The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-12
Bedtime Stories
Uncle wiggily and Billie's Paper.
By BRINKERHOFF.
BY HOWARD r. GARIs

Uncle Wiggily and Billie's Paper.
Uncle Wiggily! Oh. Uncle Wiggilyl"
called Mrs. Littletail, the rabbit lady.
as she saw the bunny uncle hopping
past her burrow. or underground
house, one afternoon.
Yes. What is it ~ asked Mr. Long
ears. politely taking off his tall silk
hat.
You are out looking for adventure,
suppose" inquired the rabbit lady.
why, yes" answered Uncle Wig
gily, slowly, squirting down at the end
OF his red, white and blue striped
rheumatism crutch, that Nurse Jane
had gnawed for him out of a cornstalk.
Il am takingy my daily hop, and if L
see an adventure SO much the better.
You haven't noticed any, 1 suppose %
he asked. hopeful like.
mo, 1 haven't, I'm sorry to say"
went on the mother of Sammie and
Susie, the rabbit children. But
want to know if, on your way, you'll
stop in the store and bring me roll
of waxed paper-you know, the kind
that comes in cracker boxes to keep
them dry in the rain
Certainly I'll bring you some"
promised Uncle Wiggily. You want
1t Tor picnic, l suppose?"
No, use it to wrap up Sammie's
and Susie's lunch, which they take to
school. Get me big roll of the waxed
paper; here is the money" and Mrs.
Littletail handed it to him.
Uncle Wiggily put the pennies in his
silk hat, SO he would not lose them.
and away he hoped. looking for an
adventure.
Il guess I'll buy the waxed paper
before go any farther" said the rab-
bit gentleman to himself, after a bit.
Il may forget it if 1 have an adven-
ture, such as had yesterday with that
funny bear gentleman and Johnnie
Bushytails sharp pencils"
So Uncle Wiggily bought the waxed
paper, which rain could not wet, and,
putting that in his hat off he hoped
once more, looking on all sides for an
adventure.
What's that? Did he put the rain in
his hat? OF course not. 1 mean he
put the waxed paper in his hat And
he had not hoped on much farther
before he met Billie Bushytail, the
squirrel boy.
In his paws billie had some papers,
all twisted up into funny shapes, and
on the little squirrel boys face was
a sad and unhappy look.
What's the natter" asked Uncle
Wiggily. You seem to. be in trouble,
Billie"
Il am said the squirrel boy. You
see in school each one of us has to
make a soldier hat out of paper. The
lady mouse teacher showed US how
but 1 can't ~et mine right and I had
to stay in, just as Johnnie did for not
having his pencils sharpened. Oh
deart"
Tut, Tut laughed the bunny
uncle. Il helped Johnnie and I'll help
you. Let me have your paper"
I'm afraid it's all twisted and torn
and out of shape said the little-squir
rel boy. as he gave it to Uncle Wig
gily. THE lady mouse teacher let me
take it home with me TO practice. But
L stopped in the woods to try and
make a soldier hat from the paper,
and the thorn bushes tore it,
Yes, it is pretty well torn said
Uncle Wiggily Still. we'll see what
we can do
The rabbit gentleman folded and un-
folded Billie's school paper. He
creased and increased it, bent it this
way and that, but still it was so torn
and ragged and falling to pieces like.
that no one, not even the greatest gem
eral soldier himself. could have made
a hat, or even a nightcap from it.
-'Oh. dear" chartered Billie. Its
too bad! I'll never know how to do it
forever when all the other animal boys
are playing ball in the woods and
fields, Boo. hoo
Don't cry Let me think minute.
Ha, l have 1t! rhe very thing" and
he took off his tall silk hat
"Oh, that won't do said Billie
I'VE must make our own soldier hats.