There was once a Velveteen Rabbit, and in the start he was truly wonderful. He was fat as well as chubby, as a rabbit really should be; his coat was spotted brownish and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were layered along with pinkish satin.
For at least two hrs the Little boy dearly loved him, and after that his buddies arrived for his birthday celebration and in the enjoyment of checking out all of the new gifts, the Velveteen Rabbit was neglected.
Velveteen Rabbit Story with Pictures:
For a long period, the Velveteen Rabbit lived in the nursery toy cupboard, and no one thought very much about him.
He was obviously shy and, being simply made from velveteen, a few of the more costly toys snubbed him. The mechanical toys thought they were very superior. They looked down on the other toys and pretended they were real.
The Velveteen Rabbit wouldn’t claim to be real, for he didn’t realize that true rabbits existed.
‘What is REAL? ‘ questioned the Velveteen Rabbit one day, when he was lying down beside Rocking Horse on the play room area floor. ‘Does it necessarily mean having stuff that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle? ‘.
‘Real is not how you are built, ‘ explained Rocking Horse. ‘It’s something which happens to you. When a kid really loves you for a very long, long time, not merely to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you definitely become real.
Sometimes Mum who ruled the nursery, took no notice of the toys lying about, and sometimes, without a reason whatsoever, she went swooping about just like a great blowing wind and hustled them away into cupboards. She called this ‘Cleaning up’.
The Velveteen Rabbit did not mind it much, for where ever he was tossed he always landed softly.
One night, when the Boy was going to bed, he couldn’t find the soft and cuddly teddy that often slept along with him. His mummy was in a rush and, seeing that the toy wardrobe door stood open, she reached inside.
‘Here, ‘ she said, ‘take your old bunny! He would love to sleep with you! ‘ And she pulled the Velveteen Rabbit out by one ear and placed him into the Boy’s hands.
That night, and for several nights right after, the Velveteen Rabbit slept in the Little boy’s bed. In the beginning he found it quite unpleasant, for the Boy hugged him very tight, he rolled over on him, and often he pushed him so far beneath the pillow that the Velveteen Rabbit could hardly breathe.
But quickly the Velveteen Rabbit grew to like it, for the Boy used to speak with him, and made wonderful tunnels for him under the bedclothes that he said were just like the burrows that real rabbits lived in. And they had wonderful games with each other.
And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Velveteen Rabbit would cuddle down close under his small warm chin and dream, with the Boy’s hands hugging him all night long.
Soon springtime arrived and they spent lengthy days together in the backyard.
Once, when the Little boy was called away unexpectedly to visit in for dinner, the Velveteen Rabbit was left out on the garden until long after dusk. The Boy could not go to sleep without the Velveteen Rabbit and Mummy had to come and search for him with a flashlight.
‘You must have your old rabbit! ‘ she said. ‘Fancy all that hassle for a toy! ‘ The Boy sat up in bed and stretched out his hands.
‘You should not say that’, said the Boy. ‘He is not a toy. He’s REAL! ‘
When the Velveteen Rabbit listened to what the Boy said he was delighted, for he realized exactly what Rocking Horse had said was true at last. The nursery magic had occurred to him, and he was a toy not anymore he was real.
