Polite bunny

CHAPTER VIII.
AN ON TIME TALE.

To be on time if you often fail,

You had better read this On-time Tale;

If you would be a well trained Rabbit,

To be on time please form the habit.

Next day Aunt Etiquette called,

“Come, be on time at the table;

To be prompt you are able.”

Then, Pretty Bunny and Healthy Bunny knew that breakfast was ready, and they went hoppety-skip down stairs.

Healthy Bunny did many useful things for Old Aunt Etiquette. He helped her put her house in order and Pretty Bunny washed her dishes, but, sad to say, they were so slow about the work that Pretty Bunny was late to school. That evening she had to stay in school to make up the time she had missed, and as Healthy Bunny was visiting school he had to wait for her.

When evening came Old Aunt Etiquette put on her best spectacles and said,

“Who was late, tell me pray?

Who was right on time to-day?”

Pretty Bunny said,

“To be late to school I’ll not form the habit;

I was a careless, forgetful Rabbit.”

Healthy Bunny said, “I am to blame too, I suppose. I should have run to the store to get your laundry soap long before time for the store to close.”

Both the Bunnies begged Aunt Etiquette to tell a story and she said, “I will read you a story from the book I got at the library yesterday. So she began to read “An On-Time Tale.”

“Once upon a time Tardy Ted talked to his father one evening, and his father remarked,

“You are late to breakfast, and supper and dinner;

I know you don’t mean to be a great sinner;

You are willing to learn if you know the way;

To what else were you late to-day?”

Tardy Ted loved to talk to his father.

Tardy Ted hung his head,

To his father this he said,

They Had Ice Cream and Cake

“I want to be on time as a rule,

But father, I was late to school.”

His father replied,

“If every one in the world was late,

For hours and hours we’d have to wait,

Of the Whistling Wind I’ll ask advice,

And he may help us in a trice.”

The Whistling Wind had a word soon with Ted’s father, and he whispered to many people that Ted was to visit next day.

Tardy Ted was late to bed,

The Whistling Wind went on ahead.

The next day was Saturday and Tardy Ted went to the Tailor to see if he had repaired his best suit and put buttons on it. The Tailor said, as though it was a matter of no moment,

“Alas, young man, I’m a little late;

I really think you’ll have to wait.”

Then Tardy Ted went to the Shoemaker who was mending his best shoes, and the Shoemaker said,

“Alas, young man, I’m a little late;

I really think you’ll have to wait.”

Then he went to the store at the last minute to buy a new neck tie, and as it was time to close, the clerk said,

“Alas, young man, I’m a little late;

I really think you’ll have to wait.”

Tardy Ted went home looking very serious for next day he had a special piece to speak in Sunday School, and he could hardly bear the thought of wearing an old suit, and old shoes, and old neck tie.

Father said, “Too bad, too bad.” He did not add that he had spoken to the Whistling Wind about Tardy Ted’s habit of being late. He did not say he had asked the Whistling Wind to drop a word to the Tailor, and Shoemaker, and Clerk, to teach Tardy Ted a lesson.

Tardy Ted went out all by himself into the woods and began to think how upsetting it would be if everybody was late everywhere with work.

It was at this very minute that he heard the Fairy Shoemaker singing,

“A rat-a-tat, tat, a rat-a-tat, too,

I mend shoes and make them good as new.”

Tardy Ted looked all round but he could not find the Fairy Shoemaker, but he recited his troubles any way.

The Fairy Shoemaker said,

“A rat-a-tat, tat, a rat-a-tat, too,

I could sew on a few buttons for you.”

Then Tardy Ted said, “I still have no neck tie to wear, for my old one is in shreds. How is it you are willing to take so much trouble for me?”

The Fairy Shoemaker replied,

“A rat-a-tat, tat, you’re a little lad,

Not always good, and not always bad.

The Fairy Shoemaker takes a turn,

As to be on time you wish to learn.”

Then the most surprising thing happened!

Tardy Ted looked down at his feet and saw the cutest little watch that sang,

“I can make up a song and rhyme,

I can help you to be on time.”

Tardy Ted could find no owner for the watch so he put it in his pocket and from that moment everything went well.

He got home in time for supper, and there was his coat with the buttons upon it. There were his shoes all mended and Father laid down a mysterious package on the table.

In it was a neck tie of bright red,

The very thing for Tardy Ted.

He was happy as happy could be, and next day spoke his piece well. He decided that the little watch was a magic watch.

He said, “You set my heart a-flutter,

I will hurry or be late to supper;

When you tick, tick, I’m always able

To be on time and sit at table;

You keep on ticking as a rule,

I will be on time to school;

To Tardy Ted I know you’ve said

Time to get up and time for bed.’

I know some rhymes but hardly half

Of those you say—It’s time to laugh,’

I will set you now an hour ahead,

So I’ll lose the name of Tardy Ted.”

From that hour Tardy Ted surprised every one by being on time, and sometimes he was really a little ahead of time.

His name was changed to Teddy On Time,’

And he often made up a song and rhyme;

So now he is known in every clime

As the dear little, queer little Teddy On Time’.”

“What became of the Fairy Shoemaker?” asked Pretty Bunny.

“What became of Teddy On Time?” asked Healthy Bunny.

Aunt Etiquette’s head went nid-nid nodding and she fell asleep.

Pretty Bunny saw by the clock it was quarter of eight and she whispered to Healthy Bunny,

“Don’t you know what the story said?

Let’s hurry or we’ll be late to bed.”

The Family Clock remarked,

“I could hear that whisper round the block,

Tick tick, tock, tick tick, tock.”

Those two little Bunnies went pitter, patter, up stairs.

Healthy Bunny looked under the pillow and what do you suppose he saw? There were two, shining silver watches. On the back of each was written,

“Tick, tick, tock, hear me chime,

‘Be on time, be on time’;

Your manners please do not forget;

Be sure to thank Aunt Etiquette.”

Both Bunnies went to sleep dreaming of the Fairy Shoemaker.

About This Book

CHAPTER VIII. AN ON TIME TALE.

CHAPTER VIII.
AN ON TIME TALE.