DAME BETSY RABBIT

Southland Times, Issue 21431, 27 June 1931, Page 19

DAME BETSY RABBIT

—PrizeDame Betsy Rabbit burrowed in a grassy little mound; She burrowed till she made a comfy house below the groundThen when the house was finished, she cleaned up all the floors, Then started in to burrow quite a lot of small back doors. Now Towser was a terrier, who’d vowed that he would kill The smooth and furry Betsy, if he caught her on the hill So when one morning early her nice front door he spied, He sniffed and barked, he scratched about and then to enter tried. Dame Betsy watched him as she lay, as still as still could be, Right in among some turnips she’d been breakfasting, you see. But though she hated terriers, she had never any fear That she’d let this doggie catch her with her home so very near. But terriers are sharp, you know, with such a clever scent. Dog Towser gave the house up, and around exploring went. Dame Betsy’s eyes grew big with fright, as she, with skips and hops, Began to dodge that doggie in amongst the turnip tops. At last she had to run for home, for he was getting near; But now the race was earnest, for they both were in the clear. The terrier yelped with wild delight, as after her he tore, Both racing for the grassy mound that held Dame Betsy’s door. ft really looked as if the dog would be the first to reach The rabbit's door, but Betsy thought a lesson still she’d teach: So just quite near the door she turned, and Towser’s head alack Bumped hard into the front door as she entered at the back. So that is why the bunnies’ homes on hills or plains or moors Are always made with such a lot of cunning little doors, And that is why poor Towser rambles sadly round the hill, For although he thinks he’s cunning, Betsy Rabbit lives there still. —2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Margaret Jellyman (10), Queen street, Otautati —PrizeDame Betsy was a rabbit, who was not so very old, She made a little burrow in the ground, so I’ve been told. She lined it with her cosy fur, and made a nice snug nest, And in her little burrow-house at nights she went to rest. Dame Betsy had a long, low shelf and it was made of clay; On it she kept her store of food she gathered every day. She had turnip-tops and lettuce-leaves, and peas and carrots too, But clean the house and look for food, was all that she would do. She had no naughty children to run away from home. So now you know Dame Betsy lived by herself alone. She’d never, never grumble or say “I wonder why All the other rabbits don’t work as hard as I?” —2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Joan O’Connell (11), Section 6, Otahuti-Invercargill R.D. —PrizeDame Betsy Rabbit one summer day Went out with the little elves to play. They gathered the dew in the morning hours, And sipped honey sweet from the cups of flowers. They frolicked and frisked in the fields so green, The happiest party that ever was seen. They heard the birds sing in the tree tops high, And saw the clouds sailing across the sky. When the sun set in the golden west They knew it would soon be time for rest. Dame Betsy said to her friends “Good night” And scampered home in the fading light. As I passed her burrow I heard her say: "Well this is the end of a perfect day.” 2/6 and 4 marks to Cousin Catherine Stewart (9), Pyramid.

—Highly Commended.— Dame Betsy was a rabbit grey, Who made a burrow in some clay, Half the night she played leap-frog, And hide-and-seek behind a log. At sunrise she would helter-skelter, Back to her burrow for some shelter, For when the hawks were flying round, ’Twas there she felt quite Safe and sound. Dame Betsy made a little nest, With fur plucked off from her own breast, In this she reared her young so dear, Nor would she let a stranger near. The babies grew quite big and frisky, To venture out seemed very, risky, Dame Betsy warned them once for all, That they must always heed her call. One morning, came one limping badly, All the others eyed him sadly, He never heeded Betsy’s call, Pride often goes before a fall. This made the others far more chary, Of going far and much more wary,

Now when there is a danger near, Dame Betsy thuds and they all clear. —2 marks to Cousin Richard English (12), Orcpuki, —Highly Commended.— There lived in a hole, Dame Betsy Rabbit Who always kept to her daily habit Of taking her children out for a walk, To teach them to run, to eat, and to talk. She called them Tibby, Tony and Tim; Their names they knew off by heart. They knew where the turnips and cabbages grew, And nibbled at any part. Alaa one day, when to breakfast they ran,. A trap caught Tibby and Tim; They were taken away in a farmer's cart Driven by Farmer Jim. Dame Betsy’s skin was silken and grey, And Farmer Jim saw her one day, So the end of her tail, to tell you I’m

sorry, Was bobbling along on the back of a lorry —2 marks to Cousin Beth Perry (10) Mataura.