Billy Bunny and Uncle Bull Frog | Page 6

promise me just one
thing, And that is never again to say: 'Gid-ap' as you drive me along the
way, For I always go the best I can; I'm a faithful friend to every man,
So please don't hurry me so, For I'm not trying to go too slow."
"All right, my good old horse," said kind Uncle Lucky. "Your master
shall give me his word." So the horse jumped down and the willow tree
stopped weeping right away, for it was so glad that the poor old milk
horse was never again to be hurried on his way. And in the next story

I'll tell you why.

STORY VIII.
BILLY BUNNY AND THE GRAY MOUSE.
You remember in the last story how the Luckymobile had run into a
milk wagon? Well, after Billy Bunny had helped the milkman hitch up
his horse and Uncle Lucky had filled the milk cans with ice cream and
soda water from a near-by candy store, so as not to have all the little
boys and girls disappointed at breakfast when they didn't get their milk,
our two little rabbit friends got into the Luckymobile and started off
again.
Well, it was still evening, you know, and the little fireflies who had
crawled into the lamps made them as bright as possible, so it wasn't
hard to steer the automobile. And, after a while, maybe a mile, they
came to a house, where lived a gray mouse, all alone by herself in a
hole near a shelf, where cake and mince pies made her open her eyes,
for they looked, oh, so good, as a pie or cake should.
Now I didn't know I was going to write poetry or I should have let my
hair grow long like a poet instead of going to the barber for a shave.
Well, anyway, the two little rabbits stopped the automobile right in
front of mousie's door and when she heard the horn go honk, honk, she
came to the window and looked out.
"Why, it's Mr. Lucky Lefthindfoot," she squeaked, and then she opened
the door and asked the two little rabbits in and gave them some pie and
cake.
"You can put the automobile in the barn if you like," she said, "and
spend the night here, for it's getting very dark and maybe you'll run into
something." So Billy Bunny took the Luckymobile around to the barn,
and just then an old owl began to toot:

"I'm very fond of little gray mice, And little white rabbits, too, are
nice."
And down flew that old gray owl and made a grab for Billy Bunny. But
he didn't catch him. No, sireemam! For the little rabbit hopped into the
henhouse through the little round door, and the big red rooster began to
crow:
"Look here, Mr. Owl, if you come inside I'll hurt you with my spur.
Don't you dare get funny with Billy Bunny, Or muss his pretty white
fur."
And then he flew down from his perch and said, "Cock-a-doodle-do"
three times and a half, and after that the owl flew away. "That was very
kind of you," said the little rabbit. "Oh, don't mention it," said the red
rooster, "but there is one thing you can do for me." "What's that?"
asked Billy Bunny. "Take me Luckymobiling," laughed the red rooster.
"All right. To-morrow Uncle Lucky and I will invite you for a nice
drive," said the little rabbit, and if the Luckymobile doesn't get sick
maybe Uncle Lucky will ask some little boy or girl to go, too, and
maybe it might be you.

STORY IX.
BILLY BUNNY AND RED ROOSTER.
Well, the next morning when the little rabbits woke up the sun was
shining brightly through their bedroom window and Mrs. Mousie was
singing a song down in the kitchen below as she made hot muffins for
breakfast. And this is what she sang:
"Upstairs in my nice guest room are two Nice little rabbits in bed. As
soon as I'm able I'll fix up the table And give them some honey and
bread. And then a hot muffin to give them a stuffin', And then they'll be
bountifully fed."

And when Billy Bunny heard her he grew so hungry that he hurried
faster than he had ever hurried before, and so did the old gentleman
rabbit, and he buttoned his collar on backwards and put his left shoe on
his right foot and tripped over his old wedding stovepipe hat.
And after that they both hopped downstairs, and as soon as Mrs.
Mousie heard them she brought in the bread and honey and the hot
muffins and they all had breakfast. And after that Billy Bunny asked
her to go automobiling with them.
So she put on her old