Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-06
Children's Evening Story

had gnawed for him out of a corn
stalk. why practice that sort of
thing?
well. you see,' went on the mouse,
ut WILSON be summer, and then l
will have to do lots OF gnawing. You
know children have to practice their
music &easons, 30 they will be good
players, and so have to practice my
gnawing lesson. 80 will keap on be-
ing . good gnawer. That is why I
cant come with you"
II see," answered Uncle wiggfly, 20
he went for his walk alone.
Well. he hadn't gone very far, and
he was thinking how much better he
felt, to be down at the seashore, and
he was looking at the waves wash
ing up ON the beach, when, all Of a
sudden, he heard a sorrowful voice
signing and crying."s
"Oh dear! Oh dear!" cried the sor-
rowful voice. How miserable and un-
happy ami"
my! wonder who that can be?'
exclaimed Uncle Wiggily. He looked
all around, but he couldn't sec any one,
and then he heard tho voice again.
This time 1t said: E.. a.
Dear Oh! How perfectly unhappy I
ami" '.....- 4 -~. -, -.
There must be some one here"
said Uncle WiggNy. II wonder If It
can be that bad sea lion, buried under
the sand? I had better be careful"
and he said this last out loud.
"Oh, you don't need to be careful"
said the voice again. II am too miser
able to hurt any one, least OF all you,
Uncle Wiggily, for have heard about
you, and like you very much"
But who are you and whore are
you?" asked the rabbit gentleman. II
can't see you!"
II am the sorrowful oyster" was the
answer, and I am sitting on this
bunch of seaweed behind YOU"
Then Uncle W1ggily looked, and he
saw the oyster, and the poor thing was
very sorrowful. 1t had its she'll open,
and was crying salt water tears.
why are you so sorrowful?" asked
Uncle Wiggily.
Because I have no one to keep me
company" was the answer. You see,
I am an oyster with pearl In my
shell, and as none Of my other friends
the common oysters, have any pearls
in them, they think l am proud and
stuck up, and they won't have anything
to do with me. But am not proud at
all, and the only place am stuck up
is ION this bunch Of sea weed. I stay
And have you really pearl in you?
asked Uncle Wiggily.
Eyes," said the sorrowful oyster, II
have" and he showed the pearl to the
rabbit gentleman. 1t was round
white stone, such as ladies wear In
their rings, like a diamond only 1t did
not sparkle.
well, it is too bad to be sorrowful,'
said Uncle Wiggily, "but I think I can
help you. have an idea"
And just then, as truly as I'm telling
you, a bad pincher crab popped up
from behind stone, and tried to bite
Uncle Wiggily. But the sorrowful
oyster saw the crab, and in the twink.
ing OF star the oyster closed it's shell
on the crabs nose and bit It so that
the Gravity animal was glad to run
away, and not bother Uncle W1ggily
any more.
THANK you very much" said the
gentleman rabbit to the oyster. You
are very kind to me. You saved me
from being pinched.'
pray do not mention it, !" replied the
oyster. II am glad I could help some
one. You don't think me proud; do
you?"
"No, indeed" replied the rabbit
gentleman. land I was going to say
that I have friend, the ice cold lob
ster. I will tell him how sorrowful
and lonesome you are, and I'm sure he
will come and keep you company amt
talk to YOU"
"Oh, II he only would cried the
oyster, clapping his shell for Joy.
And the lobster did come, as soon
as Uncle wiggily hurried to the boil
low stump hotel and told about the
poor lonesome oyster. The lobster
stayed with the sorrowful oyster Tor
many days, and soon the oyster was all
over being sorrowful; so you see Uncle
wiegily did a good kind act. and this
teaches US that oysters are good for
something else than being put In soup.
And now, If the little boy sliding
down hill, doesn't knock off the old
gentieman's tall silk hat and scare the
grocery mans horse 50 that it steps IN
the egg basket. I'll tell you next about
Uncle Wiggily and the rolling chair.