The Bunnikins Bunnies in Camp

Drift off with the whimsical summer adventure of the Bunnikins Bunny family as they reluctantly leave their comfortable home for a mountain camping trip. The story follows dandy Mr. Bunnikins, the most fashionable rabbit in Rabbitsville, known for his feathered hats, fine coats, and impeccable taste that's admired throughout the Cottontail Club.

The music in this episode is Uphill Climbing by Anna Landstrom.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:21

Welcome to Dreamful Podcast Bedtime stories for slumber. I would like to start off this episode by thanking our newest supporters Emma Clements, denise LaVista, erica Schaefer and Laura. Thank you all so much, and I hope you have the sweetest dreams. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to subscriber-only episodes while receiving a shout-out, visit dreamfellstoriescom and, on the support page, find a link to become a Buzzsprout supporter or subscribe via Supercast. If you listen on Spotify, you can also subscribe on Apple Podcasts, but I can't see your name, so there will not be a shout-out if you subscribe on Apple Podcasts, but I can't see your name, so there will not be a shout out if you subscribe on Apple. I still really appreciate your support, though, because it helps me to keep this podcast going, so thank you all. As summer comes to a close, I wanted to do one last summary story, so I'll be reading the Bunnikins' Bunnies in camp. So snuggle up in your blankets and have sweet dreams.

Speaker 1: 2:05

Mr Bobtail, fitzherbert Bunnigan's Bunny was a very great dandy, for not only had he his own beautiful white fur coat, but he wore the finest of other clothes besides His feathered hats. His fine coats, his lovely neckties and his gay silk socks were admired and copied by all the young members of the Cottontail Club in Rabbitsville, where Mr Bunnigan's bunny lived. He fell in love with a charming little rabbit, miss Primrose Featherball, and after a short courtship and a very fine wedding they settled down in a beautiful cozy nest in a hollow tree. When Mr and Mrs Bunnigan's bunny had been married about two years, they decided, for the sake of Mr Bunnigan's health, to spend the summer camping out in the mountains. They had two nice little bunny children. The elder was named Bobtail, like his father, and the younger, a dear, soft mite of a thing, was called Rosamund. She was a good little bunny and behaved like a small lady, while Bobtail was a bunch of mischief. From morning till night he was always getting into trouble of some kind until his mother thought she should be obliged to either send him to boarding school or else to keep him chained to a tree. However, he had promised to be very, very good if his father would take him camping, and for a week he had been on his best behavior. He had been on his best behavior.

Speaker 1: 4:09

Mr and Mrs Bunnikin's Bunny had invited their great friends, mr and Mrs Grace Goral and their two children, ruddy and Chippy, to spend the summer with them, and one beautiful morning they started off bright and early for the mountains. They had a cart drawn by Nettie, a nice fat donkey which the gray squirrels and the bunnigan's bunnies had loaded with all sorts of things which they would need and many others which they would never want but which Mr Bennigan's bunny had insisted on stuffing in. At the last moment he brought out a large feather bed, for which he felt sure he would need if he had rheumatism, and a footbath for Rosamund in case she had the croup or whooping cough. Mrs Benekins, however, refused quite sternly to put another single thing in the cart, which was already top-heavy and might tip over or else break down. Tip over or else break down. Besides, neddy was very particular and he might lie down on the way if he thought the load too big.

Speaker 1: 5:35

Since his marriage, mr Benekens had become not only more particular than ever about his beautiful clothes but also very fussy about himself and was constantly imagining that he had some new complaint. He had brought a fine silk hammock to sleep in when the nights were warm and a soft, woolly sleeping bag if it were cold. As for socks, hats and fancy waistcoats, he would have brought dozens and not Mrs Bunnikins limited him to half a dozen of each. Having had a cold in one of his long ears, he had tied his grey felt hat with its green feathers tightly down under his chin, its green feathers tightly down under his chin. On his feet he wore green and white striped socks, because he said they looked spring-like, and his coat was green and white striped linen to match. He carried a green parasol to protect his eyes from the sun, and on his back was strapped a cunning little knapsack. In it he carried a bottle of Dr Possum's Ready Relief, a hairbrush, a small bottle of cayenne pepper which by making you sneeze would cure a cold, an extra pair of socks, a smelling bottle, some toothpicks a smelling bottle, some toothpicks half a dozen acorns for lunch, a pair of rubber shoes to keep his toes dry if it rained, a piece of maple sugar for his little rosamund, a couple of cabbage leaves to put on his head if the sun was too hot and lastly a tiny folding umbrella, and lastly a tiny folding umbrella.

