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Mother watched as Little Rabbit came hop, hop, hop down the path. Usually he was such a happy little rabbit but lately he looked so sad and didn't often go out to play with his friends. Mother was worried. "Maybe Little Rabbit is ill," she thought. "Perhaps I should call Dr. Rabbit. If only he would come down the path lippity, lippity, lip like he used to then I would know he is all right."
Little Rabbit hopped slowly to the nest. His nose didn't even go wrinkle, wrinkle at the smell of the fresh blackberry pie Mother had just taken from the oven. "What's the matter, Little Rabbit?," asked Mother. "I know you're not happy. I'd like to help you." "Oh, it's nothing, Mother. I just don't like to play with Archie or Chippy or Flower or any of my friends anymore," answered Little Rabbit. He turned his face away so Mother couldn't see the tears that welled up in his eyes and started to roll down his cheeks. " But, Little Rabbit, I' m afraid you are sick," protested Mother. " Perhaps I should call Dr. Rabbit." " Please, Mother, I' m not sick. It' s just that I never have fun anymore," he said sadly. " All my friends tease me and I don't like it." "Why do they tease you?" asked Mother softly. Now Little Rabbit couldn't hide the tears. " They say I'm too little to do the things they do and they won't let me play with them!" he sobbed. "I don't understand," exclaimed Mother. "You're bigger than Chippy Chipmunk. You're as big as Susan Rabbit and Frisky Squirrel and you are almost as big as Flower Skunk." "It's because of my name," sobbed Little Rabbit. "I wish you hadn't named me Little Rabbit! Please, Mother, may I have a new name?" Mother Rabbit looked fondly at her little rabbit. "Little Rabbit is a lovely name and it's just right for you. That's why I named you Little Rabbit," said Mother. "But," she added sadly, "if you don't like your name and can find one that will make you happy I won't call you Little Rabbit anymore." Then he stopped crying, "Thank you Mother, I'll go right now and find a new name. Then my friends won't tease me anymore!" He started lippity, lippity, lip up the path. "I'll ask all the animal mothers why they gave their baby the name they have," he called back happily, "That may give me an idea for a new name!! Bye, Mother." Mother Raccoon sat at the edge of the garden holding an ear of corn in her baby-like hands. She loved corn from the farmer's garden. In fact she ate so much of it that there was very little left for the farmer and his wife. Little Rabbit hopped up to her. "Excuse me, Mother Raccoon," he said, "I want to ask you a question. Why did you name your baby Archie?" Mother Raccoon thought for a minute. "Why Archie is a lovely name," she answered, "and it's just right for my baby. That's why I named him Archie." She started to cat the juicy ear of corn. "Thank you, Mother Raccoon. I hope you enjoy the corn," said Little Rabbit and he hopped on, He saw Mother Skunk scratching for insects under a rock. He watched a minute then hopped up to her. "Excuse me, Mother Skunk I want to ask you a question. Why did you name your baby Flower?" Mother Skunk stopped scratching. "Why Flower is a lovely name and it's just right for my baby. That's why I named him Flower," she answered. Then she started digging under the rock again and brought out a big, fat bug. "Thank you, Mother Skunk, that surely is a fat bug." said Little Rabbit and he hopped on. Mother Chipmunk was running along a log. She had just come from the farmer's garden and her cheek pockets were stuffed with peas she was taking home for Chippy. "Please stop a minute, Mother Chipmunk," called Little Rabbit, "I want to ask you a question." Mother Chipmunk paused, " Well, what do you want to know? I can't stop very long. It's time for Chippy' s lunch," she mumbled. " I want to know why you named your baby Chippy," said Little Rabbit politely. Mother Chipmunk sat up on her hind legs. "Why Chippy is a lovely name and it's just right for my baby. That's why I named him Chippy," she mumbled. Then she hurried on her way. "Thank you, Mother Chipmunk. I hope Chippy likes his lunch," called Little Rabbit. Then he