as tom went out from the town and across the downs, he thought what a pretty sight it was to see the rabbits in the bright, dewy morning, frisking with their young ones by the mouths of their burrows. he did not go very near the rabbits, of course, because when a rabbit of that size is at play it does not always look where it is going, and it might easily have crushed tom with its foot, and then it would have been very sorry afterward. and tom was a kind boy, and would not have liked to make even a rabbit unhappy. earwigs in our country often get out of the way when they think you are going to walk on them. they too have kind hearts, and they would not like you to be sorry afterward.