Once upon a time there were four little rabbits. Their names were: @Flopsy, @Mopsy, @Cottontail, and @Peter. They lived with their @Mother under the root of a very big fir tree.
"Now, children," said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning,"you may go into the fields or down the road. But don't go into Mr. @McGregor's garden. Your father had an accident there. Mrs. @McGregor put him in a pie." The children gasped.
Mrs. Rabbit picked up her basket and her umbrella. She gave them all a big smile. "Now run along, children, and don't get into mischief. I am going out."
Then she went out the door. She went to the baker's. She bought a loaf of brown bread and five sweet buns. They would have a nice dinner.
Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail were good little bunnies. They went down the lane to find some blackberries. But Peter was very naughty. He ran right away to Mr. McGregor's garden and squeezed under the gate!
First he ate some lettuce and some carrots. Then he nibbled on some radishes. And then, feeling rather sick, he went to look for some parsley.
But when he came to the end of a cucumber frame, whom should he meet but Mr. McGregor!
Mr. McGregor was on his hands and knees planting young cabbages, but he jumped up and ran after Peter, waving a rake and calling out, "Stop thief!"
Peter was very scared. He rushed all over the garden. He had forgotten the way back to the gate.
He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages, and the other shoe near the potatoes. Without shoes, he dropped to all four legs so he could run faster. He might have gotten completely away if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry fence. He was wearing a blue jacket with brass buttons, and the buttons got caught in the net.
Peter gave himself up for lost, and he shed big tears. But some friendly sparrows heard him crying. They flew down to him and begged him to keep trying to escape. "You can do it, Peter," they said.
Mr. McGregor had a big butterfly net in his hands. He came up behind Peter and tried to scoop him up.