Speaker 1: 7:31

After a good many delays they finally started. But when they had gone about a while, mr Brennigan's bunny suddenly stopped and insisted that he had forgotten something most important. What it was, he refused to tell. But back to the house he must and would go. Very well, said patient Mrs Bunnigan's bunny. It is already so late that we might as well have our lunch in here by the time you come back. We shall be ready.

Speaker 1: 8:07

Then Mrs Bunnicans and the Gray Squirrels unloaded the baskets and set the table for luncheon. The table was a nice flat stone and the table cover was made of pretty ferns and flowers which the little bunnies and squirrels picked. Mr Nettie, the donkey, had his dinner under a shady tree while the others waited patiently for Mr Bunnigan's bunny. Pretty soon they saw him in the distance, puffing and panting along and dragging behind him some large object. Huffing and panting along and dragging behind him some large object. When he came near, his wife saw that he was bringing a life preserver. My dear she called what can you want that for? For Bobtail, mr Brannigan's shadowback. If we should camp near a pond he would surely fall in and then, as he can't swim, he would be drowned, unless we had a life preserver. But how can we carry it, protested his wife. The cart is already so full that Nettie can scarcely pull it. Oh, I've thought it all out, replied Mr Bunnicans. We will hang it around Nettie's neck, where he can carry it easily, and it will look quite ornamental. They had soon finished their luncheon of carrot and lettuce salad and walnut pie and after harnessing the donkey into the cart and persuading him much, against his will, to let them hang the life preserver around his neck, they started off once more.

Speaker 1: 10:04

Towards evening. They came to a pretty little grove where they decided to spend the night. The small bunnies and squirrels gathered sticks for campfire. Mrs Grace Grewl and Mrs Bunny prepared supper, while Mr Bunnikin's bunny and Mr Grace Grewirrel gave Nettie his supper and unpacked the cart, mr Gray Squirrel doing most of the work while Mr Bunny talked and made suggestions. There was a cunning little white tent for the children and their mothers, mr Gray Squirrel preferring to sleep in a tree. Their mothers, mr Gray Squirrel, preferring to sleep in a tree while Mr Bunnikin's bunny decided to try his new hammock, swung between two strong bushes near the tent. They were all so tired out that soon after supper they went to bed. Little bunnies and squirrels were asleep in two minutes and soon after Mr Gray Squirrel, warmly covered up with his broad tail, could be heard snoring away up in his tree.

Speaker 1: 11:18

Mr Bunnikins climbed into his fine silk hammock, stretched himself out lazily and was drowsily thinking how comfortable he was when suddenly he felt a sharp sting in one of his soft paws Mosquitoes. He growled as he drew his legs up under him and made himself into as small a bunch as possible. Poor Mr Bunnikins twisted and turned, trying to forget the mosquitoes and to go to sleep, but it was of no use. When morning came and the mosquitoes went, they left in the hammock a very tired and cross gentleman rabbit. He told Mrs Bunnikins that he had had too much of camp life and was going home as soon as he had eaten his breakfast. No, no, my dear, said his gentle little wife, you must not do that. I have plenty of mosquito netting and I can easily make you more comfortable. All day Mrs Bunnigan's bunny cut and sewed, and before bedtime she had made her husband a lovely pink mosquito netting nightgown. It covered him from the tips of his ears to the very ends of his toes, and when he was in his hammock, mrs Bunnikins tied it up like a bag below his paws so that not a single mosquito ever again had even a taste of him.

