Chapter V

THE ANIMALS’ FOURTH OF JULY

“We’ll have fun and frolic by and by, For soon will come the Fourth of July.”

So sang all the wild animals in the woods.

The Runaway Bunny ran on and on until he could run no longer. Then he set up a shout, for he had been traveling in a circle, and here he was back at his own little house in the woods!

There was his wee spinning wheel in the corner. There were his dishes on the table as he had left them.

He hopped into his wee bed and slept a week and a day. Then he went down cellar and got a cabbage to eat. He felt very happy. He wanted to work. Then he began to spin furiously, singing:

“I can spin quite well if I only try, I will buy a flag for the Fourth of July.”

“Rap-a-tap,” sounded on his door and in walked Pit-A-Pat, big as life and twice as natural! She told the story about her little kittens who had lost their mittens. The Runaway Bunny listened earnestly, for he had known what it was to be cold.

“When I sell the goods I spin,” said Bunny, “For mittens I’ll give you a pile of money.”

Pit-A-Pat bowed her thanks and the Runaway Bunny began to spin again in real earnest, saying:

“I can spin quite well if I only try, “I’ll buy firecrackers for the Fourth of July.”

“Bowwow,” sounded outside the window.

There stood Rough Coat, growling, “I need a new collar. I want one with my name and address upon it, so if I get lost some one can lead me home.”

The Runaway Bunny knew how hard it was to want things. So he whistled, and sang:

“When I sell the goods I spin to-morrow, I shall have money for all to borrow.”

Rough Coat went away happy.

“Whir, whir, whir,” went the cunning little spinning wheel.

All day long the Runaway Bunny kept on spinning and telling what he wanted to buy for himself with the money, after his goods were sold.

All day long the animals came and begged him for money.

At last he ran to the store and sold the cloth he had spun. When he had given the animals the money they wanted, he said:

“I’m a Runaway Bunny and here I sigh, I’ve nothing left for the Fourth of July.”

“No flag, no firecrackers, no fireworks,” called Old Who-Who, the Owl.

The Runaway Bunny dried his eyes, for he was so disappointed he had shed a few tears. And he said:

“As long as I can make a rhyme, I’ll run away and have a good time.”

He was just starting to run away when there was a great noise and Pit-A-Pat came with a large flag as a present, and Rough Coat brought firecrackers. Soon all the animals gathered together for a surprise party and they set off fireworks and drank red lemonade.

They all had a happy Fourth of July.

The Three Little Kittens wore their new mittens and Rough Coat wore a new collar. All the animals hugged and kissed the Runaway Bunny and begged him to stay with them in the woods.

Suddenly, without any warning whatever, he took his flag and, singing a song to himself, went hippety-hop down the road.

He sang:

“The Fourth of July is a holiday; And I’m running away, I’m running away!”

All the animals clapped their paws and cried:

“Please stay with us and forget the habit Of running away, dear Runaway Rabbit!”