cabbage causes long ears?"




XIV

EARS--SHORT OR LONG


Henrietta Hen's heart began to thump. She dropped a bit of cabbage out of
her bill, letting it fall as if it burned her. And usually she was very
careful as to her table-manners. "Goodness!" she said to Jimmy Rabbit,
who was busily munching cabbage in Farmer Green's garden. "You frighten
me!"

He had just asked her this strange question: "Did you ever hear it said
that eating too much cabbage causes long ears?" And Henrietta Hen didn't
want long ears. She knew they would be sure to spoil her beauty.

Jimmy Rabbit had no time to say anything more to Henrietta Hen. Although
he had not finished his luncheon he left the garden suddenly--and in
great haste. For old dog Spot began barking just beyond the fence; and
Jimmy Rabbit always wanted to get as far from that sound as he could.

When Spot scurried into the cabbage-patch a little later Henrietta Hen
called to him.

"What is it?" he asked her impatiently. "I'm in a great hurry. I don't
like to stop."