The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-05
Bedtime Stories
Uncle wiggily and the White Queen

BY HOWARD r. CARS

Uncle Wiggily and the White Queen.
Uncle Wiggily Longears, the nice
rabbit gentleman, was hopping along
thru the woods one day, wondering
if he would have an adventure with
Alice of Wonderland or some of her
friends, when, all of a sudden, coming
to a place where a rail fence ran
along among the trees he saw,
caught in a crack of one of the rails
by its legs. a white butterfly.
The poor butterfly was f.uttering its
wings, trying to pull out its leg, but
it had to pull very gently, for a but
terfly's leg, you KNOW is very tender
and easily broken. like piece of
spiderweb.
"Oh, my" cried Uncle Wiggily.
when he saw what was the matter.
You are in trouble, aren't you? I'm
glad 1 happened to come along"
why, to see me in trouble?" ask
ed the white butterfly.
mo, indeed" exclaimed the bunny
uncle. But I want to help you"
Well. wish you would" went on
and tried again to get my poor leg
loose, but 1 can't. And I'm on my
way-oh. but 1 forgot. That part is
a secret" quickly said the butterfly.
well, then, don't tell me-" spoke
Uncle Wiggily with laugh. for 1
secrets. But I'll soon have your leg
loose"
With that he took the small end
of his red, white and blue striped
rheumatism crutch that Nurse Jane
Fuzzy Wuzzy had gnawed for him
out of a co~nstalk and putting the lit
tie end of his crutch in the crack of
the rail fence, Uncle Wiggily gave a
hard push and soon the butterfly S
leg was loose and she could fly away.
But first I must thank you, Uncle
Wiggily." she said. "And as you did
one in return. Not now. perhaps. as
I am in a hurry, but later So If
ever you find you want something
you can't get, just come to these
woods and say a little verse. linen
YOU shall have your wish.
'sWhat verse shall L say" asked
Uncle Wiggily.
This answered the butterfly.
Then she recited:
when the wind blows in the trees,
Making perfume for the breeze.
viii you grant to me this boon.
That my wish may come true soon?"
and what them" asked the bunny.
Then" answered the butterfly.
you must whisper your wish to
green leaf and-well, we'll see what
happens next
THANK you," said Uncle Wiggily,
and then he hoped on thru the
woods while the butterfly fiuttered
away.
Uncle Wiggily had no adventure
that day, but when ne reached home
to his hollow stump bungalow he
found his muskrat lady housekeeper
in the kitchen looking quite sad and
blue
well, Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy,"
! cried the jolly bunny uncle. What
ever is the matter "
"Oh, 1 have broken my nice gold
and diamond dishpan, and I can't do
any more kitchen work until it is
mended. 1 can't wash the dishes nor
get you any supper"
"Oh, never mind about that" said
Uncle Wiggily. Til take the diamond
dishpan down to the five and ten cent
store and have them mend it for you.
Where is it?''
Nurse Jane gave it to him. The
pan had a big crack right across the
middle The muskrat lady said it had
fallen to the floor and had broken
when she went to get Jackie Bow
Wow. the little puppy dog boy, a slice
| of bread and jam.
| I'll soon have it fixed for you,
said Uncle Wiggily. But it was more
easily said than done. The five and
ten cent store was closed because
| every one was on a picnic, and no one
I
Never mind, I'll buy Nurse Jane a
new one and say nothing about it,
said Uncle Wiggily. I'll surprise
her.
But this, too, was more easily SAID
than done. In all Woodland, where
Uncle Wiggily and the animal foll
| lived, there was not another gold anC
diamond dishpan to be had. They
were all sold.
''Oh dear. What shall L do?'
thought Uncle Wiggiiy. Nurse Jane
will be so unhappy" Then he hap.
pened to think of the white butterfly
and what she had told him. So, tax.
ing the dishpan, he went to the woot
where he had helped the futterinl
creature and whispered to a leaf the
little verse.
Well, what is your wish?" asked &
sudden voice.
II wish Nurse James gold and dia.
mond dishpan to be mended," sale
Uncle Wiggily.
Instantly something white came
fluttering down out of a tree, and th'
bunny saw it was the white butter
fly. And then, all of a sudden, befor,
he could count up to sixteen thou.
sand, the white butterfly seemed t.
fade away and in its place was 4
beautiful White Queen, seated on
golden throne with a diamond crowf
on her head
You shall have your wish. Uncl'
Wiggily," she said. "Give me th'
dishpan."
"Why-whyi" exclaimed the bunny
ttYou are-you ARE
q am the White Queen from Alice
in Wonderland" was the answer. ''anC
I will ask you a riddle. When yol
take the dishes out of the pan wha
remains -
Nothing" answered the bunny.
Wrong answered the Whit
Queen. THE water does. Now II
mend this for you" And she did
taking some gold from her throne ant
some diamonds from her crown.
Soon Nurse James pan was as goot
as ever and she could wash the dishe
in it
Thank you said Uncle Wiggily
But how is it you are queen and ;
butterfly. too
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