Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-20
Chidren's Evening Story

piled Uncle Wiggily, would be to go
down to the shore and see if our ship
is still stuck fast in the mud, or If it
has f1oated yet"
II believe you are right" agreed
Grandfather Goosey Gander, polishing
his bill on an oyster shell.
Because if our ship is floating"
went on Uncle Wiggily, I'VE should
keep on with our voyage around the
world. If we stay on this desert
island all the while, folks will say
that we are not sailors at ALL but land
| lubbers."
What is a land lubber?" asked
Grandpa Goosey. us 1t something
good to eat like a lollypop?"
mo, it is person who does not like
to 60 sailing" was the answer. But
don't bother about that now. Let's 60
see If the ship is floating"
So after breakfast Of ocean lettuce
and eel grass, which the lobster gave
them on soft sided sea shells for the
plates, the two friends started out. But
alas, and likewise chocolate caramels.
When they reached their ship it was
faster than ever in the sand, quite
high up on the beach.
We will never be able to sail in
that" exclaimed Grandfather Goosey
sorrowfully. "Never!"
mo, indeed" agreed Uncle Wiggily.
ITS too bad!"
well, why don't you dig the sand
away?' suddenly asked a voice behind
them and turning around, they saw a
cocoanut monkey. He was peeling 4
pineapple and the stickery parts he
stuck down in the sand, so no one
would step on them. dig out your
ship the cocoanut monkey went on.
Get shovel and poke the sand away
and then it will float"
But we have no shovel" said Uncle
Wiggily.
There is one out in my back yard"
explained the monkey. THE children
had it yesterday to dig in the sand
pile. You may take that"
Children here? On this desert
island?" exclaimed Uncle Wiggily JOY
fully. Il should dearly love to see
them. Are Johnnie or Billie Bushytail
Wibblewobble duck children?
the squirrel brothers, here' Or the
No, I meant my children-monkey
children explained the curly tailed
animal. Il live in palm leaf hut,
close by the cocoanut tree. That is
why l am called cocoanut monkey.
GO there and you will find the sand
pile, and the shovel is in it. Then you
can dig out the ship"
I'll CO." offered Uncle Wiggily, "as
| can hop along faster than you can,
Grandpa Goosey." So away the rabbit
gentleman went after the shovel, and
the goose gentleman stayed on shore
by the ship, to talk to the cocoanut
monkey land watch him curl his tail,
ready for the next party.
But l must tell you about Uncle
Wiggily. AS he was hopping along,
wondering what next would happen on
this queer deserted island, all of a sud-
den he felt himself sinking down in
the sand. He went down so quickly
that he could not help himself and he
first thing he knew was that one OF his
hind legs wassdown in a hole, and he
could not get it loose, no matter how
hard he pulled.
"Oh, wow" he cried. "Something
has hold of mel" ,,''
The more he pulled the tighter he
was held fast, so that after a bit he
could not move an inch, and of course
could not go after the shovel to dig the
ship out of the sand.
well, WE'LL" exclaimed Uncle Wig
gily, as he looked to see if part of his
tail had been broken off, 81 wonder
what I'm going to do? Help! Help!"
he called, but he saw no one coming
to help him.
Then he tried once more to get loose,
and as he was struggling away, wig
Cling his front feet and making the
sand fly all about, all Of sudden he
saw curious creature hopping toward
him and a. voice asked:
would you like me to help your"
Indeed / would" answered Uncle
Wiggily thankfully But what are
you, if you please?"
I'm sand piper" was the an
swer.
And what, pray tell, is sand
piper?' asked the rabbit gentleman,
most politely.
DO you know what sand isl" asked
the curious creature, who was some
thing like bird and mouse and
putty blower made into one.
"Of course know what sand is"
answered Uncle Wiggily
And do you know what a piper isl"
Yes, a piper Is something that