"Do they ever come near enough for you to touch them?" he asked the twins.

"No, March hares are very timid," the twins said. "They are terribly afraid of meeting the March lion at a sudden corner," the yellow-haired twin added. "That is on their minds a great deal."

"The very best way to get close to a March hare," said the black-haired boy, "is to take a reserved seat at the annual March-hare ball."

Then the two brothers told this tale; and Amos and Ann saw no reason for not believing it:--

"Maybe n.o.body's told you (For very few people know) What happens down in the meadow brown At the fall of the first March snow.

"A flute-note sounds on the midnight, Blown by a fairy boy, And the rabbits rush from the underbrush, All nearly mad with joy.

"Round and round in the wild wind, Faster and faster they prance; The moon comes out and looks about, And laughs to see them dance.

"Cold frost covers their whiskers, But never their hind legs tire, And whenever a hare feels a flake on his ear, He leaps a full inch higher!

"Harum-scarum and happy, They frolic the whole night through; Maybe you'll hear them dance, this year (Though very few mortals do)."

APRIL

_IV_

_APRIL_

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Taurus_]

The April house was near a pond; It was made of reeds and of rushes, All helter-skelter and out of kelter, And ringed by gooseberry bushes.

The April Fool on the chimney sat, In pointed shoes and a pointed hat, And welcomed the three with a tee-hee-hee-- Fair and funny and fat.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _The April house was near a pond_]

The owner of the house bowed pleasantly as the visitors approached.

"I'm delighted that you happened to come on the first of April," he said.

"But this isn't the first of April," the children began, astonished.

J. M. pinched their elbows. "Don't contradict him," he whispered. "He really doesn't know any better, you see."

"Have you heard the latest news? [asked the Fool]

Cows, this year, wear b.u.t.ton shoes; Dogs will dress in pantaloons; So will monkeys, minks, and c.o.o.ns; Cats go gay in capes and shawls; Robins carry parasols; Bossy calves and nanny-goats Skip in scalloped petticoats; Molly hares and bunny rabbits Look their best in jumping-habits; Babies are to dress in bearskins (If they can be made to wear skins); Grown-up folks in straw or leather, Just whichever suits the weather.

These styles are the latest thing, Brought from Paris for the Spring, Neat and natty, trim and cool"--

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"April Fool!" cried Amos. He felt sure that was coming.

But the Fool merely put his hand to his ear. "Did you call me?" he asked politely.

The children shook with laughter at that, and the April Fool turned to the Journeying Man. "Your turn," he said.

This is the April poem that the Journeying Man recited for the rest:--

"Young Peter Puck and his brothers wrote To the wise wood-people a little note.

It said, 'If you'll meet us by Ripply Pond, Wonders we'll show with our magic wand.'

'What shall we do?' said the forest-folk.

'Maybe it's merely a practical joke.'

But they went, good souls, and they only found A bare, bare bush and the green, green ground.

'But watch,' said the fairies, 'and you shall see Animals grow on a tiny tree.'

"The rabbits and squirrels felt aggrieved; They thought that surely they'd been deceived.

But Peter Puck, at the head of the band, Called, 'Come, come, Kitty!' and waved his hand.

Then the buds on the p.u.s.s.y-willow bush All became kittens as soft as plush-- Smooth, round kittens, quite calm and fat; On every twig hung a little cat.

And the fairies danced, and the glad wood-folk Cried, 'Oh, what a beautiful, beautiful joke!'"

"Now look here," said the April Fool, when J. M. was done. "I have several important questions to ask this crowd."

He then proceeded to ask the questions, not one of which anyone even tried to answer.

"Now, speech is very curious: You never know what minute A word will show a brand-new side, With brand-new meaning in it.

This world could hardly turn around, If some things acted like they sound.

"Suppose the April flower-beds, Down in the garden s.p.a.ces, Were made with green frog-blanket spreads And caterpillar-cases; Or oak trees locked their trunks to hide The countless rings they keep inside!

"Suppose from every pitcher-plant The milk-weed came a-pouring; That tiger-lilies could be heard With dandelions roaring, Till all the cat-tails, far and near, Began to bristle up in fear!

"What if the old cow blew her horn Some peaceful evening hour, And suddenly a blast replied From every trumpet-flower, While people's ears beat noisy drums To 'Hail, the Conquering Hero Comes!'

"If barn-yard fowls had honey-combs, What should we think, I wonder?

If lightning-bugs should swiftly strike, Then peal with awful thunder?

And would it turn our pink cheeks pale To see a comet switch its tail?"

The queer little fellow did not seem to be at all disturbed by the failure of the company to answer his questions. He turned courteously to little Ann.

"It's your turn to ask a riddle, you know," he reminded her.

To little Ann's astonishment a riddle popped right into her head--a rhymed riddle, at that!

"Busy Mistress One-Eye With her long white train Dips her nose and down she goes-- Up she comes again.

"Not a hand and not a foot; Has no need for those; Makes her trip without a slip, Following her nose.

"Two she has to guide her: One, a st.u.r.dy chap, Other, tall beside her, In a silver cap.