The Moon Man, the Lady and the Rabbit.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 6, 11 February 1905, Page 56

The Moon Man, the Lady and the Rabbit.

A little boy and his mother sat at the nursery window one fine evening. The moon peeped through the white curtains, “Show me the man in the moon, mother,” said the boy. and the mother pointed out the man with his thorn bush and his dog. Then she showed him the lady in the moon. too. like a lovely profile on a freshly-minted silver coin, her hair blow ing about her face; and the rabbit pounding rice in a mortar. “And do they all live in the moon, mother—the old man and his dog, and the lady and the rabbit ?” said the boy. "Yes. my child.” replied his mother, “and 1 will tell you the story of a little boy who once travelled to the moon and met them all. “The boy’s name was Jack, and his father made balloons for a living. One day Jack thought he would like a ride in one of the balloons. So he seated himself in the car. released the ropes, and they were off! Ip. up they sailed, over the housetops and far away, straight up to the clouds. The balh»on ran right through a Huffy white cloud, and then another red with sunset, it was beautiful up there in the sky. and Jack was not afraid. Presently the balloon grazed a star, and he saw’ lying just ahead a great silver country, with mountains, plains and lakes all brightly shining. On this strange shore Jack made a safe landing, and looking down saw' the earth whirling below no bigger than a copper cent! “ ‘This is the moon.’ thought Jack, and he was strengthened in his opinion by noticing a rabbit on the next hill pounding rice in a mortar. He could distinctly hear him grumbling. ‘Worse and more of it. Always rice, and more rice, and nothing but rice!’ With this he pounded so spitefully as a’most to knock the bottom out of the mortar. “Jack was about to speak to the strange creature when a yellow and white dog appeared, and, making a sign to him. led him to a retired spot out of earshot of the rabbit. “ ‘I am dreadfully agitated,’ said the dog ‘Dreadfully! 1 have just discovered the plot.’ “‘What plot?’ inquired Jack. “ ‘You must Im* a stranger here,’ said the dog. ‘And now I come to look at you 1 aui sure of it. Everybody here knows

there i> a plot from the way he pounds that old mortar.’ “‘Who? The rabbit?’ asked Jack. “ ’Of course, stupid,’ said the dog. ‘Who else has a mortar? Who else pounds? Who else makes plots? If you don’t know I’ll tell you. He’s an infamous magician, he is. Why, my master—but I’ll tell you that story, or you can see for yourself when we rescue the princess.” “Jack gasped. This w.-.s Interesting. “‘Come along to my place,’ said the dog. “Sorry I can’t offer you anything better, but 1 will when we get our rights.’ “The pair walked along until they came to a low thatched cabin with a thorn bush in front. An old man leaned on a stick before the door. He took no notice of them, but stared at the hills with melancholy eyes. “The dog set out porridge in bowls, and motioned to Jack to be seated. The strange trio supped in silence. “ ‘Please tell me about the princess and the rabbit,’ said Jack at last. “ ‘Well,’ the dog began, ‘at one time the moon was ruled over by a prince who was handsome, generous and good. The rabbit was prime minister, and a scheming fellow he was, too, but no one suspected then that he was a magician. He was very jealous of the prince. In fact, he wanted to rule the moon himself. One day he picked a quarrel with the prince, and cast an evil spell upon him and also upon his faithful gentleman in waiting. “ ‘As soon as the rabbit pronounced his wicked charm no prince was to be seen. They searched high and low for him, out found no one in the royal apartments but a beggar man and his dog.’ Here the dog winked at Jack. “ ‘The people, of course, would not hear of the rabbit as their ruler. They suspected that he had spirited away the prince, so they deposed him from his office. They then elected the present princess. daughter of a very noble house, to reign over the moon. The rabbit is still trying to obtain the crown, and though Her Most Gracious Alajesty is carefully guarded he has at last made a plot to reach her with his evil enchantments.’ “ ‘How? And how are we going to stop him?’ asked Jack. “ ‘The spell,’ said his friend, ‘is tied up in a silken bag with the charm worked in golden beads upon it. The rabbit has bribed the princess’ waiting woman by t urning all the apples on her little tree to gold to allow him to wear her clothing. So, at dusk, passing himself off as the woman, he will enter the palace ami tuck the bag under Her Majesty’s pillow. After she has sTept upon it she will become a spider.’ “‘The villain!’ cried Jack. ‘Let U 3 start at once!’ “The dog winked knowingly. ‘We may as well go pay our respects to the princess.’ said he.

•’They found the princess supping. She was eating gold and silver cake, honey and sweet melons, and saluted Jack and his comrade with courteous inquiries. The l>oy had opportunity to observe that the dog was well skilled in the uses of the court, and was charmed to find the prin cess none other than the lovely lady in the moon he had seen so often from the earth. She was pale and shimmered with a silvery- radiance. Her white robes were spangled with stars, and a tiny crescent glimmered in her hair.

*’\\ hen they bowed themselves out with much ceremony the dog led .lack through winding corridors to the princess' apart ment. Here they hid in the curtains, waiting for the rabbit to appear. “Jack was getting sleepy when he heard a soft padding of feet and a rattle of nails. Someone was fumbling at the bed curtains. Both sprang forward and seized the intruder, shouting for lights. "In a moment the palace was astir. Servants ran with lights and clubs, and.

pulling oil’ the cap of the waiting woman. disclos«*d the wily face of the rabbit. The bag containing tin* spell was found under the pillow. "Xow that they had sufficient evidence t hex tric<l the rabbit in court, and threw him into prison, w here he was condemn ed t<> pound all the rice used in the moon. I’he laithle— waiting woman was trans ported io a distant star. "As soon as tin* rabbit was imprisoned all of his spells were broken, and tinman in the moon became again a charm

ing prim*** and the dog a very handsome tii-t gentleman in waiting. Of course the prince fell in love with the and -die with him. and they were married the next full moon. "As for lack. I hex had all groxxn mi attach(*d to him that tin* prince made him ><•<•011*1 gent h-man in waiting, with pel mi»ion to xi>it hi> father ami mothei on t In- eart h txx ice a x ear. "Ami that is all the story, my dear." >aid the little boy's mother, "so no b bed."