El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-03

once upon a time, as Uncle Wig
Eily was hopping through the
woods on his way home 10 his
hollow stump bungalow he CHANGED
10 PASS a large heap OF sticks Of
wood, ali piled up together.
well. I never noticed this before"
said the bunny gentleman 70 himself,
as he looked through his glasses at
the heap OF sticks. PERHAPS my
friend. Glitter Chatter. the wood
wood around here Uncle hlggliy
said. out loud
But. as he thus spoke. he heard
sort OF sad little voice saying
"Oh, how hungry I ann
Dear rneF' thought the bunny gen
tleman- Some one Is always hungry
in the woods. I hope this isn't The
Fuzzy Fox or the Woozle Woh hun
CRY after me"
But. as he was about to hop away,
Uncle Wiggily saw some little rat
children playing around the bottom
Of the pile Of wood They were not
like regular rats. or mice children
but very pretty 10 look at
Il am sorry, children" said an older
and motherly sort OF voice. But 7
can not give you anything 10 eat I'M
I'll your father comes home He has
gone out TO hunt food
"Oh. but VIC are so hungry" cried
the little rat children. and then Uncle
Wiggily put his paw in his pocket
and be found come peanuts he had
bought 20 take home 10 Nurse Jane
"Escuse me. Mrs Rat LADY" said
Uncle WiEEily, with q low and polite
bow OF his tan silk hat But VIII
your rat children eat peanutsF'
"Oh, just give US the chance and
see IL we Won'tl' cried the rat boys
and girls. So Uncle Wlggily gave
them AL the peanuts he had, know
ing he could get more for Nurse
You are very kind" said the Rat
Lady. as she. too. nibbled a nut May
/ not offer you stick OF Wood-
ssWeii. you seem to have plenty Of
10. but j have, also IN my hollow
stump bungalow" Uncle Wiggily
said.
Eyes. we have plenty OF wood, be-
cause we are Wood Rats" spoke The
mother OF the little animals who
were eating peanuts I'VE are called
Wood Rats because we gather sticks
OF wood for our nests We also
gather other things that, I suppose,
you would call trash. but It is al
good 70 US Sometimes we are called
why Is thatT' asked the bunny
gentleman
or cabins or camps and carry Off
things We want for our nests" was
the answer And we leave sticks OF
wood In trade"
"Oh, see" laughed Uncle TViggily
w ell, you don't need to trade me any
pieces OF wood for these peanuts. ]
am glad I happened to have them Tor
your hungry children"
we are glad, too" squeaked the
little Trade Rats. They had fluffy
tails, almost as large as those OF
Johnnie and Billie Bushytail. the
suufrre1a and the fur Of those T7~a De
Rats was much softer, finer and more
prettily colored than the fur Of the
raIs that nibble the crackers In your
house.
Well must be hopping on" said
Uncle Wiggily.
Thank you for being so kind 20
my little ones" spoke the mother
Trade Rat. as she waved her paw at
the bunny gentleman. who tipped his
tall silk hat most politely.
Then Uncle Wiggily hoped 70 his
hollow stump bungalow, stopping on
the way to get more peanuts for
Nurse Jane. He told her about the
Wood Rats.
"A very funny habit they have. Of
bringing in all the wood they see"
said the bunny. as he sat down 10 his
supper OF fricasseed carrots with tur-
nip gravy.
The next morning Uncle Wiggily
heard Nurse Jane calling 10 him very
early in the hollow stump bungalow.
-Oh, Uncle Wiggilyi can you get
pened 10 DOYLE and Dixon OF s.Hftchy