第1章
SuchasPeterRabbit，etc。
TheOriginalPeterRabbitBooksByBEATRIXPOTTER
ALISTOFTHETITLES
[*indicatesincludedhere]
*TheTaleofPeterRabbitTheTaleofSquirrelNutkinTheTailorofGloucester*TheTaleofBenjaminBunny*TheTaleofMrs。Tiggy-Winkle*TheTaleofMr。JeremyFisherTheTaleofJohnnyTown-Mouse*TheTaleofJemimaPuddle-Duck*TheTaleoftheFlopsyBunniesTheStoryofaFierceBadRabbit*TheTaleofTwoBadMiceTheTaleofTomKittenTheTaleofMrs。Tittlemouse*TheTaleofTimmyTiptoes*TheTaleofMr。Tod*TheTaleofPiglingBland*TheRolyPolyPudding*ThePieandthePatty-pan*GingerandPickles*TheStoryofMissMoppetAppleyDapply"sNurseryRhymesTheTaleofLittlePigRobinson？？
THETALEOF
PETERRABBIT
BY
BEATRIXPOTTER
ONCEuponatimetherewerefourlittleRabbits，andtheirnameswere——
Flopsy，Mopsy，Cotton-tail，andPeter。
TheylivedwiththeirMotherinasand-bank，underneaththerootofaverybigfirtree。
"NOW，mydears，"saidoldMrs。Rabbitonemorning，"youmaygointothefieldsordownthelane，butdon"tgointoMr。McGregor"sgarden:
yourFatherhadanaccidentthere；hewasputinapiebyMrs。McGregor。"
"NOWrunalong，anddon"tgetintomischief。Iamgoingout。"
THENoldMrs。Rabbittookabasketandherumbrella，tothebaker"s。Sheboughtaloafofbrownbreadandfivecurrantbuns。
FLOPSY，Mopsy，andCottontail，whoweregoodlittlebunnies，wentdownthelanetogatherblackberries；
BUTPeter，whowasverynaughty，ranstraightawaytoMr。McGregor"sgardenandsqueezedunderthegate！
FIRSTheatesomelettucesandsomeFrenchbeans；
andthenheatesomeradishes；
ANDthen，feelingrathersick，hewenttolookforsomeparsley。
BUTroundtheendofacucumberframe，whomshouldhemeetbutMr。
McGregor！
MR。McGREGORwasonhishandsandkneesplantingoutyoungcabbages，buthejumpedupandranafterPeter，wavingarakeandcallingout，"Stopthief！"
PETERwasmostdreadfullyfrightened；herushedalloverthegarden，forhehadforgottenthewaybacktothegate。
Helostoneofhisshoesamongthecabbages，andtheothershoeamongstthepotatoes。
AFTERlosingthem，heranonfourlegsandwentfaster，sothatIthinkhemighthavegotawayaltogetherifhehadnotunfortunatelyrunintoagooseberrynet，andgotcaughtbythelargebuttonsonhisjacket。Itwasabluejacketwithbrassbuttons，quitenew。
PETERgavehimselfupforlost，andshedbigtears；
buthissobswereoverheardbysomefriendlysparrows，whoflewtohimingreatexcitement，andimploredhimtoexerthimself。
MR。McGREGORcameupwithasieve，whichheintendedtopopuponthetopofPeter；butPeterwriggledoutjustintime，leavinghisjacketbehindhim。
ANDrushedintothetoolshed，andjumpedintoacan。
Itwouldhavebeenabeautifulthingtohidein，ifithadnothadsomuchwaterinit。
MR。McGREGORwasquitesurethatPeterwassomewhereinthetoolshed，perhapshiddenunderneathaflower-pot。Hebegantoturnthemovercarefully，lookingundereach。
PresentlyPetersneezed——
"Kertyschoo！"Mr。McGregorwasafterhiminnotime，ANDtriedtoputhisfootuponPeter，whojumpedoutofawindow，upsettingthreeplants。ThewindowwastoosmallforMr。McGregor，andhewastiredofrunningafterPeter。Hewentbacktohiswork。
PETERsatdowntorest；
hewasoutofbreathandtremblingwithfright，andhehadnottheleastideawhichwaytogo。Alsohewasverydampwithsittinginthatcan。
Afteratimehebegantowanderabout，goinglippity——
lippity——notveryfast，andlookingallaround。
HEfoundadoorinawall；
butitwaslocked，andtherewasnoroomforafatlittlerabbittosqueezeunderneath。
Anoldmousewasrunninginandoutoverthestonedoorstep，carryingpeasandbeanstoherfamilyinthewood。
