UNCLE JOHN HARE'S PARTY
Reading edition
You remember we left off in the last story just as the two little rabbits were on their way to ask Bo Peep to come to their party. Well, she said she would, of course, and then Uncle John Hare, the old gentleman bunny, went to the telephone and called up Mother Goose and invited her and all the little people of Mother Goose Land to his party.
"Come to my party, come at eight, And bring your key to my little front gate,"
he added, before hanging up the receiver, for he didn't want anybody to be disappointed, you know. But they would be, just the same, if they forgot to bring their keys, for the old gentleman rabbit would never open his front gate after eight.
"Now we had better hurry home to help Mrs. Daisy Duck get things ready for tonight," and he changed places with his bunny nephew, who took the wheel and steered the Bunnymobile, while kind Uncle John Hare looked over the list of names to make sure no one had been left out, and pretty soon, not so very long, they were home and as busy as could be getting everything ready for the big party.
At eight o'clock, and maybe a few minutes before, the little front gate began to rattle, and Mother Goose came up the walk, followed by Goosey-Goosey-Gander and the Three Blind Mice, who held on to the gander's tail feathers so as not to stub their toes on the front door step.
Then pretty soon, the lock began to rattle again, and in came Jack Sprite and the little Forest Fay, and before 13 minutes past 8 every one was there. Well, by and by it came time to cut the big birthday cake in which was hidden a little gold ring, and of course everyone hoped he would find it in his piece of cake. But of course everybody except Benjamin Meadow Mouse was disappointed, which tells you right away who got the ring.
Jack Sprite and Forest Fay Arrive at Uncle John Hare's Party.
Now everything was going along as nicely as you please, when, all of a sudden, there came a rap-tap-a-tap at the little front gate, and Mrs. Daisy Duck, the old housekeeper, whispered:
"Somebody's knocking at the gate, We won't let him in because it's too late; No one gets in who has lost his key No matter what time the hour may be."
But, goodness me. The knocking kept right on, only louder and louder, and pretty soon a gruff voice said:
"I'm the Ragged Rabbit Giantman Open the gate as quick as you can."
"What shall we do?" asked Mrs. Daisy Duck, who was a timid lady duck and never felt safe unless she was out in the middle of Turnip City Lake.
And in the next story, if that big giant doesn't break down the gate, I'll tell you what happened after that.