One sunny Spring day a very lonely rabbit was hopping about in a flowering meadow. He met a timid little Hare. “I seldom see anybody,” thought the Hare; so the two soon grew quite friendly and decided to have a feast together.
The rabbit invited the Hare to share his store of food. They were both very merry, and the rabbit suddenly decided to visit a Badger who lived a little way off, and ask him to join them also. The Hare agreed and they soon reached the Badger’s home.
But the Badger would not come out. “It is most rude of you to come hopping about at this time of day!” he exclaimed angrily, as he saw who his visitors were. The rabbit apologised for coming so early, and said they were only just off to their feast.
The Badger huffed and puffed in his burrow until he suddenly remembered he had no food that day at home. So he said, “Well, you owls seem to be enjoying yourselves; perhaps you will see my way to ask me to join your company”; and out he rushed to his pantry.
Meanwhile the rabbit and the Hare were very busy thinking of those who lived nearby. So they sent invitations to come to their feast to a very stupid Wood-Pigeon, a most agreeable Tortoise, and of course a very merry family of Frogs who lived behind the pond in an old cow’s skull.
They all agreed to come, and next day the rabbit and the Hare were ready to receive their guests. So when all the animals were seated at the table, you may imagine all the noise. The Tortoise rolled about with delight at discovering a caterpillar preserved. The Frogs gave joyful leaps and croaks as they munched flying ants and dabbed their long tongues about in a most comic fashion. The Cow, who had come as a special guest, never stopped chewing it seemed to enjoy its blissful contentment. Even the Badger was very merry as he found a trencherman in his “faded” old cousin the Tortoise. In fact, the Tortoise helped to supply much of the entertainment as he told stories of old age and grizzled hairs by the yard.
But all the merriment was brought to an end by the voice of the angry Bull, who rushed into the circle and bought about a decisive separation. “How is it,” he bellowed, “that you creatures come here uninvited to my pasture? what do you mean with your foolishness?”
So that was the end of all their jollity.
By helping others you may sometimes be helped yourselves in a most unlooked-for manner.