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Little Jack Rabbit and Danny Fox

Chapter 20: TIMMY MEADOWMOUSE HAS A DREAM
By David Cory
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About This Book

An episodic children's tale traces a small rabbit whose ill-advised visit to a cunning fox sets off a string of short adventures. Each chapter presents a particular incident—chases involving a farmer's boy and his dog, hideouts, traps, winter frolics, and rescues—where wit, community help, and quick escapes turn danger into learning moments. Repeated motifs of bravery, resourcefulness, and friendship among woodland creatures guide the narrative, balancing light suspense with reassuring resolutions and a recurring return to home.

TIMMY MEADOWMOUSE HAS A DREAM

After bolting the front door, Little Jack Rabbit took Timmy Meadowmouse into the kitchen where Mrs. John Rabbit was paring carrots for supper. It was nice and warm, and Mrs. Rabbit looked so motherly in her big pink gingham apron that the little meadowmouse couldn’t help saying to the little rabbit, “I think your mother’s too sweet for anything.”

Although he said it in a whisper, Mrs. Rabbit heard him just the same. She must have, for she leaned right down and gave him a little piece of carrot.

By and by the kitchen door flew open and in hopped Mr. John Rabbit and Brother Bobby Tail. They couldn’t speak for a few minutes they were so out of breath. At last Mr. Rabbit said, “Danny Fox chased us all the way home!”

Mrs. Rabbit nearly dropped the dish of carrots on the nice clean floor.

“Mercy me! It was only about two hours ago he chased Timmy Meadowmouse into the Old Bramble Patch. My! but that old fox must be hungry!”

“I guess he is,” replied Mr. Rabbit, hanging his fur cap on a peg behind the door. Then he began to sing:

“The chickens they stay
In the Henhouse all day;
And the bunnies don’t go
Very far in the snow.
“Mr. Fox, you can’t snatch
From the Old Bramble Patch
A bunny or mouse.
We’re safe in the house;
“We’ve fastened the latch
On our Old Bramble Patch!”

That night Timmy Meadowmouse had a dreadful dream about Danny Fox. You see, he couldn’t forget how that old robber had nearly caught him. As long as he was awake, he knew he was perfectly safe in Little Jack Rabbit’s house. But when he dropped off to sleep he didn’t dream about being safe in the Old Bramble Patch. Oh, my, no! He dreamed that Danny Fox was still chasing him, which, of course, was simply dreadful.

All of a sudden, he rolled out of bed with a scream, which woke up the whole Rabbit Family. Yes, it even gave Mr. John Rabbit a shiver, and poor Mrs. Rabbit nearly fainted.

By and by, however, they all went to sleep again, and everything was quiet until morning, when Cocky Doodle over at the Big Farmyard woke them up with his early Cock-a-doodle-do.

After breakfast Little Jack Rabbit and Timmy Meadowmouse hopped over to the edge of the Old Bramble Patch, where they cautiously peeped through the tangled stalks to see if Danny Fox were around. But he was nowhere in sight.