The Rabbit Family
Once upon a time, there were four little rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. They lived with their mother in a cozy home under the root of a big tree.
One morning, Mrs. Rabbit said, “My dears, you can go play in the fields or down the lane, but don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Your father had an accident there, and Mrs. McGregor put him in a pie.”
“Now, run along and be good. I’m going out,” she said.
Mrs. Rabbit took her basket and umbrella and went through the woods to the bakery. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five yummy buns.
Good Bunnies and Naughty Peter
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail were good little bunnies. They went down the lane to pick blackberries.
But Peter was a naughty bunny. He ran straight to Mr. McGregor’s garden and squeezed under the gate!
First, Peter ate some crunchy lettuces and some tasty French beans. Then, he ate some red radishes.
After that, Peter felt a little sick, so he went to look for some parsley.
But then, around the corner of a cucumber plant, he saw Mr. McGregor!
Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees, planting young cabbages. When he saw Peter, he jumped up and ran after him, waving a rake and shouting, “Stop, thief!”
Trouble in the Garden
Peter was very, very scared. He ran all around the garden because he had forgotten how to get back to the gate.
He lost one shoe in the cabbages and the other shoe in the potatoes.
After losing his shoes, Peter ran on all fours and went faster. He thought he might escape! But then he accidentally ran into a gooseberry net and got stuck. His blue jacket with shiny buttons caught on the net.
Peter felt very sad and cried big tears. But some friendly sparrows heard him and flew over. They were excited and told him to keep trying!
Peter’s Narrow Escape
Mr. McGregor came over with a sieve. He wanted to catch Peter, but Peter wiggled away just in time, leaving his jacket behind!
Peter dashed into the tool shed and jumped into a can. It would have been a nice place to hide if it hadn’t been full of water!
Mr. McGregor thought Peter was in the tool shed, maybe under a flower pot. He started to look under each pot carefully.
Suddenly, Peter sneezed: “Kertyschoo!” Mr. McGregor heard him and ran after him!
He tried to step on Peter, but Peter jumped out of a window and knocked over three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor, and he was tired from chasing Peter. So, he went back to his work.
Peter sat down to rest. He was very tired and scared, and he didn’t know which way to go. He was also wet from sitting in the can.
After a little while, Peter began to wander around, hopping slowly and looking all around.
Finding the Way Home
Peter found a door in a wall, but it was locked. He couldn’t squeeze under it because he was a chubby little rabbit.
An old mouse was running in and out with peas and beans for her family in the woods. Peter asked her how to get to the gate, but she had a big pea in her mouth and couldn’t talk. She just shook her head. Peter started to cry.
Then he tried to cross the garden, but he got more and more confused. Soon, he saw a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his water cans. A white cat was sitting very still, watching some goldfish. The tip of her tail twitched like it was alive. Peter knew it was best to stay away; he had heard stories about cats from his cousin, little Benjamin Bunny.
He turned back toward the tool shed, but then he heard a noise close by: scr-r-ritch, scratch, scratch, scritch! Peter quickly hid under some bushes. After a moment, he peeked out from behind a wheelbarrow. He saw Mr. McGregor working and his back was turned. The gate was just beyond him!
Peter climbed quietly down from the wheelbarrow and ran as fast as he could behind some blackcurrant bushes.
Mr. McGregor saw him at the corner, but Peter didn’t look back. He slipped under the gate and was safe at last in the woods outside the garden.
Mr. McGregor hung Peter’s little jacket and shoes on a scarecrow to scare away the blackbirds.
Peter didn’t stop running or look back until he got home to the big fir tree.
Back Home
Peter was so tired that he flopped down on the soft sand in his rabbit hole and closed his eyes. His mother was busy cooking and wondered where Peter’s clothes were. This was the second little jacket and pair of shoes Peter had lost in just two weeks!
Sadly, Peter did not feel very well that evening.
His mother tucked him into bed and made him some chamomile tea. She gave him a spoonful to drink before bedtime.
“Just one spoonful,” she said.
Meanwhile, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail enjoyed bread, milk, and blackberries for supper.
THE END