one day little susan clare came to her mother, with the request that she would tell her a short story. her mother, after satisfying herself that susan had been industriously employed during the morning, promised to comply with her request, and the following conversation took place between them.
“what shall i tell you about, my little girl?” said mrs. clare; “do you know the story of the grateful julian?”
“no, mother,” was the reply.
“well, you shall hear it,” said mrs. clare. “there once lived a very poor man, who had one child six years old, whose name was julian. this little boy was the owner of but one thing in the wide world, and that was a rabbit.”
“ah, mother,” exclaimed susan, “it is a pretty little animal—the rabbit. i wish that i had one.”
julian and his rabbit
new-york
d. appleton & co. 200 broadway.
“my dear susan,” replied her mother, “you have so many nice things to make you happy, that you can do[21] very well without a rabbit. you have nice clothes, good food and drink, and a clean bed on which to lie down at night. you have a pretty doll, a couple of pigeons, and a whole closet full of books and playthings. poor little julian had nothing of all these.”
“what!” said susan, “had he not even good clothes to keep him warm?”
“some old rags hastily patched together, were all he had to cover himself.”
“and did he have no bed?”
“a little straw in the corner, upon the ground.”
“and nothing to eat or drink?” asked susan.
“oftentimes nothing to eat,” said mrs. clare; “or, when he was very hungry, a morsel of dry brown bread with some water.”
“o, poor julian!” exclaimed susan. “if he were here, i would give him every day half of my breakfast and of my luncheon.”
“now hear the rest of my story,” said her mother. “notwithstanding he was so poor, julian was contented, for his little rabbit made up for all his privations, and it was indeed a charming animal. its hair was as white as snow glittering in the sunshine, and soft as silk. its eyes were bright as diamonds, and then it was so tame, so fond of its little master! when his father gave him a bit of bread, julian would go behind the hut,[22] and sit down upon the grass; and then he had but to call, ‘jeannot, jeannot;’ and instantly his rabbit would run to him, leap upon his arm, and take from him the morsels of bread one by one in his mouth.”
“o, my dear mother,” susan here exclaimed, “i must, indeed, i must have a rabbit exactly like it.”
“but you might tame with equal ease your lamb and your pigeons,” answered mrs. clare. “believe me, my child, all animals are indued with gratitude, and they all love us, when they see that we love them. but let me return to little julian. although he had often to suffer hunger, cold, and numerous other hardships and privations, he still kept a good heart, because his little rabbit was to him every day a source of new pleasure.
“but at last a sad misfortune befell poor julian; he became very sick. his father, for want of money, could not take care of him, which his sickness needed. so the poor little fellow lay stretched upon the damp floor, enduring great pain, without any one to cure him.
“his little rabbit soon came to find him, and took a place by his side on the straw. the little creature even looked at him so mournfully, that it seemed as if he would say to him:—‘ah, my poor master, how i pity you!’ and julian regarded his rabbit with looks[23] so forlorn, that he seemed ready to reply: ‘ah, my little rabbit; i shall soon have to leave you!’
“fortunately there resided in the neighborhood a rich and benevolent man, who chanced to hear of julian’s sickness and his father’s poverty. he immediately resolved to visit their hut, to learn if what he heard was true, and to see what aid he could render. when this good man entered the hut, and saw poor julian sick, thin and pale, upon his bed of straw, he could hardly refrain from shedding tears.
“‘my poor child,’ said he, ‘be consoled. i come to bring you assistance.’
“so, without more delay, this kind friend caused julian to be carried to his house, where a proper bed was prepared for him, and every care was taken to restore him to health. the means employed for his cure were so successful that, at the end of two weeks, he was able to return to his father’s hut.
“during that time the rich man had also afforded some aid to the father, and had presented little julian with a whole new suit of clothes. so the father and son found themselves happier than they had ever been before. the little rabbit leaped up with joy on again beholding its dear julian.
“the father now said to his son: ‘you see, my dear[24] julian, how happy this gentleman has made us. what shall we do to show him our gratitude?’
“julian reflected a moment; and then exclaimed, full of joy: ‘oh! i will go and carry him my little rabbit!’ ‘yes, my child,’ said his father; ‘it is the most valuable thing that you have; it is all your wealth; you can do nothing better to prove to him your gratitude. tell him, also, that your father will work for him, without pay, one day every week.’
“julian took his rabbit, and, although much attached to it, he went nevertheless with a good deal of joy, to offer it to his benefactor. this worthy man first heard all that he had to say, but then fondly embraced him, and said: ‘it is well, my dear boy: we ought to be grateful towards those who do us a kindness; i am content with your good will. not only i do not wish to deprive you of your rabbit, but i wish to do more for you than i have yet done.’ to be brief, the good gentleman paid the expense of julian’s schooling, that he might have a good education; then he employed the boy’s father so profitably, that both were soon above want.
“julian grew up an intelligent and industrious lad. every thing prospered with him; and when the parents of other children wished to inspire their children with gratitude, they used to tell them the story of julian and his little rabbit.”