Peteraskedherthewaytothegate，butshehadsuchalargepeainhermouththatshecouldnotanswer。Sheonlyshookherheadathim。Peterbegantocry。
THENhetriedtofindhiswaystraightacrossthegarden，buthebecamemoreandmorepuzzled。Presently，hecametoapondwhereMr。
McGregorfilledhiswater-cans。
Awhitecatwasstaringatsomegold-fish；shesatvery，verystill，butnowandthenthetipofhertailtwitchedasifitwerealive。Peterthoughtitbesttogoawaywithoutspeakingtoher；hehadheardaboutcatsfromhiscousin，littleBenjaminBunny。
HEwentbacktowardsthetool-shed，butsuddenly，quiteclosetohim，heheardthenoiseofahoe——scr-r-ritch，scratch，scratch，scritch。Peterscutteredunderneaththebushes。Butpresently，asnothinghappened，hecameout，andclimbeduponawheelbarrow，andpeepedover。ThefirstthinghesawwasMr。
McGregorhoeingonions。HisbackwasturnedtowardsPeter，andbeyondhimwasthegate！
PETERgotdownveryquietlyoffthewheelbarrow，andstartedrunningasfastashecouldgo，alongastraightwalkbehindsomeblack-currantbushes。
Mr。McGregorcaughtsightofhimatthecorner，butPeterdidnotcare。Heslippedunderneaththegate，andwassafeatlastinthewoodoutsidethegarden。
MR。McGREGORhungupthelittlejacketandtheshoesforascare-crowtofrightentheblackbirds。
PETERneverstoppedrunningorlookedbehindhimtillhegothometothebigfir-tree。
Hewassotiredthathefloppeddownuponthenicesoftsandontheflooroftherabbit-hole，andshuthiseyes。
Hismotherwasbusycooking；
shewonderedwhathehaddonewithhisclothes。ItwasthesecondlittlejacketandpairofshoesthatPeterhadlostinafortnight！
IAMsorrytosaythatPeterwasnotverywellduringtheevening。
Hismotherputhimtobed，andmadesomecamomiletea；
andshegaveadoseofittoPeter！
"Onetable-spoonfultobetakenatbed-time。"
BUTFlopsy，Mopsy，andCotton-tailhadbreadandmilkandblackberries，forsupper。
THEEND
THETALEOF
BENJAMINBUNNY
FORTHECHILDRENOFSAWREY
FROM
OLDMR。BUNNY
ONEmorningalittlerabbitsatonabank。
Heprickedhisearsandlistenedtothetrit-trot，trit-trotofapony。
Agigwascomingalongtheroad；itwasdrivenbyMr。
McGregor，andbesidehimsatMrs。McGregorinherbestbonnet。
ASsoonastheyhadpassed，littleBenjaminBunnysliddownintotheroad，andsetoff——withahop，skipandajump——tocalluponhisrelations，wholivedinthewoodatthebackofMr。McGregor"sgarden。
THATwoodwasfullofrabbitholes；andintheneatestsandiestholeofall，cousins——Flopsy，Mopsy，Cotton-tailandPeter。
OldMrs。Rabbitwasawidow；sheearnedherlivingbyknittingrabbit-woolmittensandmuffetees（Ionceboughtapairatabazaar）。Shealsosoldherbs，androsemarytea，andrabbit-tobacco（whichiswhatWEcalllavender）。
LITTLEBenjamindidnotverymuchwanttoseehisAunt。
Hecameroundthebackofthefir-tree，andnearlytumbleduponthetopofhisCousinPeter。
PETERwassittingbyhimself。
Helookedpoorly，andwasdressedinaredcottonpocket-handkerchief。
"Peter，"——saidlittleBenjamin，inawhisper——"whohasgotyourclothes？"
PETERreplied——"ThescarecrowinMr。McGregor"sgarden，"anddescribedhowhehadbeenchasedaboutthegarden，andhaddroppedhisshoesandcoat。
LittleBenjaminsatdownbesidehiscousin，andassuredhimthatMr。McGregorhadgoneoutinagig，andMrs。McGregoralso；andcertainlyfortheday，becauseshewaswearingherbestbonnet。
PETERsaidhehopedthatitwouldrain。
Atthispoint，oldMrs。
Rabbit"svoicewasheardinsidetherabbitholecalling——
"Cotton-tail！Cotton-tail！
fetchsomemorecamomile！"
