Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1892-12-20
"OLO WOeeLe."


The Curious Present Uncle Fred Brought
the Children when lie Came Home
For two whole years Uncle Fred. who
was a captain in the navy, had been
away with his ship. and had sailed
hundreds and hundreds of miles Now
he was home once more. and had
brought something for his little
nephews and nieces, whom he never
forgot.
And what do you suppose have?"
asked Uncle Fred, turning to Hal and
Dick and Mary and Kit, who stood
around his chair.
"A doll" cried Mary clapping her
hands. "A real French doll that saws
mamma and papa"
POOH said Dick. "Men don't buy
dolls, do they. Uncle Fred?"
Not often" replied their uncle.
laughing; "and this time it is not a
doll. Now everyone may guess once"
"Is IL alive?' asked Hal, very much
Interested
Yes" answered Uncle Fred: chat
was a good guess; it is something
alive"
The children clapped their hands and
shouted for JOY.
IA monkey" cried Dick.
"Yes. n monkey" said Hal, who
thought that a pet monkey would be
the finest thing i'm the world
"A parrot" guessed Mary, but Kit
could not think of any thing TO say.
"Well, what do you think it lisp"
asked Uncle Fred, turning TO Kit
81 don't know" answered the little
girl, ''unless-unless it is baby elc-
plant"
Uncle Fred laughed al this. hut shook
his head. mo, no." he said, you are
all wrong. Come out in the garden now
and I'll show you"
80 Hal and Dick and Mary and Kit
followed Uncle Fred into the garden,
where he opened big box. and took
out the Misunderstanding thing ever seen.
You could not tell exactly whether ii
was meant for a bird or not. Uncle
Fred set it on the ground, and it walked
around as though it had been used to
the place all its life.
ooh, what is il? what is ito" came the
Arxfods chorus, as the children gathered
around to view the new pet
1T is fowl" explained Uncle Fred,
that is called penguin"
Dear me-" said Mary. watching it
from distance. isn't it queer? Hasn't
it got funny wings? Won't they grow
any more?'
NO" replied Uncle Fred. 1T is a
bird that never flies, but lives in the
water most of the time. A sailor
caught this for me on an island in the
Pacific ocean. We kept it on board the
ship. and IL is quite tame now"
what did you call it?' asked Mary,
who was very much interested i'm the
strange creature.
"A penguin" said Uncle Fred
II don't like that for name" Kit
said, slowly; lit is too hard. Look at
him wobble when he walks ZaclSly
like littleboby that has just learned
That's good idea, Kit" returned
Uncle Fred. why don't You call him
Old Wobble?"
Yes" shouted the children. "we'll
name him that Hello. Old Wobble!"
But the penguin did not seem 10
know his new name. and walked down
the path without paying any attention
10 his owners.
All that day Old Wobblc kept the
children amused. lie was such a Curl
Gus and solemn fowl, 50 different from
all other kinds. He walked into the
chicken-yard, and scared the hens so
that they ran away cacliling. Then he
went swimming in the little pond.
where there were lots of ducks But
the ducks did not know what TO make
Of him. so before long Old Wobble had
the whole pond Ia himself, which he
seemed 20 enjoy very much. None of
the ducks or chickens seemed anxious
to make friends with him, but
Old Nobble didn't seem To care.
lie swan around the pond, and
dived~ down 10 the bottom. and
seemed 50 very cOntented that the chill
dren were afraid Old Wobblc would
never come out % the water But
when supper-tiIne came Old Wobble
was glad 10 come ashore and get into his
box again
II is a long time since | heard of him.
but the last news was that Old Wobble
was well and happy. and source of in
terest toeverybody that came from the
surrounding neigh borhood 10 see him.
He even became SO wise AS To know his
name, and everybody thought that IL
suited him exactly. for he did wobble
very much when he tried 10 walk
Harper's Young People.