The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-15
Bedtime Stories
BY HOWARD r. GARIs
e. Uncle Wiggily and the Flag.


Out in front of the hollow stump /
the rabbit gentleman, a crowd of boy
and girl animals were shouting and
cheering
My. Myl What's it all about"
asked DR.. Postum as he came along
with his bag OF pills and powders on
his tail. where opossums carry every
thing. What has happened?"
{ Uncle Wiggily has just raised
! flag, on account of the war" said
Johnnie Bushytail. the boy squirrel,
| land were all cheering because were
SO glad We live in a flag country
We're all going to have flag, too
| "Finel" cried the animal doctor,
but 1 didn't hear anything about
war; I've been too busy curing the
Woodland folk of the epizootic, I sup
pose
| You didn't hear about the war;"
exclaimed surprised Sammy Littletail,
the rabbit, who had cheered so hard
that his pink nose was going in and
out like an accordion when the circus
/ elephant plays fast music on it.
'.WhyI" cried Sammie, the mosqui-
!
Uncle Wiggily has hoisted his flag to
show he isn't afraid. Hip. Hip. Hur-
ray. Bang! Bang. Shoot off the
gum
"Ha That's what L say, tool" ex-
| claimed DIR. Postum. well, I'm not
afraid of mosquitoes, either. I have,
in my medicine bag, some talcum pow
| der TO shoot them, and if they bite
me or any of my friends I'll put some
witch hazel on the bites. Still, I'll
raise flag, too, in front of my house,
and away hurried DIR. Possum to do
/ that.
AS for Uncle Wiggily, he and Nurse
Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy, his muskrat lady
housekeeper, looked at the red, white
AMI blue flag as it waved in the wind
| on top of a pole over the hollow stump
bun galoW, and Uncle Wiggily took off
his tall silk hat and made a low bow
to the banner, for one must always
salute the flag.
'Dr. Postum is going to have flag
at his house, too" said little SQueaky
Eeky, the little cousin mouse He
was just here looking at yours and he's
going to raise one, too
Fine" cried Uncle Wiggily. Il must
take a little walk over and see DR..
Possum's flag, and perhaps, on the
way, 1 may have an adventure-who
knows p?
So, after he had seen that his flag
was beautifully waving in the breeze,
Uncle Wiggily, taking his red, white
and blue striped rheumatism crutch
that Nurse Jane had gnawed for him
out of a corn stalk, started off over
the fields and through the woods to
see DR.. Possum's flag.
The old rabbit gentleman had not
gone very far before, all of sudden,
out from under some bushes in the
| forest flew a lot of enemy mosquitoes.
They pitched on Uncle Wiggily, go
ing. to war against him, and biting him
on his legs. his ears and even on his
pink twinkling nose.
'Oh, my! What shall 1 do?" cried
the bunny uncle, switching about with
his crutch. Help! Help l am at
tackled by the mosquitoes!'' and
flag, still the mosquitoes did not fly
away from it.
Uncle Wiggily was getting pretty
badly bitten when, all at once, a voice
down in among the ferns at his feet
said:
Uncle Wiggily. if you will pick
some of me, and rub me on your ears,
nose and whiskers, the mosquitoes will
let you alone"
''Will they? And who are YOU that
you can do this?" asked the bunny
Il am the pennyroyal plant. grow
ing here in the woods" was the an
swer. The mosquitoes do not like
my perfume and run away when they
smell it,
Then they shall right soon smell
it!' cried the brave bunny uncle rab-
bit soldier. SO he picked some of the
pennyroyal plant, which has a nice
odor, think, and when he had rubbed
some of the leaves on his fur coat.
Uncle Wiggily saw the mosquito army
|. flying away.
biz! Buzz. Bazz,' sounded the
mosquito trumpter. Back up! Re
treat! Uncle Wiggilys pennyroyal is
} TOO strong for US Come away! We
can not bite or fight himi"
So the mosquito army flew awav.
J and Uncle Wiggily thanked the penny.
: royal plant. Then, seeing some blue
and white violets growing down in
: among the leaves, the bunny uncle
picked bouquet of them
I'll take the flowers to Nurse Jane
after I've seen Doctor Possum's flag. -
said Mr.. Longears. Then Uncle wig
giIy saw some red flowers growing in
| the woods. and he picked them also.
They will make a much better hon
quet for Nurse Jane said he.
A little while after that the bunny
| uncle came to Doctor Possum's house
: and looking up at the pole, he expect
ed to see fine flag flying. But, in
strips and streamers of rags blowing in
: the wind.
why, how is this?". asked Uncle
p. Wiggily, in surprise
oh. something dreadful .happenedr'
[ cried Doctor Postum II lust hoisted
, nice new flag when, all at once along
came big army of mosquitoes and
with their sharp bills they tore the
red white and blue banner all 10
: pieces, leaving it ragged as you see It.
: And now. alas, 1 have no flag
Uncle Wiggily thought for a minute.
Then he cried:
"Ha, I have it, Well make a ban
ner of these flowers. The blue violets
rr-f11H fNo I@ etc -
r flowers will be the stripes and with
8 them we'll put in some pennyroyal to
keep away the mosquitoes
t So Uncle Wiggily and Doctor Pos