The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-04
Bedtime Stories
Uncle WiggiIx and the Cow.
BY HOWARD r. GARIt

Uncle WiggiIy and the Cow.
"Heigh hol Merrily oh! Off to
school thru rain or snow, that's the
way I like to go!"
This was a song which Uncle Wig
gily Longears, the rabbit gentleman,
heard one morning as ne started out
from his hollow stump bungalow to
look for an adventure. He was hop
ping along the road, which ran by q
meadow where the green grass was
getting longer and longer in the April
rains.
Hal That is a jolly song. at any
rate" laughed the bunny uncle, as he
stopped to look about him. Il wonder
who is singing it?"
Then he saw Johnnie BushytaiI, the
squirrel boy, scampering along on the
rail fence beside the road.
Hello, Johnnie!" cried Uncle Wig
sily. You seem quite jolly this morn
ing"
Il am. thank YOU" answered the
squirrel chap. Il know my lessons
the sun is shining, tho it was raining
little while ago, and l love to go
to the hollow stump school where the
lady mouse teaches"
"Finel" cried Uncle WiggiIy I'll
walk along with you little way, AMI
perhaps we may both have an ad-
venture As you say, it is indeed a
most delightful day.
"Ho! Ho! Not for me it isn't Not
for mel suddenly exclaimed a moo
ing-booing sort of voice This is the
worst day l ever saw! oh, deari''
Why, that sounds just as if some
one was in trouble, Johnnie" said
Uncle Wiggily. surprised like.
so 1t does agreed the SQUIRREL
look"
Whoever it is I must help them"
said Uncle Wiggily. And then he
called; Who are you, if you please
and what is the matter?'
Il am cow" was the answer. Pm
down in the meadow, irving to eat
some green grass. SO / can make white
milk Tor the boys and girls But nv
feet are all tangled up in the rope by
which am tied to a stake, SO l will
Moo! Bool Bool'
-oh, that's too bad!'' cried Uncle
WigSily. Caught fast in a rope and
can't move. oh, dear"
But why do you want to move ?"
asked Johnnie. as he and the bunny
uncle crawled thru the fence and walk
ed toward the COW who was tied fast in
the middle of the meadow.
Il want to move about so 1 can eat
more grass, was the answer. Il have
eaten all 1 can reach, tangled up as 1
am in the rope"
We will untangle you and set you
free" said Uncle Wiggily, and then the
rabbit gentleman, with the help of the
squirrel boy, loosed the knots in the
! rope, unwound it from the cows legs
and around the stake and soon the
moo-moo lady could walk wherever
She liked in the meadow and eat the
sweet grass, which she turned into
milk. -
Thank you very much, Uncle Wig
gily, and you also. Johnnie Bushytail -
said the COW. You helped me very
much and if ever 1 can do you a favor,
1 will"
Pray do not mention it.. said Uncle
Wiggily, with a polite bow. and when
! he and the squirrel boy walked on
! again, the bunny noticed that Johnnie
was sort of smiling and chuckling fun
ny like.
What are you laughing at?" asked
Uncle Wiggily.
"Oh. at the idea of that COW ever
doing you or me a favor" said john
ME. Its too ridiculous. A COW can't
help anybody. All they can do is to
give milk
well. that's something" said Uncle
! Wiggily. But 1 am not SO sure but
what COW can do other things. too.
! You must never be too certain. 1t is
, too early tolaugh."
Then the bunny uncle and the squir-
rel boy hoped on together toward the
! hollow stump school, and they were al
most there when. all of a sudden,
Johnnie stopped and cried:
"Oh, dear! 1 forgot all about them!'
Forgot WHAT" asked Uncle Wig
| gily.
'F'lowers.'' answered the squirrel
/ boy. THE lady mouse said whoever
brought the first spring flowers to
school could get out early. L found
some in our side yard this morning
and picked them to bring to school
But 1 came away without them, and
/ now it is too late to go back after
them. oh. deari How disappointed
I teacher will be-"
! Uncle Wiggily thought for minute
Then he looked at his watch, took
Johnnie by the paw and said:
Come with me- We have just time
! enough, I think
For what?" asked the squirrel boy,
wonderingly.
you'll soon see," said the bunny.
He led Johnnie back to where the
COW lady was eating grass. and then
Uncle Wiggily called to her: "Oh.
Moo Cow. are there any violets in that
meadow grass you are eating?'
Plenty of them" answered the