258 CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR SABBATH HOURS.

 of warfare; and after a few rounds, and
 STORIES ABOUT RABBITS.
 losing no small amount of fur, she fled.
 LMOST all children have their This cat would have boldly faced a dog
 pets. Among those of the who attacked her in front, but this plan of
 children in the picture are rab- jumping over her back, and inflicting a se-
 bits and chickens. vere blow every leap, she could not stand.
 This little boy is giving the rabbits The stamp of the rabbit is also a sig-
their morning cabbage-leaf, and one of nal of warning. If a number should be
the little chicks has come for his break- quietly feeding together, and one should
fast. be frightened, it would stamp violently,
 The rabbit is smaller than the hare, and all would scramble to their holes.
and has shorter ears and hind legs. The following fable about the rabbit
 Rabbits sometimes have six or seven has some lessons of instruction that will
litters, usually eight in a litter, of little be useful to all our readers.
rabbits in a year; so that, were it not for Among the roots of an old oak tree in
certain diseases to which they are ex- a wide forest there was a rabbit's hole of
posed, and that so many are taken by great antiquity. It had lately come into
hunters, and fall a prey to owls, eagles possession of a younger branch of the
and foxes, etc., they would multiply very family, who, it is said, inherited all the
fast. wisdom of the old proprietor.
 Rabbits are of various colors, white, The forest was infested by their ene-
black, ash-colored, brown, etc. mies, and much discretion and forbear-
 These animals are very timid, and run, ance were needful, not only to live peace-
when in danger, with great swiftness, ably, but to live at all. The constant
 The bucks, or male rabbits, are exceed- watchfulness was irksome to many rab-
ingly quarrelsome. When they are angry bits, and the question was often asked
with each other, or any one else, they by young bloods,
stamp with their feet in the most threat- "Why were we born in a forest so full
ening manner, of dangers ? Rather than be always on
 When they attack any object which their guard, they would go where they
they dislike, they leap over it, giving it a pleased, and take the consequences;"
violent kick with their hind feet as they and the consequences were that many a
pass. In this manner they will often rash young rabbit was served up for sup-
strike off pieces of fur with a single per in the holes of the foxes.
blow. "The fact is," the old rabbit used
 A person once saw a combat between sagely to remark, the lord of the forest
a large buck rabbit and a cat, in which put us here, and we must make up our
the rabbit came off conqueror. The cat minds to do the best we can. Evils
seemed perfectly puzzled at such a kind there are, we know, but watchfulness and