Petersaidhethoughthemightfeelbetterifhewentforawalk。
THEYwentawayhandinhand，andgotupontheflattopofthewallatthebottomofthewood。FromheretheylookeddownintoMr。McGregor"sgarden。Peter"scoatandshoeswereplainlytobeseenuponthescarecrow，toppedwithanoldtam-o-
shanterofMr。McGregor"s。
LITTLEBenjaminsaid，"Itspoilspeople"sclothestosqueezeunderagate；theproperwaytogetin，istoclimbdownapeartree。"
Peterfelldownheadfirst；
butitwasofnoconsequence，asthebedbelowwasnewlyrakedandquitesoft。
IThadbeensownwithlettuces。
Theyleftagreatmanyoddlittlefoot-marksalloverthebed，especiallylittleBenjamin，whowaswearingclogs。
LITTLEBenjaminsaidthatthefirstthingtobedonewastogetbackPeter"sclothes，inorderthattheymightbeabletousethepockethandkerchief。
Theytookthemoffthescarecrow。
Therehadbeenrainduringthenight；therewaswaterintheshoes，andthecoatwassomewhatshrunk。
Benjamintriedonthetam-
o-shanter，butitwastoobigforhim。
THENhesuggestedthattheyshouldfillthepocket-
handkerchiefwithonions，asalittlepresentforhisAunt。
Peterdidnotseemtobeenjoyinghimself；hekepthearingnoises。
BENJAMIN，onthecontrary，wasperfectlyathome，andatealettuceleaf。
HesaidthathewasinthehabitofcomingtothegardenwithhisfathertogetlettucesfortheirSundaydinner。
（ThenameoflittleBenjamin"spapawasoldMr。BenjaminBunny。）
Thelettucescertainlywereveryfine。
PETERdidnoteatanything；
hesaidheshouldliketogohome。Presentlyhedroppedhalftheonions。
LITTLEBenjaminsaidthatitwasnotpossibletogetbackupthepear-tree，withaloadofvegetables。Heledthewayboldlytowardstheotherendofthegarden。Theywentalongalittlewalkonplanks，underasunnyred-
brickwall。
Themicesatontheirdoor-
stepscrackingcherry-stones，theywinkedatPeterRabbitandlittleBenjaminBunny。
PRESENTLYPeterletthepocket-handkerchiefgoagain。
THEYgotamongstflower-
pots，andframesandtubs；Peterheardnoisesworsethanever，hiseyeswereasbigaslolly-pops！
Hewasasteportwoinfrontofhiscousin，whenhesuddenlystopped。
THISiswhatthoselittlerabbitssawroundthatcorner！
LittleBenjamintookonelook，andthen，inhalfaminutelessthannotime，hehidhimselfandPeterandtheonionsunderneathalargebasket……
THEcatgotupandstretchedherself，andcameandsniffedatthebasket。
Perhapsshelikedthesmellofonions！
Anyway，shesatdownuponthetopofthebasket。
SHEsatthereforFIVEHOURS。
*****
IcannotdrawyouapictureofPeterandBenjaminunderneaththebasket，becauseitwasquitedark，andbecausethesmellofonionswasfearful；
itmadePeterRabbitandlittleBenjamincry。
Thesungotroundbehindthewood，anditwasquitelateintheafternoon；butstillthecatsatuponthebasket。
ATlengththerewasapitter-
patter，pitter-patter，andsomebitsofmortarfellfromthewallabove。
ThecatlookedupandsawoldMr。BenjaminBunnyprancingalongthetopofthewalloftheupperterrace。
Hewassmokingapipeofrabbit-tobacco，andhadalittleswitchinhishand。
Hewaslookingforhisson。
OLDMr。Bunnyhadnoopinionwhateverofcats。
Hetookatremendousjumpoffthetopofthewallontothetopofthecat，andcuffeditoffthebasket，andkickeditintothegarden-house，scratchingoffahandfuloffur。
Thecatwastoomuchsurprisedtoscratchback。
WHENoldMr。Bunnyhaddriventhecatintothegreen-house，helockedthedoor。
ThenhecamebacktothebasketandtookouthissonBenjaminbytheears，andwhippedhimwiththelittleswitch。
ThenhetookouthisnephewPeter。
THENhetookoutthehandkerchiefofonions，andmarchedoutofthegarden。
