she had filled his pockets with sweet cookies, he stopped a moment at the front porch, but Uncle Lucky and Granddaddy Bullfrog were so busy with their game that they never noticed him. “I’ll say good-by for you,” twittered little Mrs. Sparrow, knowing that the little bunny didn’t want dear Uncle Lucky to wonder what had become of him. “Here comes a little rabbit bunny, His knapsack full of ready money Lettuce bills and carrot cents, And maybe a million turnip pence,” sang Bobbie Redvest from the Old Rail Fence. “Not quite so many,” answered the little rabbit, “but maybe some day I’ll have enough to buy mother a jade necklace.” “Look out! Look out for Danny Fox! He’s sneaking round in his tiptoe socks! If he should see you first, look out! You won’t have time to even shout!” whispered Billy Breeze to all the little people of the Shady Forest and the Sunny Meadow. He didn’t exactly whisper it, you know. He did it in a better way, a way by which no one heard a word. He carried the smell of the wicked old fox to the nose of every little animal. 

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