hurried on his way. Under a big tree in the timber Little Rabbit saw Mother Squirrel hunting for nuts she had hidden last fall. He hopped up to her. " Excuse me, Mother Squirrel," he said, "I want to ask you a question. Why did you name your baby Frisky?" Mother Squirrel whisked her fluffy tail and looked at him. "Can't you see I'm very busy?" she scolded. "That's a foolish question but if you must know, Frisky is a lovely name and it's just right for my baby. That's why I named him frisky." She picked up the nut she had just found and scampered up the tree. "Oh dear," thought Little Rabbit, "the animal mothers are no help at all. They all say the name they gave their baby is a lovely name and just right for him. That's exactly what my mother said. There must be more to a name than that!" In the distance he saw many of his friends gathered around a hole in the ground. They all seemed excited and frightened. He hurried to them. Jack Rabbit was holding a grapevine that looked like a rope. Little Rabbit hopped up to him. "What's the matter, Mr. Jack Rabbit?" he asked. "Why is everyone so excited?" "Quacker Duck has fallen into this hole and can't get out!" answered Jack Rabbit. Someone must crawl into the hole and put this grapevine rope around him so we can pull him out but everyone is afraid to go into the hole. I just don't know what to do!" Mrs. Duck was waddling around the hole crying, "Please, won't someone save my baby? Isn't anyone brave enough to crawl into the hole!" "Oh dear, oh dear." She was crying big duck tears. "I'm not afraid, Mother Duck," exclaimed Little Rabbit. "I'll save you Little Quacker, Give me the rope, Jack Rabbit!" Then his friends began to laugh. "Who-you? You can't do it! Anyone with a name like yours can't be brave." Then they began to dance around and chant, "Little Rabbit-Little Rabbit! Whoever heard of a brave little rabbit!" But Little Rabbit paid no attention to them. He took one end of the rope from Jack Rabbit and down, down; down he went into the hole. The animals could hardly believe their eyes! They gathered around and watched him disappear. Soon they heard Little Rabbit call, " We're ready-pull us up!" All the animals took hold of the rope and Jack Rabbit called, "One-two-three-PULL." And how the animals did pull! Back-back they pulled on the rope. Slowly, slowly up came Quacker and up came Little Rabbit. "Hurrah, hurrah," cheered all the animals, "Little Rabbit has saved Quacker Duck!" Jack Rabbit exclaimed, "three cheers for Little Rabbit. He is the bravest animal here!" Then all the animals shouted, "Let's give him a new name. Let's call him Brave Rabbit!" Mother Duck shouted the loudest of all, "Brave Rabbit-Let's call him Brave Rabbit!" They danced around Little Rabbit chanting, "Brave Rabbit is your name-Brave Rabbit is your name." When Little Rabbit could get away he went home lippity, lippity, lip. Mother Rabbit came down the path to meet him. "You look so happy, Little Rabbit. And you came down the path lippity, lippity, lip," she exclaimed happily. "Did you find a new name?" "No, Mother, I didn't find a new name but my friends gave me one," laughed Little Rabbit. "They named me Brave Rabbit." Then he told her how he had saved Quacker Duck. "I'm so proud of you," beamed Mother, "Brave Rabbit is a good name. Now you'll be happy again. I'll not call you Little Rabbit anymore." Little Rabbit looked thoughtful. "I'll let my friends call me Brave Rabbit," he chuckled, "but will you please call me Little Rabbit, Mother? I really like that name better. I know now that it doesn't matter what my name is! It's what I do that is important. I wasn't afraid to go into the hole to rescue Quacker Duck. My name didn't have anything to do with it." "You're right," said Mother "and you're a brave rabbit but I'm glad you want me to call you Little Rabbit because Little Rabbit is a lovely name and it's just right for you. That's why I named you Little Rabbit!" They hopped into their cozy little house. Little Rabbit's nose went wrinkle, wrinkle. "Mother, I smell fresh blackberry pie. I'd like a big, big piece." And two happy rabbits sat down to a delicious supper of carrot salad and blackberry pie. |