WhenMr。McGregorreturnedabouthalfanhourlater，heobservedseveralthingswhichperplexedhim。
Itlookedasthoughsomepersonhadbeenwalkingalloverthegardeninapairofclogs——onlythefoot-marksweretooridiculouslylittle！
AlsohecouldnotunderstandhowthecatcouldhavemanagedtoshutherselfupINSIDEthegreen-house，lockingthedoorupontheOUTSIDE。
WHENPetergothome，hismotherforgavehim，becauseshewassogladtoseethathehadfoundhisshoesandcoat。Cotton-tailandPeterfoldedupthepocket-
handkerchief，andoldMrs。
rabbitstrunguptheonionsandhungthemfromthekitchenceiling，withtherabbit-tobacco。
THEEND
THETALEOF
THEFLOPSYBUNNIES
FORALLLITTLEFRIENDS
OF
MR。McGREGOR&PETER&BENJAMIN
ITissaidthattheeffectofeatingtoomuchlettuceis"soporific。"
_I_haveneverfeltsleepyaftereatinglettuces；butthen_I_amnotarabbit。
TheycertainlyhadaverysoporificeffectupontheFlopsyBunnies！
WHENBenjaminBunnygrewup，hemarriedhisCousinFlopsy。Theyhadalargefamily，andtheywereveryimprovidentandcheerful。
Idonotremembertheseparatenamesoftheirchildren；
theyweregenerallycalledthe"FlopsyBunnies。"
AStherewasnotalwaysquiteenoughtoeat，——
BenjaminusedtoborrowcabbagesfromFlopsy"sbrother，PeterRabbit，whokeptanurserygarden。
SOMETIMESPeterRabbithadnocabbagestospare。
WHENthishappened，theFlopsyBunnieswentacrossthefieldtoarubbishheap，intheditchoutsideMr。McGregor"sgarden。
MR。McGREGOR"Srubbishheapwasamixture。
Therewerejampotsandpaperbags，andmountainsofchoppedgrassfromthemowingmachine（whichalwaystastedoily），andsomerottenvegetablemarrowsandanoldbootortwo。Oneday——ohjoy！——therewereaquantityofovergrownlettuces，whichhad"shot"intoflower。
THEFlopsyBunniessimplystuffedlettuces。Bydegrees，oneafteranother，theywereovercomewithslumber，andlaydowninthemowngrass。
Benjaminwasnotsomuchovercomeashischildren。
Beforegoingtosleephewassufficientlywideawaketoputapaperbagoverhisheadtokeepofftheflies。
THElittleFlopsyBunniessleptdelightfullyinthewarmsun。Fromthelawnbeyondthegardencamethedistantclackettysoundofthemowingmachine。Theblue-
bottlesbuzzedaboutthewall，andalittleoldmousepickedovertherubbishamongthejampots。
（Icantellyouhername，shewascalledThomasinaTittlemouse，awoodmousewithalongtail。）
SHErustledacrossthepaperbag，andawakenedBenjaminBunny。
Themouseapologizedprofusely，andsaidthatsheknewPeterRabbit。
WHILEsheandBenjaminweretalking，closeunderthewall，theyheardaheavytreadabovetheirheads；andsuddenlyMr。McGregoremptiedoutasackfuloflawnmowingsrightuponthetopofthesleepingFlopsyBunnies！
Benjaminshrankdownunderhispaperbag。Themousehidinajampot。
THElittlerabbitssmiledsweetlyintheirsleepundertheshowerofgrass；
theydidnotawakebecausethelettuceshadbeensosoporific。
TheydreamtthattheirmotherFlopsywastuckingthemupinahaybed。
Mr。McGregorlookeddownafteremptyinghissack。Hesawsomefunnylittlebrowntipsofearsstickingupthroughthelawnmowings。Hestaredatthemforsometime。
PRESENTLYaflysettledononeofthemanditmoved。
Mr。McGregorclimbeddownontotherubbishheap——
"One，two，three，four！five！
sixleetlerabbits！"saidheashedroppedthemintohissack。
TheFlopsyBunniesdreamtthattheirmotherwasturningthemoverinbed。Theystirredalittleintheirsleep，butstilltheydidnotwakeup。
MR。McGREGORtiedupthesackandleftitonthewall。
Hewenttoputawaythemowingmachine。
