El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-25

~ Uncle Wiggily, you don't mlno
being alone a little while, do
- youg' asked Mrs. Bushytan.
the squirrel lady, one afternoon. as she
put on her best oak leaf bonnet and her
rubber plant OvershOes, for there was
snow on the ground that wintry day
Being left alone?" repeated the rab-
bit gentleman Why, what do you
mean2 Are you going away from your
hollow tree home%
..Just for a little while" answered
the mother Of Billie and Johnny Bushy-
tail Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy and I
are going shopping down at the five
and ten cent store We VIII leave you
alone about an hour, for, by that time,
Billie and Johnnie viii be home from
school, and you will not be wanting
for company"
No. 1 guess not, with Billie and
Johnnie about" laughed the rabbit gen
tleman. tying one of his ears in hard
knot and the other in a soft one like
a boiled egg. For Billie and Johnnie
Busytail, the boy squirrels, were as
lively as crickets. hopping about and
Jumping up and down as well as side
TEL Johnnie, when he comes home
from school," said Mrs. Bushytail TO
Uncle Wiggily, Ito 90 down cellar and
bring up some butternuts. Wen need
butter for supper and I'll peel the
nuts and get il out Of them"
Very well, III tell him." promised
Uncle Wiggily-
squirrel lady. Ito bring in some wood
to boil the supper tea kettle. 1 always
let my boys do a little work when they
come from school," said the squirrel
lady to Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, the
muskrat lady hOusekeeper-
And il is a good idea" spoke Nurse
Jane. y taught Sammie Littletail to
set the table"
Jennie Chipmunk does that for me-"
said Mrs Bushytail, but Billie and
Johnnie often help. too
Then the squirrel lady and the musk
rat lady went shopping down at the
five and ten cent store to buy a dia-
mond piano, or perhaps a gold dishpanr
for all I know Uncle Wiggily was
left alone in the hollow stump house,
where ne was paying visit to the
squirrel family.
At first the rabbit gentleman was
bit lonesome, for he loved company.
but he said TO himself
Well Billie and Johnnie viii soon
be home. Then we viii have some
fun"
Pretty soon along came scampering
the two squirrel boys. chasing their
big fluffy tails, and seeing who would
get home first They both reached the
hollow tree house at the same time, so
each one beat
Where's Jennie Chipmunl12" asked
Uncle Wiggily-
ooh she stayed in to help the lady
mouse teacher clean off the black
boards" answered Johnnie "Will you
come out and play SNOWFALL with US,
Uncle Wiggilv2'
~Of course I will the rabbit gentle
man answered But don't forget you
boys have some little things to do for
your mother Johnnie is to go down
cellar to bring up the 5utternuts for
supper. and Billie is to bring in the
wood"
"Oh, well DO that" promised Billie.
but let's Dlav first"
So Uncle Wiggily, the rabbit gentle
man. played with the squirrel boys.
Uncle Wiggily showed Billie and
Johnnie how, in times of danger, when
dogs were chasing rabbits the Dummies
could thump on the ground with their
front feet to make a noise. and warn
the other rabbits And Uncle Wiggily
helped make a little snow house for
Billie and Johnnie, so they could 80
inside it.
And now" said the rabbit gentle
man toward supper time. as he saw
how dark it was getting. 4 think now
Billie had better bring in the wood,
while Johnnie goes down cellar after
the butternuts-"
Billie started for the woodpile. frisk-
ing his tail up over his back, so Il
would not drag in the snow but
Johnnie did not start in the hollow
stump house 10 20 down cellar
Come, Johnnie" said Uncle Wig
eily, as he shook some snow ont of MS
ear. where il had fallen in from the
top Of the snow house. hadn't you
BETTER get the butternuts2"