The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-06
Bedtime Stories
Uncle wiggily and the Tortoise.
by HOWARD r. CARTS

Uncle Wiggily and the Tortoise.
Uncle wiggily Longears, the rabbit
gentleman, was out walking in the
woods one day, looking for an adven-
ture, when he saw box tortoise slow
ly crawling along on the path under
the green ferns.
"Oh dear!" sighed the box tortoise,
which is something like a mud turtle,
except he doesn't live in mud, and he
can shut himself up in his shell, by
drawing in his legs, head and tail,
until he looks exactly as tho he was
in box. "Oh. dear! I'm afraid IN
never get there."
Get where?" asked Uncle Wiggily
kindly
ITO the three and four cent stores"
answered the box tortoise. MY wife
sent me to get her pair of clam-shell
sale of them at the store, regular five
cent ones marked down to four and a
half cents, and she's very anxious to
have me get her some.
But I'm afraid I'll not get there
until they're all gone 1 started two
how much farther it was and he said
about a months journey farther on.
So I'm afraid I'll be too late"
II should think you would be,
Uncle Wiggily with kind laugh. II
think the earring sale and four cent
store is not far from here. however.
But with your short legs it will take
you a. long while. However, I'll carry
you there in about three hops and a
twinkle of my pink nose"
And, picking the box tortoise up in
his paws away hoped Uncle Wiggily.
and soon he and his new friend were
at the store.
Yes, we have just one pair of the
diamond clam-shell earrings left
said the little mousie girl clerk behind
the counter. You may have them for
! three cents ana she gave them to
the box tortoise gentleman, who was
much obliged.
will be much pleased" said he. But
I'll be about six weeks getting back,
I'm afraid"
Yes, and by that time those ear
| Uncle Wiggi1y. you had much better
let me carry you home. But. as
have to go to the store for my musk
rat lady housekeeper, Nurse Jane
Fuzzy, and carry in my paws some
buttercup sauce and sunflower cakes.
I'll have to put you in my tall silk hat,
and carry you on my head"
Il sha'nt mind that in the least"
spoke the box tortoise. Thank you
kindly. I'll go to sleep on the way
back" and he did, using the diamond
! clam-shell earrings for pillow
Uncle wiggily went to the store for
Nurse Jane, and then, with his paws
| full of the things he had bought he
started for his hollow stump bunga-
| low. carrying the box tortoise in his
| tall silk hat on his head.
The bunny rabbit gentleman was
hopping along thru the woods. when,
| all of a sudden, out from behind q
1 stump jumped a big black bear-not
a good. kind one like Neddie or Beckie
Stubtai1, but a most cross and un-
pleasant chap
"Ah, hal" growled the bear Eat
last we meet again. / am glad to see
YOU
II wish / could say the same to
you" spoke Uncle Wiggily, hesitating-
| ~ like. What are you going to do
| to me?''
Scratch you first, and then bite you
afterward," answered the bear
"Oh, don't you let him" whispered
the tortoise under Uncle Wiggily's tall
/ silk hat. Throw something at him -
So Uncle Wiggily threw the butter
cup sauce.
Pooh, As il 1 minded thatw ex-
claimed the bear, shaking his mead as
the sauce landed on his nose.
Then Uncle Wiggily threw the sum
flower cakes.
Pooh. As if I minded them
shifted the bear.
Hal Maybe he'll mind thisi'' wi1is-
pered the tortoise. Throw me al
i him, Uncle WiggiIy. I'll put my head
tai1 and legs inside my shell, and III
/ be lust like a stone. Throw me al
the bear; it won't hurt me a. ALL
&c. when the tortoise was all curled