Chapter IV

MOTHER BUN’S VISITORS

Said Mother Bun, “You may think it funny, But I miss my little Runaway Bunny.”

Old Father Bun thought a long time before speaking.

Then said Father Bun, “Would it be wise, In all the papers to advertise?”

Old Father and Mother Bun talked on about the Runaway Bunny, saying:

“In every newspaper in the wood We’ll advertise. It may do good.”

So Old Father Bun sat down by a table and said:

“By my stubby tail, I shall have to think How to use paper and pen and ink.”

He was not used to doing much writing.

“Click, click, click,” went Old Mother Bun’s knitting needles.

“Puff, puff, puff,” went Old Father Bun’s pipe.

By and by he wrote the following:

“Rabbit lost, Rabbit lost! Get him back at any cost. He runs away o’er hill and dale, He has long ears and stubby tail.”

Old Mother Bun said:

“I would nail that on a tree, Where every animal can see.”

Old Father Bun did not agree with her. He knew it paid to advertise in newspapers. So he put on his old felt hat, took his walking stick, and started out to a real newspaper office. He took his notice to Chatterbox, the Monkey newspaper man. So all the animals soon read in their newspapers about the Runaway Bunny.

When Pit-A-Pat read the notice, she smacked her lips and said:

“Here is a chance to have some fun, I’ll make a call on Old Mother Bun.”

So by and by it happened that Old Father Bun said, “I hear the patter, patter of little feet.”

Old Mother Bun said, “Do look out and tell me who is coming.”

Pit-A-Pat came to the door and bowed politely, saying:

“I long for milk. May I have a drink? I can help you find the Rabbit, I think.”

They gladly let Pit-A-Pat in and gave her a saucer of warm milk in their best blue-rimmed saucer.

While she was licking her chops, Old Father Bun said:

“To inquire of you seems rather funny, But did you meet our Runaway Bunny?”

Old Mother Bun said:

“To call him Bunny we’ve formed the habit, He is also known as the Runaway Rabbit.”

“Did he have long ears?” asked Pit-A-Pat, winking slyly. “Did he have a tiny stubby tail?”

“Yes, yes,” shouted Father and Mother Bun eagerly.

“Did he have a habit of running away?” asked Pit-A-Pat, looking narrowly out of her green eyes.

“Yes, yes,” shouted Old Father and Mother Bun again together.

Then the most astonishing thing happened!

Pit-A-Pat got up slowly, humped her back, and without another word walked out of the open window!

Old Mother Bun remarked:

“No use to cry for spilled milk, I see: Pit-A-Pat played a trick on me.”

Old Father Bun said:

“I think her actions are very funny. She must have met our Runaway Bunny.”

“Rap-a-tap-tap,” sounded on the door.

And in walked Rough Coat, saying politely:

“I’m a lonesome fellow; I live alone. Could you give me as much as a chicken bone?”

As luck would have it, they had a whole plate full of chicken bones in the house. So Rough Coat had a wonderful meal.

Old Father Bun said, “Did you meet our Runaway Bunny?”

Rough Coat said, “Did he run as though he would never stop?”

“Yes, yes,” cried Father Bun excitedly.

“Did he sometimes say, ‘My fur and whiskers’?” asked Rough Coat.

“Yes, yes,” cried Father and Mother Bun together.

Rough Coat gave himself a great shake, remarking:

“I enjoyed my lunch, I do declare; Ask your questions of Brother Bear.”

Whisk! with a bound he was gone!

Father Bun said:

“We’ll have other visitors some fine day, No telling, though, what our guests will say.”

At this very minute the Runaway Bunny read in the newspaper about himself.

He read, “‘Bunny lost.’ That must be I.”

He twitched his long ears to and fro and turned to look back at his little stubby tail.

He did not want to go back and visit his grandparents yet. So he started on, saying:

“I won’t stay still for a purse of money, I am such a funny Runaway Bunny!”