OUR BOYS & GIRLS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 960, 25 July 1890, Page 5

OUR BOYS & GIRLS.

THE BUNNIES’ THANKSGIVING STORY. (BY JOHN H. JEWETT, IN ST. NICHOLAS). (Concluded.) ‘ln trying to fix a new fuse to an old torpedo shell as an experiment, the charge exploded, and a small fragment of iron injured his right knee. ‘ l'ho aurgeoDa were kind and skilful, but they gave him no hope of his ever being able to do active service again. ‘One day as ho lay in the hoapital, brooding bitterly over his misfortunes, a visitor came to his bedside, and, after speaking kindly with him. she offered to write letters to his family or friends. ‘ The visitor was plainly dressed, and Rab noticed that the ODly ornament she wore was a patch of red cloth in the shape of a Greek cross, which was sewed to herdress, ‘ The big tears came into his eyes as he said to her, “ I have no family and only one near friend in all the world, and I do not wish her to know yet that I am crippled and helpless.”

Then she told him her name was Sister Gazelle, and that she belonged to the Society of the Red Cross. ‘Rab remembered th( *. what the Red Cross meant; for be had read about this brave band, who went about the world nursing the sick and helping the unfortunate. 1 Sister Gazelle’s manner was so quiet and friendly, that in answer to her questions Kab told her the story of his childhood and a little he oould dimly remember of his father and mother. * All he knew about his parents was the story told by the old nurse who brought him away from his home in the South when he was a little child. ‘ Sister Gazelle became very much interested when he spoke of hia Southern home, and askeu him what the nurse had said. ‘ Rab replied that she told the master at the Poor.farm that he was Dr Jack Bunny’s son, and his father and mother were both dyiog of the terrible fever when they had sent her away with the ohild to save his life * Whan Rab had finished speaking, the Sister took his hand in hers and said : “ Cadet Bunny, it is very strange, but I know more of your sad history than you know yourself, for I heard it from your own mother only a few years ago.” ‘ Rab was so surprised and delighted that he could hardly believe he was not dreaming, and he cried out, “Is it true ? Have you seen my mother, and is she still alive ?” ‘The eagerness in his voice and the trembling hope in his eyes made it hard for the kind Sister to tell him he had no mother living, but with great gentleness she said : “ ‘I am sorry to give you more pain, but your dear mother wore the Red Cross for several years after your brave father’s death, and at last laid down her life, as he had done, in caring for the sick and suffering.”

‘Then the sister told him how often and fondly his mother had Bpoken of him, and how long and patiently she had tried to find some trace of him, or of the nurße in whose care he had been sent to his father’s brother in the North, at the time his father died. * The only word that ever came to her was from this brother, who wrote her that the nurse must have lost her way with the child, for no trace of either could be found.

‘ Whilo she lived, the sorrowing mother never quite gave up hope of finding her child and so she toiled on from hospital to hospital, alwayß searching for some one who could tell her the fate of the little one. ‘ Then came her last sickness, when Sister Gazelle met her and cared for her until the end. ‘ Rab listened as only a poor orphan oould listen, who heard for the first time about his own mother’s love and sorrow for him, until at last the good Sißter said she must not talk with him any more that day, but would come again in the morning and bring him the pictures she had of both his father and mother. ‘ Cheered by her kind words and hopeful plans for his future, Rab began to feel that there might yet be a place for even a cripple, who was willing to make the best of his lot in life and to try to be cheerful about it. * As the days and weeks went by, he grew stronger aod was able to go out-of-doors on his crutches to practice what he called “ A lame dog’s arithmetic, putting down three and carrying one,” —as he hopped about the yard. * One fine morning, a few days before Thanksgiving Day, Sister Gazelle came again, and with her was a stranger. ‘ As Rab oame towards them, the stranger gave him a quick, keen glance from head to foot, and then placing both his hands on Rab’s shoulders, he said heartily : ‘“So I have found you at last ! You are Dr Jack’s boy, and no mistake ! I am your unole.” * When the first surprise of their joyful meeting was over they all sat down, while the smiling Sister told Rab how she had found his uncle by advertising in the newspapers of the North, asking the brother of Dr Jack Bunny to send her his address. * The brother had seen the advertisement, and the kind uncle had come to take him to his own home in the country, several hundred miles farther north than Rab had ever been. ‘The next day all the arrangements were made for Cadet Bunny to begin a new life with his own kindred. ‘ On the evening before Thanksgiving Day, after a long ride in the cars, Bab and his uncle arrived at his new home, where for ten happy years he found enough to make him glad and thankful every day of his I lifr, »

Where is Bab now, and what was his uncle’s name ?’ asked Bunnyboy, with a wise expression. Cousin Jack replied slowly, ‘ 1 thought you had guessed my secret by this time, but if you have not, I can say only that the last I knew of Rab, he was living with hia friends at Runwild Terrace, spending a great deal of time telling stories to a lot of good-natured Bunnies; and that his uncle’s name was Deacon Bunny.’ ‘ I thought so, a long time ago,’ said Pinkeyes, ‘ but 1 did not dare to say it, because your name is not Rab.’ * Rab was only a nickname,’ said Cousin Jack, ‘ which was changed to Jack, my real name, when 1 came to live with uncle and aunt, just ten years ago to-night.’ Then the Bunnies were so noisy, talking to and hugging Cousin Jack, that the Deacon and mother Bunny came into the library. * Where is Sister Gazelle now ?’ asked Pinkeyes.

‘Your mother had a letter from her today, and perhaps she will tell us,’ replied Cousin Jack.

‘Sister Gazelle is still wearing the Red Cross,’ said Mother Bunny. Then she added, ‘ I have a surprise for you, too ; for Sister Gazelle is comiug tomorrow to visit us, and I have invited Miss Silva Pox to meet her and dine with us.’

The Bunnies were doubly surprised and pleased with this news, and Pinkeyes said, * How strange it is that Sister Gazello found our Cousin Jack for us, aed Cousin Jack found our Cuddledown.’

‘ That is just what I was thinking aboat,’ said Bunnyboy ; * for if it had not been for her kindness wo might not have had either Cuddledown or Cousin Jack with us now.’

Then the Deacon looked at his watch and said, ‘Come, the story is done, and it is time all you Bunnies were asleep, for to-morroW will be a busy day if we are as thankful as we should be for the blessings we enjoy.’ And now, while they say ‘ good-night,’ we we will say ‘ good-bye,’ and join in wishing the Bunny family many years in which to share their happiness with others, and many glad re-nnions cn ‘ Thanksgiving Day.’ (The End.)