For the Little Folk

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

For the Little Folk

RABBIT scratched his long ears thoughtfully. "Now, if that isn't the most aggravating thing that could happen!" he moaned. "What's tho trouble?" chirruped Charlie Crow, circling round. "I overslept," Brown Rabbit told him, "and I've missed the last bus to Bushiville. Wise Old Owl is giving a party, and a four-mile run in my best clothes would ruin them." "This is all very serious," agreed Charlie Crow. "What you want is a conveyance." "I beg your pardon?" said Brown j Babbit. .. '

"I mean to say, what you want is nomething in which you can drive to Bushiville." "Ah!" said Brown Rabbit. "That is exactly what I do want, but as the bus has gone what do you suggest.'' "Well, that's another matter altogether," said Charlie Crow, stroking his long yellow beak. "We must think." So they sat down outside Brown Rabbit's home and thought. Suddenly Charlie Crow gave a very loud, "Caw!" and leapt into the air. "I know the very thing, he cried. "Passing over a field this morning I saw a big wooden box. Two wheels and a few nails and you have a bus of your own." "Charlie Crow," cried Brown Rabbit excitedly, "just you show me that field and you shall come to the party too. ' So off they went, Brown Babbit treading carefully not to spoil his

All Aboard for Bushville

grand party clothes. Presently the.v came to tho field and there, sure enough, was the wooden box. There was a lot of other rubbish lying about too, and before you could say "Toadstool!" Charlie Crow's sharp little eyes had discovered a fine pair of wheels. Away flew Brown Rabbit to fetch his hammer and nails, and in no time at all the little cart stood ready. "Well, that's all right," said Brown Rabbit; "but how does it go?" "Yes, that's a bit of a; puzzle," admitted Charlie Crow. ' "We must think." So once more they sat down and thought, and they'd almost given up thinking when down the road came the Gosling twins.

"What is all this about?" said the first. And, "A cart without a horse," announced the second. "It's a good cart," said Brown Rabbit sadly, "but we've nothing to draw it alone." And he told them all about the party. "Well, we've never been to a partv," said the first Gosling. "How would you like it if we took you along? Perhaps wo could have a peep at it from the outside." "Goslings!" cried Brown Rabbit, "Wise Old Owl is a friend of mine. Not only can vou see it from the outside, but you shall come right in." Mrs. Rabbit never said if she missed her clothes-line, but it . certainly made the most splendid reins for the Goslings. They preened their wings and brushed their feathers, and off they all went. Brown Rabbit says they got there before the bus.