began, after the birds had sung an opening chorus.
The bunny children had a jolly time. They saw some pigeons give airship
exhibitions that were better than any flying machines you ever heard of.
They watched the snakes make hoops of themselves, through which jumped
squirrels and rabbits. It was so exciting that Uncle Wiggily Longears
clapped his paws as hard as he could. Then Dr. Possum, who was not very
busy taking care of sick people that day, hung downward from a limb by
his tail ever so long, but when Bully's papa jumped over three big
stumps at once, without so much as touching one--well, you should have
heard the clapping and shouting then! Best of all, Sammie and Susie
liked the baby deer, who stood up on his hind legs and danced, while a
crow whistled. It was so exciting that Sammie and Susie almost forgot to
eat the candy-covered carrots and the molasses-cabbage which their uncle
bought for them. It was the best time they had ever remembered, and they
talked of nothing else on their way home. Even Uncle Wiggily's
rheumatism seemed better. Now, if nothing happens, I am going to tell
you to-morrow night of an adventure Sammie Littletail had with a snake.

XVI

SAMMIE AND THE SNAKE

"Sammie," said Mamma Littletail to her little bunny boy one fine day, "I
wish you would take this basket of cabbage leaves and preserved clover
over to Mr. Groundhog. He was so good to let us go in his burrow that
night the flood came in here that I want to do him a kindness."

"Can't Susie come, too, mamma?" asked Sammie, who did not like to go
through the woods alone, especially since there were so many boys
wandering about on top of the Orange Mountain, now that spring was
getting near.

"Yes, Susie may go if she wants to," answered the rabbit childrens'
mother. "Do you want to, dear?"

"Oh, yes. I'll go with Sammie. But I think he ought to carry the
basket."

"Of course I will," said Sammie, and the two set off to the burrow where
Mr. Groundhog had his home. It was not far from the underground house
where the rabbit family lived, and the children soon reached it. They
knocked on the door, and a voice called out:

"Who's there?"

"Sammie and Susie Littletail," answered Sammie. "We have some cabbage
leaves and preserved clover that mamma sent you."

"That is very nice," remarked the groundhog. "Come right in. I am afraid
to come to the door, you know."

Sammie and Susie walked in and gave Mr. Groundhog the thi