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!

    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 jacket behind him.

    And rushed into the toolshed,
           and jumped into a can.

    It would have been
           a beautiful thing
          to hide in,
           if it
            had not
                had so
                       much water in it.

    Mr. McGregor was quite sure
         that Peter
            was somewhere in the toolshed,
           perhaps hidden underneath a flowerpot.

    He began
          to turn them over carefully,
           looking under each.

    Presently Peter sneezed
          --
         "Kertyschoo!"

    Mr. McGregor
        was after him
               in no time,

    And tried
          to put his foot
               upon Peter,
           who jumped
               out of a window,
         upsetting three plants.

    The window
        was too small
               for Mr. McGregor,
           and he was tired of
             running after Peter.

    He went back
           to his work.

    Peter sat down to rest;
        he was
               out of breath and
              trembling with fright,
           and he
            had not the least idea
              which way to go.