Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-01

UNCLE WIGGILY AND THE CLAM.
When Uncle Wiggily came into the
hollow stump hotel, with the ship.
wrecked mouse that he had saved, the
ice cold lobster who was reading a
newspaper in a parlor rocking chair
saw the rabbit gentleman and called
out:
Whom have you there?" e.
"A poor mouse, that saved from the
ocean," replied Uncle Wiggily. HE is
going to stay with us for awhile" 81 "
Hal" exclaimed the lobster, docs
he snore?"'
mo, I am sorry to say do not
snore," replied the mouse, weighing his
long tail. But if you want me to learn
think"
mo! No. For mercy sakes don't,
beg of you!" cried the lobster. Il am
so glad you don't snore. I can't sleep
in the room with person who shores.
Do you walk in your sleep?"
II never have" replied the mouse,
"but If you want me perhaps | can.
81 wouldn't have you do it for six
worlds" said the lobster, excited like.
But do you talk in your sleep?'
81 never have"
Then pray, don't begin. ] think we
shall get along nicely together IL YOU
do not snore, walk or talk IN your
Sleep" .s-. ~r 49, n. r.,
Il hope so, I'm sure" replied Uncle
Wiggily, politely. -~'
So that is how the mouse came to
live at the hotel. He had warm
blanket, in the corner OF the room op'
posite from where the lobster slept,
and Uncle wiggily had his own bed,
for he had rheumatism, you know.
One morning, when the sun was
shining on the ocean waves, making
them sparkle like silver the rabbit
gentleman took his crutch and started
out.
Don't YOU want to come along?" he
asked the mouse and the lobster. u
am going for a walk on the beach,
81 would like to-" said the mouse.
d" And believe I would, also,' spoke
the lobster.
The mouse tied his tail in a knot or
two, so that it would not drag on the
sands and get full of pebbles, and the
lobster started of backwards, for i.
was easier for him to go that way, ana
DULL his heavy claws after him, than
i was to 70 frontwards and push them
"All ready, now" exclaimed Uncle
Wireily, and away they went. But 1t
was not as easy as you would tnlnR'
Oh, my, no and some salt water 1any
besides!
For az the lobster was always walk.
ing backwards, he could not very well
see where he was going, and he was
all the while humping into different
things. Once he bumped into the
boardwalk and the next time into a
most, and once he went right up
against big stone, but he didn't hurt
it very much.
Then, too, the mouse had trouble
The knot in his tail kept catching IN
sticks and stones and on nails IN the
boardwalk, and then he would nave
to stop and unfasten it.
my! This will never do" exclaimed
Uncle Wiggily, with jolly laugh. I'VE
will never get anywhere at this rate
7 think I know what to do. Unite the
knot in your tail, Mr.. Mouse"
"1f do, my tail will drag in the sand
and get all full OF stickers," replied
the mouse.
mo, I think I can fix 1t. Mr.. Lob
ster, you take hold Of the mousie's tall
in your claw and
But please don't pinch mel" cried
the mouse, worried like.
81 wouldn't pinch you for the world
exclaimed the lobster. ,.. Z
mo. he will hold your tail very
gently" went on Uncle Wiggily. land
Won can walk frontwards. You car
then see where you are going, and you
can lead the lobster, 50 that he wont
hump into things. At the same time
yorr tail will be held up out Of the
sand and you won't have to tie 1t in