Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
UNCLE WIGGlLY AND THE
SAND FLEA.

a.Ns SAND FLEA.
my, but this Is a jolly place." en-
claimed Jimmie Wibblewobble, as he
climbed out Of his washtub ship and
stepped on the sandy beach of the
desert island. I'm glad sailed so far
away as to meet you and Grandpa
Goosey, Uncle Wiggily, even If the
hammer headed shark did chase me-"
"Oh, but what will your folks say?"
asked the rabbit gentleman. They
will be worried about YOU"
"Oh, guess not" replied Jimmie. II
told them, when / started that I didn't
know when I'd be back. I'm going to
stay here as long as you do
And We'll be here for a long time.
I'm afraid" spoke Grandpa Goosey. II
guess we can never sail our ship again.
But what about pirate bold and going
to bury gold, as you sang In your song
Jimmie? Are you really going to do
IT." ~. ..
J ".Oh, no." replied the boy duck. Il
was only making believe was pirate
bold, and that was pretend gold was
singing about. Oh, what jolly times
We'll have here!" and he felt SO happy
that he turned somersault on the
sand. g.. 49,. -..--3 @ss~2
1T would be more jolly If we could
get our ship loose" said Grandpa Coos.
ey, sort of sad like. Cant you help
us, Jimmie?" g
Maybe the hammer headed shark
could suggested the comical clam, for
the shark was still out in the water,
driving nails in the piece Of wood But
just as the clam spoke, the last nail
was driven in and then, with flip and
flop OF his tail the shark was gone,
for there was nothing more him to
hammer.
well, there's no use depending on
him." said Uncle Wiggily. And we
can't get the monkeys shovel, and the
clam can't dig us out with his Shells
because he can't stand in the water
must think of plan myself. Look
here!" he exclaimed to the others.
"You stay here, and get up some sort
of a meal, and I'll take walk around
this desert island and maybe I'll think
of way to float our ship"
Well, the others thought that would
be good plan, so while Jimmie and
the clam started to make a camp fire,
Grandpa Goosey looked about for some.
thing to eat, and Uncle Wiggily started
off to think of some way to float the
ship that was stuck fast in the sand.
The old gentleman rabbit hoped on
and on, and the more he thought, the
worse he felt, until, after a bit, he just
had to sit down in the shade of ban
ana tree, to rest. l think | forgot to
mention that banana trees grew on the
island, but they did What would a
desert island be without banana trees,
I'd like to know? So there you are!
Well as Uncle Wiggily was sitting
there, all of a sudden he heard a little
voice crying: a. ..t.
"oh, dear! Oh dear! I'll never get
out! Never!", ~-..
"My, I wonder who that can be"
thought the rabbit gentleman. So he
looked all around. but he could see no
one. Then the voice cried again: ~
"Oh. how unhappy T am! Hidden
away in the darkness. when I ought ia
Oh. lollypops!" .@s%#..
'Ha! Surely that must be some one
in trouble" said Uncle Wiggily, but
the only thing he could see was an
empty banana skin lying on the sand.
perhaps some one is under that"
thought the rabbit. I'll look So he
lifted 1t up, and surely enough out
hoped nice, big, red, white and blue
sand flea.
"Oh, thank you so much!" exclaim-
ed the flea. II was asleep here a
while ago and the monkey came past
eating a banana. Not seeing me, he
threw the empty skin over me and 1
was held fast I never would have
gotten out if you had not helped me,
and to pay you for your kindness I
will do anything l can for you. What
do you want?' r
WELL" said Uncle Wiggily after a
pause, ri think want most Of all to
think Of some way to get our ship out
of the sand. Can you tell me?" 80.
"Well, being a sand flea, ought to
know all about sand" replied the little
creature. still, don't know 50 much
about ships. But let me think a bit"
and the flea sat down and crossed one
leg over the other and thought real
hard. At last he said:
Take walk Uncle Wiggily, and
come backain half an hour. BY that
time l may have thought of some
thing. I'll just hop about a bit. I can
always think better when / hop"
So Uncle Wiggily went for walk
and the flea hoped. On and on went
the old gentleman rabbit until all Of
sudden just as he turned around the