Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-04
Children's Evening Story

gily. II know-checkers! Wen have
a game right away" and they did.
In fact they had several checker
games, one after the other, and some
times Uncle Wiggily won, and some
times Grandfather Goosey did, until it
was dinner time for both Of them,
You must stay and have lunch with
me-" said the goose gentleman. Then
we can play more games this after
noon."
So Uncle Wiggily stayed for lunch
with Grandpa Goosey at the eggshell
front hotel and he played checkers un-
til 1t was dark, and then it was supper
time, so he stayed to supper, or dinner
as they called it at the eggshell front
hotel, where Grandfather Goosey was
stopping.
my! I didn't mean to be here so
long said Uncle Wiggily, suddenly, a.
he looked out OF the window, and saw
how dark It was. II must hurry home.
The lobster and mouse will be lonely"
Just one more game" begged Grand
father Goosey, lust one" so they
had It and then the rabbit gentleman
started for his hotel.
He walked along the sand, and It
seemed to be getting darker and dark
er, for there was no moon, and all the
stars had closed their eyes and gone
to sleep, guess. The waves kept
slushing and sloshing up on the beach
(you know how they sound) and it
was rather lonesome. But Uncle Wig
gily was not bit afraid.
All of sudden, though as a big
wave washed upon the sand, the rabbit
gentleman heard voice cry out:
There he Is now! Now can get
him! Oh, I'll have him this time!"
"Oh, it's that old sea lion again, I'm
sure Of it," cried Uncle Wiggily, and
just then the sea lion roared, and
Uncle Wiggily was> positive it was the
bad animal.
I'm coming for you!" the sea lion
cried, in his rough and unpleasant
voice.
I'm going to rum" shouted Uncle
Wiggily. you can't get me-"
So the rabbit gentleman ran on in
the darkness, and it was 50 black that
he couldn't even see where he was 60
ing, but the sea lion had eyes that
could easily see under the water, and
so he could tell just exactly where
Uncle Wiggily was. On he topped, af-
ter the poor rabbit gentleman, and
even If Uncle Wiggily couldn't see the
bad creature behind him he could hear
him coming, flip-fop, flop-flip.
"4h, Ia! I've got you!" barked the
sea lion, as he reached out one Of his
f1ippers and made a grasp for the rab-
bit gentleman. Uncle Wiggily felt the
f1ipper brush his ear and he sprang to
one side and hoped away, faster than
ever.
Then he became all mixed up, for he
couldn't see which way to run in the
darkness. He just had to stand still
and he could hear the sea lion Topping
around after him trying to get him.
"Oh, what shall l do?' cried poor
Uncle Wiggily. Which way shall l
60? l can't see anything. 1t is all SO
black"
Well, the sea lion was almost up to
him again, when, all Of sudden, down
the beach little way Uncle Wiggily
saw shining light like star and
a voice cried.
This way, Uncle Wiggily. Come
toward the light and you will be all
right! Hop this way, pleased"
who are your asked the rabbit
gentleman, wonderingly. ---
II am the twinkling starfsh," was
the answer land l am on the sand,
shining to show you the way to the
boardwalk. The sea lion dare not come
up there after you. Run toward mel"
Then the starfsh made himself
twinkle brighter than ever, so that
Uncle Wiggily could see which way to
run. On and on he ran, and the sea
lion Topped after him, but the rabbit
reached the place where the twinkling
starfish was, and then he could see to
climb up the steps to the boardwalk,
and he was safe, for the policeman
dogs would have arrested the lion IL
he had dared go there.
WOW! You got away" cried the dis
appointed sea lion. II will bite the
starfish to pay for that. Wow"
So the sea lion ran up to bite the
good, kind starfish, but the fish made
himself twinkle brighter than ever,
and he scorched the sea lion on the
nose, and burned him so that the bad
animal was glad enough to flop back
into the ocean to cool of.
Then the starfish didn't need to
twinkleiany more, and after the rabbit
gentleman had thanked him he went to
sleep, while Uncle Wiggily hoped on