Speaker 1: 13:08

They traveled on for several days up into the mountains and finally they came to a lovely glade Surrounded by shady trees, with a pretty little brook close by. This is just the place to camp out for the rest of the summer, said Mr Bunnigan's Bunny. See the nut trees and clover blossoms. This is just the place to camp out for the rest of summer, said Mr Bunnigan's bunny. See the nut trees and clover blossoms, said Mr Gray Squirrel, who was fond of good things to eat. Mrs Bunnigan's and Mrs Gray Squirrel were pleased to have the brook so near where they could wash both the children and the clothes. Not far away they found an old deserted shed which made an excellent stable for Nettie, and in the hollow of a tree they made a cozy nest for cold or rainy weather. The hollow was so near the ground that by making a little ladder the bunny family could easily climb in. The little bunnies and gray squirrels loved to play in the brook, and not far away they discovered a large pond. There. However, they were forbidden to go unless Neddy the donkey and the life preserver went with them.

Speaker 1: 14:35

One afternoon Mr Bunnikins was taking a half a dozen winks in his hammock when he was suddenly awakened by the loud squealing of Bobtail in the distance. He sprang up wide awake in a moment, remembering that the children had all gone to play in the distance. He sprang up wide awake in a moment, remembering that the children had all gone to play at the pond, calling to Mr Graysquirrel to follow him. Mr Bunnigan scampered through the woods as fast as his four fat and somewhat gouty paws could carry him. When he reached the pond he saw Nedie and Bobtail trying vainly to throw the life preserver to a brown furry object which was struggling in the water some little distance from the shore. Come here, nettie called Mr Bunnican's bunny, and let me get on your back, then you can swim to whatever that is in the water and I can throw at the life preserver when we get near enough. Yee-haw, said Nettie, which meant all right, sir. And Mr Bunnigan scrambled up on his back with the life preserver held tightly in his forepaws, and off they swam.

Speaker 1: 15:48

As soon as they came near the struggling object, with all his might and mane, mr Bunnigan's bunny threw the life preserver. It landed close to the furry one who at once pulled himself on top of it and was safe. But alas for poor Mr Bunnigan's bunny, he had thrown the life preserver so hard that he lost his footing on Nettie's back, which was wet and slippery and splish. Splash, splosh into the water he fell. Nettie grabbed him quickly by his long ears and swam towards shore with him towing the life preserver with a furry object on it by a rope.

Speaker 1: 16:38

Such a wet, unhappy bunnikins as he was when Neddy put him gently down on dry land, he hated water anyhow and never even wet the ends of his pink toes, if he could help it. He kept his beautiful, soft fur as white as snow. But paddling in the water he despised His dignity. Besides, had been very much hurt by his having been carried out of the pond by his ears. Meanwhile the brown furry object had crawled off the life preserver and waded ashore. Bobtail and Ruddy Squirrel, very much excited, rushed up to him and asked who he was and how he happened to be in the water so far from land. The furry one tried to tell them how he had fallen off from a high rock into deep water and how he had tried to swim to shore but could not. He was so frightened and confused that Ruddy and Bobtail could not understand much that he said that. He said, just as they had told him, that he had better play with them and get warm.

Speaker 1: 18:01

A crackling of bushes and the sound of some heavy animal plunging through the underbrush was heard, and a moment later a huge brown bear lumbered out of the woods and came snarling toward them. Where is my brownie cub baby? It growled to the terrified bunnies and squirrels. Mr Bunnigan's bunny, his teeth chattering with cold and fright, assured the bear politely that he did not know where his brownie cub baby was, but he would let him know if he met it anywhere on his travels. Suddenly, the bear caught sight of the furry one and with a loud yap of joy he trotted heavily towards it. A loud yap of joy, he trotted heavily towards it. The little thing began to whimper with evident delight and the big bear, sitting up on his haunches, lifted the small brown object in his huge paws. In a few moments the little brownie cub had told his father what dreadful things had happened to him and how brave Mr Bunnigan's bunny had been.

