The Tale of Peter Rabbit

PART ONE

Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter. They lived with their mother in a rabbit hole under a big tree.

"Now my dears," said Mummy Rabbit one morning, "you can go and play in the fields or near the lane but don't go into Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden. It is a very dangerous place. Now run along and don't be naughty. I am going out."

Then Mummy Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella and went through the woods to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns.

Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, who were good little bunnies, went down by the lane to pick blackberries.

But Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden and squeezed under the gate!

First, he ate some lettuces and some French beans and then he ate some radishes. And then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.

But, round the end of a cucumber frame, he met Mr. McGregor! Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting young cabbages but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and shouting, 'Stop thief!'

Peter was very afraid and he ran all around the vegetable garden because he had forgotten the way back to the gate. He lost one of his shoes in the cabbage patch and the other shoe where the potatoes grew.

After losing his shoes, he ran on four legs and went faster. He nearly escaped but unfortunately he ran into a net for the gooseberries. The buttons on his new blue jacket got tangled in the net and he was trapped. Peter couldn't move and he started crying. Three friendly sparrows heard Peter crying and flew down to him. "Come on, Peter," said the sparrows. "Don't give up. You can do it!"

PART TWO

Mr. McGregor came up with a sieve to catch Peter but Peter wriggled free just in time, leaving his jacket behind him.

Peter Rabbit rushed into the garden shed and jumped into a watering can. This wasn't a good idea because there was water in the watering can.

Mr. McGregor was sure that Peter was somewhere in the garden shed, perhaps hiding under a flowerpot. He began to turn over each pot carefully, looking for Peter Rabbit.

Suddenly Peter sneezed. "Achoo! Achoo!"

"Bless you." said Mr. McGregor. "I'll catch you now."

Peter jumped out of a window, knocking over three plants. The window was too small for Mr. McGregor. He was tired of running after the rabbit so he went back to his work.

Peter sat down to rest. He was very tired and afraid and he didn't know which way to go. Also, he was very wet from sitting in the watering can. After a time, he began to walk around, looking for a way out.

Soon, he arrived at a pond where Mr. McGregor filled his watering can. A white cat was looking at the goldfish, sitting very still. Only its tail moved. Peter decided not to speak to the cat. His cousin Benjamin Bunny told him that cats are dangerous for small rabbits.

Peter Rabbit went back towards the garden shed but suddenly he heard Mr McGregor digging in the garden. Peter hid under a bush and after a bit he came out and climbed on a wheelbarrow and peeped over. The first thing he saw was Mr. McGregor. His back was turned towards Peter and on the other side of Mr McGregor was the gate!

Peter got down very quietly off the wheelbarrow and then started running as fast as he could along a straight path behind some blackcurrant bushes.

Suddenly, Mr. McGregor saw Peter Rabbit but Peter did not care. He slipped under the gate and was safe at last in the woods outside the garden.

Mr. McGregor hung up the little jacket and the shoes for a scarecrow to frighten the blackbirds.

Peter never stopped running until he got home to the rabbit hole under the big tree.

He was so tired that he flopped down on the nice soft sand on the floor of the rabbit hole and he shut his eyes. His mother was busy cooking. "Where are Peter's clothes?" Mummy Rabbit thought. It was the second little jacket and pair of shoes that Peter had lost in a fortnight!

I am sorry to say that Peter was not very well during the evening. His mother prepared some camomile tea for Peter and then put him to bed.

Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail had bread and milk and blackberries for supper.

THE END