The Classic Tale of Peter Rabbit and Other Cherished Stories
CHARLES SANTORE DEDICATES THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS BOOK TO HIS CHILDREN CHRISTINA CHARLIE AND NICHOLAS
Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits and their names were Flopsy Mopsy Cotton tail and Peter They lived with their Mother in a sand bank underneath the root of a very big fir tree Now my dears said old Mrs Rabbit one morning you may go into the fields or down the lane but don’t go into Mr McGregor’s garden your Father had an accident there he was put in a pie by Mrs McGregor Now run along and don’t get into mischief I am going out Then old Mrs Rabbit took a basket and her umbrella and went through the wood to the baker’s She bought a loaf of brown bread and five currant buns Flopsy Mopsy and Cotton tail who were good little bunnies went down the lane to gather blackberries But Peter who was very naughty ran straight away to Mr McGregor’s garden and squeezed under the gate 13
First he ate some lettuces and some French beans and then he ate some radishes And then feeling rather sick he went to look for some parsley But round the end of a cucumber frame whom should he meet but Mr McGregor Mr McGregor was on his hands and knees planting out young cabbages but he jumped up and ran after Peter waving a rake and calling out Stop thief Peter was most dreadfully frightened he rushed all over the garden for he had forgotten the way back to the gate
He lost one of his shoes among the cabbages and the other shoe amongst the potatoes After losing them he ran on four legs and went faster so that I think he might have got away altogether if he had not unfortunately run into a gooseberry net and got caught by the large buttons on his jacket It was a blue jacket with brass buttons quite new Peter gave himself up for lost and shed big tears but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows who flew to him in great excitement and implored him to exert himself Mr McGregor came up with a sieve which he intended to pop upon the top of Peter but Peter wriggled out just in time leaving his 15