Speaker 1: 19:20

The unhappy bunnies and squirrels meanwhile sat quaking with fright, not daring to move and expecting every moment to be gobbled up by the terrible bear. Very soon, however, their fears were relieved for Mr Brown Bruin, with large tears bobbling down his cheeks and, in a husky voice, began to thank Mr Bunnigan's bunny for his heroic action. When he saw how dripping wet he was, he tried to lick him dry, but when he opened his great red mouth he scared poor Bunnikin's nearly out of his wits and the first slap of his huge, rough tongue knocked him down and pulled out bits of his soft fur. When he recovered his breath, mr Bonnekens thanked Mr Bruin for his kindness, but he begged to be excused from any more drying as being subject to rheumatism, he thought the wisest thing for him to do was to go home very quickly and drink some ginger and cayenne pepper tea. Mr Bruin begged to be allowed to call and see him the next day, and as Mr Bunnicans hurried home and was soon in bed, well wrapped in warm blankets and sneezing violently from the cayenne pepper the next morning, as Mr Bunnikins' bunny was rather stiff and chilly, mrs Bunnikins insisted that he should lie in his hammock in the sunshine and be very lazy. While she was talking to him, she suddenly gave a terrified squeak and started as fast as she could run towards the hollow tree, fairly tumbling up the little ladder into the safety of the nest. How Mr Bunnigan's bunny and Mr Grayskull laughed when they saw what had frightened her.

Speaker 1: 21:44

Just Mr and Mrs Brown Bruin and their three children come to make a pleasant morning call. They had brought a big jar of golden honey, the delight of bears as a present to Mr Bunnigan's, and a lot of ripe nuts and wild celery for the children. The delight of bears as a present to Mr Bunnigan's, and a lot of ripe nuts and wild celery for the children. They begged the bunnies and squirrels to come and make them a visit very soon, mr Bruin, offering to carry them to and fro on his broad back, even persuaded Rosamund to take a little ride with her father. Then and there that evening at suppertime the hop tail was missing and for some time he could not be found. Finally, ruddy squirrel spied him hidden away in the playhouse near the brook. When his father pulled him out he was a sorry looking bunny. He had been told not to touch the honey but he was so anxious to have a little taste that he had tried to get a pawful out of the bear's big jar and, leaning over too far, he had tried to get a pawful out of the bear's big jar and leaning over too far, he had lost his balance and fallen in From the tip of his ears to the end of his short tail. He was a mass of sweet, sticky honey, and when Mr Bunnikins took hold of him to shake him and when Mr Bunnikins took hold of him to shake him, his paw stuck fast to poor Benjamin's long ear the only thing to do was to soak him in the brook until the honey melted out of his fur, which took such a long time that Bobtail caught a fearful cold and did nothing but cough and sneeze for a week after. He ate no more honey for a long, long time and did not even like to see it.

Speaker 1: 23:54

The rest of the summer passed very pleasantly. The bunnies and squirrels made several visits to their new friends, the brown bears, who had found a hollow tree for them near their own cave house. In this tree the bears built a beautiful nest and made it so comfortable that when the time came for the bunnies and squirrels to go home for the winter, they promised surely to return the following summer. One pleasant autumn day the tent was taken down and with all the other things packed in the cart, the life preserver, however, was given as a parting gift to Mr Brown Bruin, who was much pleased. Nettie, the donkey was thankful to get rid of it, as he hated to wear it around his neck.

Speaker 1: 24:54

Nettie had grown so fat from doing nothing all summer that he could scarcely waddle, and Bobtail declared he looked like a hippopotamus. The bunnies and the gray squirrels felt very sad to leave their kind friends, the brown bears, and the pretty camp with its running brook, but winter was coming soon and soon the nights would be cold so far up in the mountains. They reached home after several days of travel without any accident, accepting that several times Nettie insisted on lying down in the road and taking naps, the gray squirrel said goodbye to the bunnies as they lived several miles away, and that night they all settled down comfortably. No-transcript.