Rabbit have done."

"Don't mention it," said the kind old Parson, hurrying back to the Big
Oak Tree before the light grew too strong for his big round eyes.

Oh, children, never disobey,
And never break a rule,
And never tell what is untrue,
Nor run away from school.

Perhaps if all the little boys and girls who read this story will learn
this verse, it will keep them out of trouble. If Jimmy Crow had, maybe
he never would have disobeyed his mother.

THE STOLEN EGGS

MR. MERRY SUN was up bright and early. He shone on the Sunny Meadow and
lighted up the dark places in the Shady Forest.

He even poked a sunbeam in the eye of Parson Owl, who winked and blinked
and turned the other way.

Soon everybody was wide awake, for the Little People of the Shady Forest
and the Sunny Meadow are always up with Mr. Merry Sun.

Little Jack Rabbit, looking out of the Old Bramble Patch, wondered who
was bending over the tall grass in the corner of the Old Rail Fence.
Shading his eyes with his right paw, he looked again. Yes, it was the
Farmer's Boy. Pretty soon he stood up straight, holding his hat
carefully in his hand. Then he turned with a whistle and walked home.

"I wonder what he's been up to?" thought Little Jack Rabbit, and, being
a curious little bunny, he hopped over to find out. Carefully peeping
through the tall grass he saw a nice round nest, but it was empty. Only
a gray speckled feather was left.

"He's stolen the eggs!" cried the little rabbit. "He's just mean enough
to steal eggs!"

[Illustration: "Did You Steal My Eggs?" Cried Henny Penny.

_Little Jack Rabbit's Adventures._ _Page 43_]

Just then Henny Penny came across the Sunny Meadow. She was a very
pretty gray speckled hen and lived in a little house by the Big Red
Barn. But instead of laying her nice white eggs in the comfortable nests
in the Henhouse, she came all the way over to the Old Rail Fence Corner.

But Little Jack Rabbit didn't know that. He didn't know whose nest it
was until Henny Penny cried distractedly, "Who has stolen my eggs? Did
you, Little Jack Rabbit?"

"Is it your nest?" he gasped, so startled that he asked a question
instead of answering one.

"Of course it's mine," replied Henny Penny, looking at him as if she
meant to peck his little pink eyes right out of his head. "But answer my
question. Did you take my eggs?"

"Of course not," said the little rabbit. "I s