Invitations Page #2

"Invitations" by David Cory is a charming children's book that weaves together a series of delightful tales featuring animal characters who invite friends to various gatherings. Through its engaging narrative and whimsical illustrations, the book explores themes of friendship, community, and the joy of coming together. Each story showcases the magic of camaraderie and the excitement of sharing special moments, making it a heartwarming read for young audiences. Cory's gentle prose and imaginative scenarios encourage children to appreciate the value of social connections and the joy of inviting others into their lives.

• Children

								

fur suit, sitting on a tree stump in the Shady Forest.

“Oh, won’t you be glad when you hear what I’m going to say,” laughed
the rabbit boy.

“Hurry up and tell me,” cried the curious squirrel.

“I’m giving a circus party,” answered Little Jack Rabbit. “And we’ve
hired the Billy Goat Stage Coach to take us all down to the circus at
Turnip City. Want to come along?”

“Well, I guess yes three times!” answered Squirrel Nutcracker,
springing up from the log to dance about on his hind legs. “It’s a
whole year since I’ve been to the circus.”

“Well then, be at the Old Bramble Patch to-morrow morning at seven,”
replied the little bunny, and away he went, clipperty clip, lipperty
lip, up the winding trail to the cave of the Big Brown Bear.

“Hello, hello!” shouted the little rabbit.

“What’s the matter?” enquired a deep, growly voice, and Mr. Bear came
to the door, over which hung a big sign;

    LOLLYPOPS AND HONEY.

    “What can I do for you, bunny boy?
     Do you wish a lollypop for a toy?”

he asked, his growly voice changing into a nice friendly voice on
seeing the little bunny.

“I’d like a lollypop,” answered the little rabbit, “but I don’t want
to play with it—I’ll eat it.”

“All right,” laughed the Big Brown Bear, shuffling into his cave for
a yellow lollypop with little raisins on the top.

“I’m giving a circus party,” explained the bunny boy, sitting down
beside the Big Brown Bear. “Want to come?”

“Well, I should say so,” answered the big kind animal. “I have a
cousin who skates on wheels in Uncle Lucky’s circus. I’d like to see
him.”

“Well then, be at the Old Bramble Patch to-morrow at seven in the
early morning. We’re all going in the Billy Goat Stage Coach. Won’t
we have fun?”

“More fun than a bagful of monkeys,” answered the Big Brown Bear,
filling his pipe with dry corncob silk and puffing away for maybe a
minute and maybe more, while the smoke curled up to the top of the
door.

“Who else is going?”

“Oh, everybody,” answered Little Jack Rabbit. “Granddaddy Bullfrog,
Henny Jenny, Cocky Doodle, Turkey Tim, Goosey Lucy, Ducky Waddles,
Timmie Meadowmouse, Chippy Chipmunk, and lots more whom I haven’t yet
invited.”

“Will the Billy Goat Stage Coach hold them all?” asked the Big Brown
Bear re-flec-tive-ly, which means “thinking it over,” dear little
boys and girls.

“I guess so,” answered Little Jack Rabbit. “Some can sit on top and
some under the seats and some on the seats, and—oh, yes, I’m sure it
will hold us all.”

“All right, I’ll be on time, for

    I love the clowns and the sawdust ring,
    In fact, I love ’most everything
    That’s in the circus and round about;
    The lion’s roar and the elephant’s shout,
    The pistol shot and the cracking whip,
    And the chariot driver’s furious clip,”

sang the Big Brown Bear.

“I’ll be looking for you,” said the little rabbit, as he hopped away
to invite more of his Shady Forest friends. In a little while he came
to the Forest Pool. There sat Busy Beaver on the mud roof of his
little house, happy and contented, for the day was warm and bright
and he had slumbered well all night.

On seeing the little rabbit, he dived into the water and swam over to
the bank.

“Hello, what brings you here?” he asked, for something in the little
rabbit’s manner told him there was a surprise in store.

“Give you three guesses,” laughed the little bunny. “Three guesses
and then two more.”

“Danny Fox been caught?”

“No,” answered Little Jack Rabbit.

“Mr. Wicked Weasel in jail?”

“No,” answered Little Jack Rabbit.

“Chippy Chipmunk has the measles?”

“No,” replied Little Jack Rabbit, with a shake of his head.

“Well, what is it, then?” asked Busy Beaver.

“Circus Party!” shouted the little bunny. “I’m giving a circus party
at Turnip City. Have you been to Uncle Lucky’s Circus?”

“Not yet,” replied the little beaver.

“Be sure to come to the Old Bramble Patch at seven to-morrow morning.
We’re all going down in the Billy Goat Stage Coach. So be on time and
don’t forget, for we’ll have a jolly time, you bet,” and away hopped
the little rabbit to invite other friends in the Shady Forest.

In a little while, not so very far, he met Peter Possum and his
family.

“Won’t you all come to my circus party?” asked the bunny boy.

“What time?” enquired the old Possum.

“To-morrow morning at seven the Billy Goat Stage Coach will be at the
Old Bramble Patch. So be on time and don’t be late, for we’ll not
have a minute to wait,” shouted the little rabbit, hopping swiftly
away to find another friend, and maybe two, for his circus party.

“I wonder whether Professor Crow would like to come,” thought the
little bunny. “Maybe he’ll be pleased to be invited. Anyway, there’s
no harm in asking him.”

    “What’s the matter? Any one ill?
     Doctor Quack has a wonderful pill,”

shouted the old Professor Bird looking out of his window as the bunny
boy knocked on the tiny door in the Tall Pine Tree.

“I don’t need Dr. Quack, the famous duck doctor,” he answered. “I’m
giving a circus party. Won’t you and Mrs. Crow and Blackie Crow
come? We start to-morrow morning at seven right after breakfast from
the Old Bramble Patch. The Billy Goat Stage Coach will take us all
to Turnip City where the circus people are giving a show. I’m sure
little Blackie will love to go.”

“We all will,” answered Professor Crow. “It makes me feel young again
just to think of it. Thank you. We’ll be on time.”
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