WHILEhewasgone，Mrs。
FlopsyBunny（whohadremainedathome）cameacrossthefield。
Shelookedsuspiciouslyatthesackandwonderedwhereeverybodywas？
THENthemousecameoutofherjampot，andBenjamintookthepaperbagoffhishead，andtheytoldthedolefultale。
BenjaminandFlopsywereindespair，theycouldnotundothestring。
ButMrs。Tittlemousewasaresourcefulperson。Shenibbledaholeinthebottomcornerofthesack。
THElittlerabbitswerepulledoutandpinchedtowakethem。
Theirparentsstuffedtheemptysackwiththreerottenvegetablemarrows，anoldblacking-brushandtwodecayedturnips。
THENtheyallhidunderabushandwatchedforMr。McGregor。
MR。McGREGORcamebackandpickedupthesack，andcarrieditoff。
Hecarriedithangingdown，asifitwereratherheavy。
TheFlopsyBunniesfollowedatasafedistance。
THEYwatchedhimgointohishouse。
Andthentheycreptuptothewindowtolisten。
MR。McGREGORthrewdownthesackonthestonefloorinawaythatwouldhavebeenextremelypainfultotheFlopsyBunnies，iftheyhadhappenedtohavebeeninsideit。
Theycouldhearhimdraghischairontheflags，andchuckle——
"One，two，three，four，five，sixleetlerabbits！"saidMr。
McGregor。
"EH？What"sthat？Whathavetheybeenspoilingnow？"enquiredMrs。
McGregor。
"One，two，three，four，five，sixleetlefatrabbits！"repeatedMr。McGregor，countingonhisfingers——"one，two，three——"
"Don"tyoubesilly；whatdoyoumean，yousillyoldman？"
"Inthesack！one，two，three，four，five，six！"repliedMr。
McGregor。
（TheyoungestFlopsyBunnygotuponthewindow-sill。）
MRS。McGREGORtookholdofthesackandfeltit。Shesaidshecouldfeelsix，buttheymustbeOLD
rabbits，becausetheyweresohardandalldifferentshapes。
"Notfittoeat；buttheskinswilldofinetolinemyoldcloak。"
"Lineyouroldcloak？"
shoutedMr。McGregor——"I
shallsellthemandbuymyselfbaccy！"
"Rabbittobacco！Ishallskinthemandcutofftheirheads。"
MRS。McGREGORuntiedthesackandputherhandinside。
Whenshefeltthevegetablesshebecameveryveryangry。
ShesaidthatMr。McGregorhad"doneitapurpose。"
ANDMr。McGregorwasveryangrytoo。Oneoftherottenmarrowscameflyingthroughthekitchenwindow，andhittheyoungestFlopsyBunny。
Itwasratherhurt。
THENBenjaminandFlopsythoughtthatitwastimetogohome。
SOMr。McGregordidnotgethistobacco，andMrs。
McGregordidnotgetherrabbitskins。
ButnextChristmasThomasinaTittlemousegotapresentofenoughrabbit-wooltomakeherselfacloakandahood，andahandsomemuffandapairofwarmmittens。
THEEND
INREMEMBRANCEOF
"SAMMY，"
THEINTELLIGENTPINK-EYEDREPRESENTATIVE
OF
APERSECUTED（BUTIRREPRESSIBLE）RACE。
ANAFFECTIONATELITTLEFRIEND。
ANDMOSTACCOMPLISHED
THIEF！
THEROLY-POLYPUDDING
ONCEuponatimetherewasanoldcat，calledMrs。TabithaTwitchit，whowasananxiousparent。Sheusedtoloseherkittenscontinually，andwhenevertheywerelosttheywerealwaysinmischief！
Onbakingdayshedeterminedtoshutthemupinacupboard。
ShecaughtMoppetandMittens，butshecouldnotfindTom。
Mrs。Tabithawentupanddownalloverthehouse，mewingforTomKitten。Shelookedinthepantryunderthestaircase，andshesearchedthebestsparebedroomthatwasallcoveredupwithdustsheets。
Shewentrightupstairsandlookedintotheattics，butshecouldnotfindhimanywhere。
Itwasanold，oldhouse，fullofcupboardsandpassages。Someofthewallswerefourfeetthick，andthereusedtobequeernoisesinsidethem，asiftheremightbealittlesecretstaircase。Certainlytherewereoddlittlejaggeddoorwaysinthewainscot，andthingsdisappearedatnight——
especiallycheeseandbacon。