'
"'Oh, no,' said I, 'I prefer to run by myself, for I can easily find
the way and I want to see the country.'
"'If that is the case,' replied Santa, 'I must give you a magic collar
to wear, so that you will come to no harm.'
"So, after Mother Hubbard had given me a good meal of turnips and
sliced cabbage, Santa Claus put the magic collar around my neck and I
started for home. I took my time on the journey, for I knew nothing
could harm me, and I saw a good many strange sights before I got back
to this place again."
"But what became of the magic collar?" asked Dorothy, who had listened
with breathless interest to the rabbit's story.
"After I got home," replied the rabbit, "the collar disappeared from
around my neck, and I knew Santa had called it back to himself again.
He did not give it to me, you see; he merely let me take it on my
journey to protect me. The next Christmas, when I watched by the
road-side to see Santa, I was pleased to notice a great many of the
toy rabbits sticking out of the loaded sleigh. The babies must have
liked them, too, for every year since I have seen them amongst the
toys.
"Santa never forgets me, and every time he passes he calls out, in his
jolly voice,
"'A merry Christmas to you, Bun Rabbit! The babies still love you
dearly.'"
The Rabbit paused, and Dorothy was just about to ask another question
when Bunny raised his head and seemed to hear something coming.
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