By the Roadside | Page 7

way to keep some
rabbits inside. I told him it didn't look well, anyway."
"Of course that helped some," said the Dream, "since he must have
them so, whether they look well or not."
"Yes," said Marjorie. "See, he has come out into the road to look at
them. I guess what I said sort of worried him. I don't think those pickets
are a good shape, either. I like them better where they are cut sort of
curly on top, instead of just plain points."
"Yes," said the Dream. "And did you tell him about that too?"
"No," said Marjorie, "I didn't think about it then; but--say--where do
you suppose those rabbits are now? You don't think that they are shut
up in that little dark shed over there, do you? Wouldn't that be dreadful?
There, those people heard what I said, and they are wondering too. See
them look,--and I suppose that they will tell others about it. Isn't it too
bad? And he's such a nice appearing boy too. I'm sure he doesn't mean

to be cruel. I think that some one ought to speak to him. Poor little
things, shut up in the dark on a beautiful day like this! It ought not to be
allowed. I'm going to talk to him!" and Marjorie ran across the road
again.
The boy glanced up as she approached; but waited for her to speak.
Marjorie looked him straight in the eye. "Where are your rabbits?" she
asked, severely.
"In the shed," he replied, motioning with his head in the direction of the
building she had noticed.
"What!" she exclaimed. "A lot of lovely white rabbits shut up in that
little dark shed! Oh, how can you be so unkind?"
"They have been there only about two hours," said the boy, "and I shall
let them out as soon as I have nailed on these last few pickets. It will be
only a little while; and besides, the shed is not dark, there is a big
window on the other side, and they have cabbage and things to eat, and
a great armful of clover."
"But they are shut up!" cried Marjorie. "How would you like to be shut
up in jail, even if you did have a lot of cabbage and clover? You ought
to let them out right away. Don't you love them at all?"
"Of course I love them," said the boy; "but can't you see that if I let
them out now I will lose them? And, besides, they are tame rabbits and
don't know how to take care of themselves, and would get into all sorts
of trouble, and probably spoil all of the gardens in the neighborhood."
Marjorie looked unconvinced. "Your arguments sound all right," she
said; "but I am sure that they must be wrong somewhere, because it
certainly isn't right for those poor, dear little rabbits to be shut up that
way. They ought to be let out right now. The fence is nearly done and
they wouldn't try to go through the opening while you are working on it;
they would be afraid. If you don't let them out, every one will be
talking about how cruel you are. I suppose that is what those people are
talking about now," and Marjorie pointed to the persons who had

overheard her comments a few moments before.
The boy glanced toward them anxiously, and then toward the shed.
"Well," he said at last, doubtfully, "perhaps I can manage it;--if only
they won't go through the gap before I can get back to it after opening
the door," and he turned and walked unwilling toward the shed.
"I'll watch the gap," called Marjorie after him.
When he reached the building, he hesitated for an instant, and then he
drew the bolt and threw open the door; but before he had time to turn
and head them off, out scrambled a white wave of rabbits; big and little,
fat and thin; and with one accord made straight for the opening in the
fence. The boy ran after them, calling excitedly to Marjorie to stand
firm and not let them through; and for a moment Marjorie did stand
firm before the oncoming army of waving ears and flying feet; but
when she felt the first scrambling of paws about her ankles, she lost her
nerve, and in a sudden panic she fled wildly across the road and on to
the top rail of the fence on the other side; and by the time that the boy
reached the opening, the rabbits were scattered in every direction up
and down the road and over the fields. For a few moments he stood,
looking after them, and then, without glancing toward Marjorie, he
took up in his arms one