Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1912 — The ONLOOKER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The ONLOOKER

By WILBVR D. NESBIT

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They said last year when Easter was, an’ me an’ brother John Got lots o’ eggs with names an’ lots o’ little pictures on. That rabbits laid the Easter eggs, an’ pa he showed me where Th’ paper had a picture of th’ rabbit nest, an’ there Was colored eggs all roundabout, an’ rabbits hoppin’ round As if they’s glad their Easter eggs by little boys was found. Ari* so I got a bunny now! I had it for a week, ’ An’ it ain’t cackled none at all, although I go an’ peek Inside its little house an* look if I can find some eggs— But it just sits up when I come, an’ begs an’ begs an’ begs For lettuce leaf an’ cabbage leaf, an* shivers with its nose— I wonder if a rabbit flaps its wings some when it crows! I’m tryin’ to encur-ridge it; iS’e give it lots o’ straw*— But it don’t build a nest at ail, it wants to sit an’ gnaw Th’ cabbage leaves, an’ hop around an* scare at dogs an’ cats. An’ turn an’ jump a foot or two when I look through th’ slats. An’ when it’s night th’ rabbit won’t get up there on th’ roost. An’ doesn’t like It when I try to help it with a boost. I’ve showed it pictures like I want put on my Easter eggs— I guess it understande me, ’cause it took them' with its legs In front, an’ held them up, an’ tried to eat them, too; Then let them drop an’ looked at me as if to say it knew Just what I meant —but still it’s mighty queer; It hasn’t laid an egg at all, an* Easter’s nearly here. It just sets round an’ spends its time a wriggel-in’ its ears An’ jumpin’ sidewise, ’fraldlike, at each little sound it hears. I got some corn an’ stuff like chickens eat, an’ throwed it in. An* told my rabbit that it’s time egg-lay-in’ should begis; I got a nice big nest egg an’ I’ve put it in th’ nest An’ told my rabbit to sail In an* do its level best.