Penalope Woodsberry: Part 1

By Hope Atwood Dayhoff

The author has written a book filled with unusual characters and situations taking place in a magical land. Hope gleans her many subjects from memories of interesting fictional and nonfictional life acquaintances that she met along life’s path. She starts her story by describing the feelings of a young girl and a magical mark she believed that she possessed. By some strange situations unknown to her, she meets a middle-aged rabbit lady who has tried repeatedly to wish her into the Magical Forest.

The author explains that only those with “the Mark” can see and hear Penalope as she tells a long and interesting story of her life.

Hope describes many mysterious traits that make the little girl’s presence worth Penalope’s long wait. That magical box that she has left back at her mother’s house is a constant concern for her. It is filled with valuable little friends that only she can see and talk with. The mysterious story comes to an end as the little girl hurries back to her mother’s house. The magical forest disappears as she turns to look back. Penalope is heard promising another story when she returns and reminds her to come back soon.

Hope believes that it is not necessary that one should have the Mark to believe this story. She has stressed that having the mark is truly magnificent and believes in the possibility of other types of life in busy little cities or towns.

The author wrote this book for the young at heart, describing a mysterious, magical fairy tale of fiction…or was it?

The beautiful drawings of Penalope, Hareville, and Noisyville were created by Dr. Joseph R. Whiting.

Copyright 1992 by Hope A. DayhofF, All rights reserved. #

Copyright 1992 by Hope A. DayhofF, All rights reserved. #

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781643349985

Book preview

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Penalope Woodsberry

Part 1

Hope Atwood Dayhoff

Copyright © 2020 Hope Atwood Dayhoff

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-64334-999-2 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64334-892-6 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-64334-998-5 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Magical Meeting with Penalope

Penalope’s Life with the Hoppities

Penalope Dreams of Leaving the Hutch

Penalope Says Enough is Enough

Penalope Leaves the Hoppitys’ Hutch

Penalope Goes to Work

Penalope Goes to Snootville Bunny School

Penalope Meets Tad Lopear

Penalope Leaves Snootville School

Penalope’s Search for Baby Topper

Written in dedication to my five children: Bobby, Allan Jr., Cindy, Jeffrey, and Lisa

INTRODUCTION

It seemed a bit too long ago for me to sit and write about that magical day. With the memories of that special time bouncing madly around in my head, I have tried to relive that magical experience. Thinking back on that hot day in August so many, many years ago, I realize the adventure must be penned and possibly awaken another, who, like myself (having the mark), has a very special story or two to tell.

CHAPTER I

The Magical Meeting with Penalope

I was a lonely child most of my childhood and often played alone with a large cigar box given to me by my elderly uncle. There were many wonderful things inside the box, but only I could see or hear them. I kept the box under my mattress and never let anyone look inside if I could help it.

On this particular very hot day in August, I placed my box as usual under my mattress and proceeded down the old wooden stairs to the very small dining room. As I passed the cluttered old table, I took a piece of bread and quickly went into the cluttered tiny kitchen looking for the honey jar. The dishes were piled high on the counter and in the old sink. The cluttering was so much so that I almost missed the jar of honey which lay under a worn dish rag. Grabbing a knife, I quickly smeared honey on my bread, rolled it up, and pushed it into my pocket as I ran out the back door. I heard the old screen door bang as I ran down the steps into the yard.

The yard seemed large to me then, mainly, I suppose, because when I lived with Grandmother in the city, I had only sidewalks and alleys to play in. My mother had always forbidden me to go any further than the property line in the backyard, and I had always obeyed, that is, until this particular day.

My cat, Sweetie, had gone beyond the property line and was just then sneaking back inside with a small rabbit in his mouth! I quickly grabbed a stone and threw it, trying to hit him on the leg so that he would drop the rabbit. He ran rebelliously into the forbidden woods, and I quickly followed, yelling for him to drop the tiny rabbit, who, by now, was squealing quite loudly. Sweetie ran for what seemed a long way, dropped the rabbit, and both rabbit and cat ran in different directions.

Suddenly, I found myself in a wooded area that I had never seen before. Before my eyes was a carpet of many different kinds of wildflowers scattered in all directions. The air was gentle and mild, filled with soft fragrances that made me keep walking farther and farther into this magical place. As I walked deeper into the woods, a picture seemed to unfold before my eyes. I skipped along, feeling happy and free as if a magical spell had overtaken me. Suddenly, not far ahead but way down beneath a hill was what seemed to be a very busy village of rabbits going about their daily duties! For a fleeting moment, I remembered my mother’s stern warning. I looked behind me, but the path I had been travelling had disappeared. I had no choice but to continue on.

A gentle voice suddenly broke the silence. I turned abruptly to see what looked like a middle-aged mother rabbit sitting on a tree stump, knitting.

I have waited a long time for you, she said