THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT
BY BEATRIX POTTER
ONCE upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names
were-- Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.
They lived with their Mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a
very big fir tree.
"NOW, my dears," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, "you may go
into the fields or down the lane, but don\'t go into Mr. McGregor\'s garden:
your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor."
"NOW run along, and don\'t get into mischief. I am going out."
THEN old Mrs. Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella, 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 the lane to gather blackberries;
BUT Peter, who was very naughty, ran straight away to Mr.
McGregor\'s 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, whom should he meet but
Mr. McGregor!
MR. McGREGOR was on his hands and knees planting out young
cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling
out, "Stop thief!"
PETER was most dreadfully frightened; he rushed all over the garden,
for he had forgotten the way back to the gate.
He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe
amongst the potatoes.