El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-02

- NE upon a tlrnes as Uncle wig
gily Longears. the rabbit gen
tleman soldier. was marching
on guard up ana down in the trench
in front Of his tent. near his hollow
stump bungalow. he heard a voice
calling.
"Helpi HeIpl HeIpF"
Ha." cried Uncle Wiggi1y. standing
his red, white and blue striped rheu-
matism crutch up in a pile Of sand.
for he could walk without It Just
them. ''Hai That sounds like old times.
Some one is in trouble. and I hope I
may be able TO help them"
Then he took up his bean shooting
talcum powder gun, and. putting 1t
over his shoulder, he marched toward
where he had heard the call. sort of
singing to himself q rub-a-dub-dub
Haiti" cried Uncle wiggily to him
self, as he reached the end Of his
trench, or ditch, which he had dug
so he could stay down In II where the
bad mosquito enemies could not bite
him, or throw stones. Halt Bout
face. What's the mEtter?" and he
stood I'D as stiff and straight as a
loIlypop stick, as any soldier should.
Who called for help7" asked the
Il did" answered = slow. soft and
and who are your the rabbit gen
Ceman wanted to know.
7 an the snail" was the answer. Il
put out my horns just now. like lit
tie Keelo COW. as II tells about me In
the Mother Goose book and both Of
my horns stuck in the sand bank
here"
Then Uncle wiggily looked down.
and on the bottom OF his trench he
saw a big snail And the snails horns
were caught fast in the soft sand of
the side OF the trench. or ditch
.-HOi This is too badi" cried the
bunny. And with the sharp bayonet
Of his gun he dug away the sand from
around the snaiFs horns so the crea-
ture could wiggle himself loose. which
he did
Thank you very much" said the
slow snail slowly. ''Whyi he ex-
claimed in surprise-that IS as much
surprise as a snail can show-'I didn't
know you were a soldier-Uncle Wig
.'Oh. yes. I'm training to be one"
answered the bunny. And I'm also
training the animal boys. OF course
I'm not a very good soldier yet but
m fighting the mosquitoes, and that's
Indeed it is said the snail. II
wish I could be a soldier" he went on.
Do you think you could train me?"
Uncle Wiggily wanted to be kind.
he knew the snail was much too slow
ever to be a soldier (who has to run
and jump only he did not like to
say so
Gould I be g SOLDIER" asked the
snail Now don't be IN any hurry to
answer me. Uncle Wiggily. he said
very, very slowly, indeed Take your
time Next week or the week after
viii do well enough to let me know.
I'm in no hurry
"Oh. all right" said Uncle Wiggily.
glad he did not have to answer Just
then. And he thought In about two
weeks the snail would think Of some
thing else he would rather be than a
soldier, say z barrel OF molasses or
the hour hand OF the clock, which
moves so slowly you can hardly see il
Almost like a snail
We'll. I'll see you again" said the
bunny uncle. as he walked back to-
ward his soldier tent.
Thank you" answered the snail.
III expect an answer from you in a
month or two, or may be next year.
You were very kind to pull my horns
loose from the sand bank"
Pray do not mention It." said IN I
Gle Wiggilys modest like and shy.
If ever 1 can do you a favor I WiIl.'' |
spoke the snail, as il slowly craWIed /
away, and Uncle Wiggily quickly /
hoped back to his tent By this time ]