Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-03
UNCLE WIGGILY AND THE MOUSE
TEACHER.
(By Howard r. Garis.)
Paset Newspaper Service.

ing Company OF Newark, N. j., 1915
One morning Uncle Wiggily Long
ears, the rabbit gentleman, arose extra
early, to go over to the home Of
Grandfather Goosey Gander, the goose
gentleman. to, play Scotch checkers
over the fields and through the woods
went Uncle Wiggily, whistling to him
self and making his nose twinkle like
a star, and pretty soon he came to the
house where lived the nice lady mouse
who taught lesson to the animal chill
dren in the hollow stump school.
Uncle Wiggily looked up. intending
to wave his paw to the lady mouse
teacher as he often did, for she used
to start to school early SO as to be
there ahead of the children.
But this morning no lady mouse was
to be seen.
That's funny" thought Uncle Wig
gily. 81 wonder If anything could
have happened her? see no smoke
coming out of her chimney. Perhaps
she has oversight herself, and will be
late for school. I'll just knock on hel
door and find out"
So Uncle Wiggily went Tap! Tap!
Tap!" like a GOOSE doing the fox trot
dance. and within the house where the
lady mouse teacher lived voice said
ooh dear! don't know who you are
but come in! Oh dear!"
my! That doesn't sound very Jolly,
thought the rabbit gentleman. per
haps the lady mouse Is ILL.,
And, surely enough. so she was
When Uncle Wiggily went in he found
the poor little animal school teacher
in bed, and DR.. Possum was holding
hot cheese to her nose.
"Ha! What is the trouble here?' ask
ed Uncle Wiggily kindly. Has any
thing happened?"
Yes replied DR.. Postum. Miss
Mouse is quite Ill. She has touch Of
trap-fever. She cant 80 to school to-
day"
"Ha! That is to obad," said Uncle
Wiggily.
YES" said the lady mouse, speak.
ing from under the piece of cheese DR.
Postum was holding to her nose to
make her feel better, 1T Is too bad
l haven't sent any word to the school
that can't be there. And what the
children will do is more than know!
Oh, dear! It's dreadful
mo, It isn't dreadful at all, !" said
Uncle Wiggily cheerfully. Il will 60
to the school myself and tell them you
are i'll, lady mouse, and won't be there
today"
/. "Oh. how kind Of you!" exclaimed
the animal school teacher, nibbling a
bit of the cheese DR.. Postum held. III
you will do that"
"One moment, if you please!' inter.
rupted Uncle Wiggily. Il will do more
than that. l will teach school myself
in your place!"
ooh, do you think you CAM" cried
the lady mouse.
81 am sure Of IT, said Uncle Wiggily
looking over the tops of his spectacles,
very wisely indeed.
Eyes, l guess Uncle Wiggily can do
it," said Or. Postum. Nov don't you
worry, Miss Mouse. I'll take care OF
you.'
And I'll take care of the school.
said Uncle Wiggily, $50 everything will
come out right" Then he started off,
very glad indeed that he was up early
so he would not be late for school.
Inc animal CulluTcn were VcIy uuuCA
surprised when they reached the hol-
low stump to see Uncle Wiggily sitting
at the teachers desk in place of the
mouse lady.
Its all right, don't be worried
said the rabbit gentleman. "The lady
mouse is i'll, and am taking her place.
We will now have the first class in
numbers Sammie Littletail you may
stand up and tell me how many rails
ms in rice pudding"
"Why - err - what kind of a rice
pudding?" asked the rabbit boy Sam
ME. "How large Is it?"
'How should | know?" asked Uncle
Wiggily, What difference does that
maker"
Lots" said Sammie, "a big rice pud-
ding would have more raisins in than a
small one. can't answer that ques-
ton until know how large the pud-
ding is"
well, / can't tell you that" Uncle
Wiggily answered. There's nothing
in the book about that. Next! Susie
Littletail how many apples in an ap.
pie dumpling?"