“Henry, dear, do come out to walk, this beautiful afternoon. I am going, and do not want to go alone; please come, won’t you?”

“Supposing I should say, No; I won’t go; what would you do, sister?”

“I should say, well, suit yourself, brother Henry, and I’ll try to go alone; but I do wish you would go with me, it is so pleasant to have some one, and I would rather have you than any one else.”

“Well, you are a darling, good little girl, and I will go with you.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, dear Henry,” said Caroline; and they were soon in the shady lane which extended from their father’s house to their uncle’s, who was their next neighbour.

Caroline and Henry wandered on, admiring the beautiful things which surrounded them, and now and then stopping to pick a flower. Often Caroline would leave Henry, examining some plant, (for he was quite a botanist,) and walk along without him.

“Come, Henry; let us walk as far as the brook, and then we’ll go home.”

“Just wait till I see what this curious flower is,” said Henry. But Caroline did not mind him, and continued walking slowly along, that he might catch up with her, when he was ready. Presently she stopped; her eyes sparkled, and she almost screamed with delight; for, on the ground before her, was a beautiful white rabbit. She held her breath for fear of frightening it; but though she drew nearer the dear little creature did not seem disposed to run away; and she soon perceived that it had hurt its foot very much, so that it could not walk. Caroline took the rabbit in her arms, and as she was quite near the brook, she thought she would give it some water; so she stepped on the little bridge, but when there, she found that she had no means of getting any, and she called aloud:

“Henry, come quick; I have found a rabbit almost dead; come quick.” Henry was soon at her side. “Let me see,” said he; and he bent forward to look at it. “Poor little thing, we will take you home and nurse you till you are well again.”

“Don’t you think, brother, that it would drink some water?”

“No, no; we had better take it home at once, and mother will tell us what to do.” And the two children hastened home with all speed. Their kind mother gave them directions for their new-found pet, and in a week it was quite well, and their parents gave them leave to keep it to play with, after they had learned their lessons, and as long as they were kind towards this curious little creature.

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