people. Still, the necessity for communication with our main army is so pressing, that I shall be empowered to offer vast advantages and rewards to whoever undertakes the task. The risk, I do not conceal from you, is very great, for if the messenger be taken he is sure to be shot."

Fritz was rather disheartened by this account of the difficulties and dangers he was to encounter; but the promised reward would keep his mother in comfort for the rest of her days. So he promised to think over the matter, and bring an answer in an hour's time. As he was sauntering sorrowfully in the forest, turning the affair over in his mind, something touched his foot. When he looked down he saw the soft white fur, and large ears of the pretty thief who had eaten his peas.

"What is the matter with you, my friend?" asked Bunny, in the most consequential way in the world.

"You can't help me, Bunny," laughed Fritz. "I dare say you can manage to eat other people's

beans and peas quickly enough, but this is beyond your power!"

"How do you know," said Bunny, “till I tell you whether I can help you or not? At least, you might answer a civil question, and relate what ails you."

Then Fritz sat down among the fern, and told the rabbit all the story; and Bunny sat up and stroked her right ear with the most sagacious air in the world, and listened to his troubles.

"I'll be your messenger," said she, when Fritz had finished; "I can creep through holes, and scramble through hedges far easier than you can, and be less likely to be seen, too. So fetch me the note, and I'll tuck it into my left ear, and be off on my travels. I owe you a good turn for having eaten up all your beans and peas; and you gave me my life when it was in your power; if they shoot me, it will be but one poor Bunny less in the world, and some one will sup off rabbit, that's all!"

So the note was fetched; and the rabbit

stuck it very safely into her long left ear, where it was quite hid among her soft fur, and giving Fritz a merry parting nod, started off on her journey.

Three long days passed slowly by, every hour counted by Fritz with the greatest impatience. But, on the third evening, just as it was getting dusk, up limped poor Bunny with the answer.

"I should have been here before," said she, "but I had the misfortune to fall into a trap on my road, from which I only escaped with the loss of a good deal of fur, and at the expense of a lame leg."

And indeed the poor thing's leg was terribly bruised and mangled. Fritz took the note to the officer, received the proffered reward, and then carried his faithful little messenger home to his own cottage, where his mother bathed and bandaged the hurt poor Bunny had received in their service, and nursed her till she was quite cured.

One day, as Fritz was sitting by the door, playing with the little rabbit, his friend the