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The Velveteen Rabbit by
Stories to Grow by
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A soft and fluffy Velveteen Rabbit lived in a toybox in a Boy's room. Each day, the Boy opened the toybox and picked up Velveteen Rabbit. And Velveteen Rabbit was happy.
Then newer, brighter toys came into the toybox. They had special tricks. Some could move when the Boy pushed a button. Others bounced high. Velveteen Rabbit had no special tricks or buttons. No wonder the Boy started to choose the new toys.
At night, when the toys were all back in the toybox, the other toys talked with pride about the special things they could do. Velveteen Rabbit was quiet. There was not much to say.
Then newer, brighter toys came into the toybox. They had special tricks. Some could move when the Boy pushed a button. Others bounced high. Velveteen Rabbit had no special tricks or buttons. No wonder the Boy started to choose the new toys.
At night, when the toys were all back in the toybox, the other toys talked with pride about the special things they could do. Velveteen Rabbit was quiet. There was not much to say.
Only one other toy in the toy box was like Velveteen Rabbit. Cowboy Horse was also a soft, fluffy toy. But he was old. Most of his hair was worn away. He had only one eye left.
Cowboy Horse said to Velveteen Rabbit, “Soft toys like us are really the lucky ones. We get loved the most. And when soft toys get loved and loved, we can become Real.”
“What is Real?” said Velveteen Rabbit. “Being Real is the best," said Cowboy Horse. "You can move when you want to move. When you are Real, if you are loved, you can show your love back.”
This all sounded fine to Velveteen Rabbit. But how could that ever happen? After all, the Boy was playing with toys that could do special things.
Cowboy Horse said to Velveteen Rabbit, “Soft toys like us are really the lucky ones. We get loved the most. And when soft toys get loved and loved, we can become Real.”
“What is Real?” said Velveteen Rabbit. “Being Real is the best," said Cowboy Horse. "You can move when you want to move. When you are Real, if you are loved, you can show your love back.”
This all sounded fine to Velveteen Rabbit. But how could that ever happen? After all, the Boy was playing with toys that could do special things.
One day Nana, who took care of the Boy, opened the lid of the toy box. She said, “Oh, dear! That walking dog is missing. I must find something else for the Boy!” She picked up Velveteen Rabbit and put it down on the bed with the Boy.
This began another happy time for Velveteen Rabbit. Each night the Boy would hold Velveteen Rabbit close in his arms. In the morning, the Boy would show Velveteen Rabbit how to make rabbit holes under the sheets. If the Boy went outside, Velveteen Rabbit would come with him, too.
Soon, with the hugging and holding, much of Velveteen Rabbit’s fur was worn. Its pink nose grew less pink with all the Boy’s kisses. But Velveteen Rabbit did not care. It was happy.
This began another happy time for Velveteen Rabbit. Each night the Boy would hold Velveteen Rabbit close in his arms. In the morning, the Boy would show Velveteen Rabbit how to make rabbit holes under the sheets. If the Boy went outside, Velveteen Rabbit would come with him, too.
Soon, with the hugging and holding, much of Velveteen Rabbit’s fur was worn. Its pink nose grew less pink with all the Boy’s kisses. But Velveteen Rabbit did not care. It was happy.
One day the Boy became sick. His forehead got very hot. The doctor came and went. Nana walked back and forth in fear. Day after day, the Boy stayed in bed. There was nothing for Velveteen Rabbit to do but to stay in bed, too, day after day.
Then at last, the Boy got better. Such joy in the house! The doctor said the Boy must go to the shore. How wonderful! thought Velveteen Rabbit. Many times the Boy had talked happily about the shore, and told of its white sands and big blue ocean.
“What about this old bunny?” Nana asked the doctor.
“That old thing?” said the doctor. “It’s full of scarlet fever germs. Burn it at once! Get him a new bunny.”
Then at last, the Boy got better. Such joy in the house! The doctor said the Boy must go to the shore. How wonderful! thought Velveteen Rabbit. Many times the Boy had talked happily about the shore, and told of its white sands and big blue ocean.
“What about this old bunny?” Nana asked the doctor.
“That old thing?” said the doctor. “It’s full of scarlet fever germs. Burn it at once! Get him a new bunny.”
So Velveteen Rabbit was thrown into a bag along with the Boy's bed sheets and old clothes. The bag was carried to the backyard. The gardener was told to burn it.
But the gardener was too busy picking the beans and peas before dark, so he left the bag behind. “I will take care of it tomorrow,” he said.
The bag was not tied at the top, and Velveteen Rabbit fell out. The next day when the gardener picked up the bag to take it to be burned, Velveteen Rabbit was left on the ground.
But the gardener was too busy picking the beans and peas before dark, so he left the bag behind. “I will take care of it tomorrow,” he said.
The bag was not tied at the top, and Velveteen Rabbit fell out. The next day when the gardener picked up the bag to take it to be burned, Velveteen Rabbit was left on the ground.