won’t you be glad when you hear what I’m going to say,” laughed the rabbit boy. “Hurry up and tell me,” cried the curious squirrel. “I’m giving a circus party,” answered Little Jack Rabbit. “And we’ve hired the Billy Goat Stage Coach to take us all down to the circus at Turnip City. Want to come along?” “Well, I guess yes three times!” “Well, I guess yes three times!” answered Squirrel Nutcracker, springing up from the log to dance about on his hind legs. “It’s a whole year since I’ve been to the circus.” “Well then, be at the Old Bramble Patch to-morrow morning at seven,” replied the little bunny, and away he went, clipperty clip, lipperty lip, up the winding trail to the cave of the Big Brown Bear. “Hello, hello!” shouted the little rabbit. “What’s the matter?” enquired a deep, growly voice, and Mr. Bear came to the door, over which hung a big sign; LOLLYPOPS AND HONEY. “What can I do for you, bunny boy? Do you wish a lollypop for a toy?” he asked, his growly voice changing into a nice friendly voice on seeing the little bunny. “I’d like a lollypop,” answered the little rabbit, “but I don’t want to play with it—I’ll eat it.” “All right,” laughed the Big Brown Bear, shuffling into his cave for a yellow lollypop with little raisins on the top. “I’m giving a circus party,” explained the bunny boy, sitting down beside the Big Brown Bear. “Want to come?” “Well, I should say so,” answered the big kind animal. “I have a cousin who skates on wheels in Uncle Lucky’s circus. I’d like to see him.” “Well then, be at the Old Bramble Patch to-morrow at seven in the early morning. We’re all going in the Billy Goat Stage Coach. Won’t we have fun?” “More fun than a bagful of monkeys,” answered the Big Brown Bear, filling his pipe with dry corncob silk and puffing away for maybe a minute and maybe more, while the smoke curled up to the top of the door. “Who else is going?” “Oh, everybody,” answered Little Jack Rabbit. “Granddaddy Bullfrog, Henny Jenny, Cocky Doodle, Turkey Tim, Goosey Lucy, Ducky Waddles, Timmie Meadowmouse, Chippy Chipmunk, and lots more whom I haven’t yet invited.” “Will the Billy Goat Stage Coach hold them all?” asked the Big Brown Bear re-flec-tive-ly, which means “thinking it over,” dear little boys and girls. “I guess so,” answered Little Jack Rabbit. “Some can sit on top and some under the seats and some on the seats, and—oh, yes, I’m sure it will hold us all.” “All right, I’ll be on time, for I love the clowns and the sawdust ring, In fact, I love ’most everything That’s in the circus and round about; The lion’s roar and the elephant’s shout, The pistol shot and the cracking whip, And the chariot driver’s furious clip,” sang the Big Brown Bear. “I’ll be looking for you,” said the little rabbit, as he hopped away to invite more of his
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