human
Hum! I hardly know what to do, replied the old gentleman rabbit.
gpt
Of course I must be on the watch for my fortune, but, as I don't seem to be finding it very fast, what do you say to having a picnic to-day?
human
The very thing! cried pussy.
gpt
We will get some lunch, and go off in the woods and eat it. Only we ought to have a lot more people. Two are hardly enough for a picnic.
human
I would like some of my friends to come to it, spoke Uncle Wiggily,
gpt
Couldn't you send them word by telephone? inquired the pussy.
human
I'm sure I would like to meet them, for I have heard so much about Sammie and Susie Littletail, and Johnnie and Billie Bushytail.
gpt
There is no telephone in these woods, replied Uncle Wiggily,
human
Yes, you can! suddenly cried a voice down in the grass.
gpt
I'll tell all your friends to come to the picnic if you like.
human
Indeed, I would like it, said the rabbit,
gpt
There he is--it's a big June bug!
human
I beg your pardon, spoke the bug quickly, as he crawled out from under a leaf and sat on a toadstool.
gpt
But I am not a June bug, if you please.
human
You look like one,
gpt
I am a July bug, went on the funny little creature.
human
I was intended for a June bug, but there was some mistake made, and I didn't come out of my shell until July. So you see I'm a July bug, and at first I thought it would be jolly fun, to hear all the firecrackers and skyrockets go off.
gpt
It isn't so much fun as you imagine, said Uncle Wiggily, as he thought of the time he went sailing into the air on the sky-cracker.
human
But don't you like being a July bug?
gpt
Not very much. You see I'm the only one there is, and all the others are June bugs. The June bugs won't speak to me, nor let me play with them, so I'm very lonesome. I heard you talking about a picnic you were going to have, and so I offered to call all your friends to it. I thought perhaps if I did that you would let me come to it also.
human
To be sure! exclaimed Uncle Wiggily.
gpt
You may gladly come, but how are you going to send word to all of my friends?
human
I will fly through the air and tell them to come, was the answer.
gpt
I am a very swift flyer. Watch me,