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THE PEDDLER'S BASKET
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not nearly so nice, the Candy Rabbit thought, but of course he dared say nothing.

"Ah, what a fine Rabbit! Where did you get him?" asked Rosa's father.

"He was thrown away on a veranda of a house where I got no pennies," she answered. "No one wanted him, so I took him."

"He is a fine Candy Rabbit," said Joe, the peddler, looking at the Bunny. "He is almost new. I guess he came from an Easter novelty counter. Once I sold Easter toys, but now I sell only pins and needles. Yes, he is a fine Rabbit, Rosa. Are you going to eat him? He is made of candy."

"Eat him! Oh, no! I am going to keep him, always!" said the little girl, hugging the Rabbit in her arms.

The Bunny liked to be hugged and