The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-26
Bedtime Stories
Uncle wiggily and the Swimming
BY HOWARD r. GAKIs

Uncle Wiggily and the Swimming |
Mouse.
Uncle wiggily, I am sorry to ask |
you," began Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, |
the muskrat lady housekeeper for the /.
rabbit gentleman, but 1 need
Now don't say another, word.
jamie, my deari"N politely interrupted
the rabbit gentleman.
But 1 have to say another word II
1 tell you what 1 want" said Nurse
Jane.
Uncle wiggiiy Tell me all you like
about what you want. but as for be-
ing sorry to ask me to do anything
don't I'd do anything in the worio
for you, and you know il"
Perhaps 1 do and Nurse Jane
smiled SO that her whiskers ickled
the back of her neck and made her
laugh. Well. then. will you go to the
store for me and bring me pound
| of butter?"
"of course, will" exclaimed the
bunny uncle "I'n go at once!'
And go he did. fairly jumping out
of the grapevine hammock where ne
had been swinging in front OF ms
hollow stump bungalow.
Over the fields and thru the WOODS
went the bunny uncle to the store
| for Nurse Jane. and soon he reached
the place. 1t was kept by dear ola
COW lady, and, when Uncle Wigg1iy
| told her what he wanted she said:
"rlI have some fresh butter for
you in a minute, made out OF some
nice yellow buttercup. 1t is a new
kind and 1 hope Nurse Jane VIII IKE
it,"
I'm sure she WILL" said Uncle
wiggily politely He was polite, even
to a COW. no matter if she had
crumpled horn, which this one
didn't
Soon the butter was made and
then, having wrapped it in some cool,
green grapevine leaves. tying them
around with ribbon grass, the COW
lady gave the package to Uncle wig
4 gily.
your way home" she said. TT is a
hot day, and IL you let the butter fall
it may melt and splash all over
"I'll be careful" promised Uncle
Wiggily.
So back he started for his hollow
| stump bungalow, wondering IL Nurse
Jane was going to bake cake with
part of the butter, when. all of sud-
den, as the bunny gentleman was 60
ing thru dark place in the woods;
there jumped out at him bad old
wild cat.
..Wowv' snarled the wild cat. Now
I have you!' and she began chasing
| after the bunny gentleman.
Now a wild cat, you know, is like a
tame cat only bigger and worse. 1t
doesn't howl of a night, but it bites.
scratches and claws, and Uncle Wig
gily did not want this one to get him.
So the bunny rabbit, tucking the but
ter under his paw, began to run.
"Oh, hoi" cried the wild cat. You
can't get away from me like that. I'm
after you'll" and she was.
On and on ran Uncle Wiggily, and
on and on ran the wild cat. She was
getting nearer and nearer to the bum
ny, and Uncle Wiggily was getting so
tired that he could hardly run any
more, when, all of a sudden, as he
came to little brook, running along
in the woods between messy and fern
covered banks, Mr.. Longears heard a
voice calling to him:
Jump over tho brook and the wild
cat can't get your
So Uncle Wiggily. not stopping to
see who had called to him, gave a
great big jump and over the water
he went. landing safely on the other
side.
"oh. wow' Double wow" howled
cause Uncle Wiggily had gotten away,
which he had done. The wild cat
could not jump over the brook, as it
was teo wide. and she did not dare
get her feet wet-no cats like water,
you know. least of all wild cats
well, I'm much obliged for telling
me how to get away safely" said
Uncle Wiggily, looking for the owner
of the voice. Who are you, if you
please %
"Oh. I'm little field mouse" was
the answer. II saw you coming and
1 wanted to help you get away from
that bad cat So you're all right, are
you?"
"AIl right. thank you, yes. Hold
on, tho, No. I'm not all right" sud
| VTr1n !.
the nice butter / was bringing to
Nurse Jane. 1t must have slipped
from under my paw when I jumped
across the brook to get away from the
wild cat"
> Yes. 1t did," answered the little
mouse. coming out from under a bic
leaf. There 1t is down on the bot
: tom OF the brook. 1 can see it," and
/ with her paw she pointed to where
, the butter, still safely wrapped in the
, leaves, was on the white, pebbly bot
! tom OF the stream.
) "Oh, dear!" cried Uncle Wieeilv
! II 1 could only get the package of
t butter 1t would be all right, for the
: cold water will not hurt it. But how
| can I get it up?"
r I'll get it for you" said the little
creature.
, What. Can you go under water p,
> asked Uncle wiggiiy.
: certainly. / am a swimming mouse
! ana my father Is water rat" was
the reply.
Then the swimming mouse dived
ooWn and In her paws brought up the
iearwrapped package of butter. And
! tho IT was rather large she easily
ii1ted IT, FOR, like everything else I'M
der water, 1t was easy to raise until
it got to the top. only then beeomine
! too heavy But then Uncle Wfepily
reached for it with his red, white and
blue striped rheumatism crutch. and
he could easily get 1t that way.
So the little swimming mouse. after
splashing about in the water for 3
while to get cooled off, came out or
shore and Uncle Wiggily thanked her
and gave her some butter for herself
= Thus, you see, even a mouse NAV
l help some one besides Hon o,d q.