The Washington herald., 1920-02-02
CHILDREN'S
SUNRISE STORIES
UNCLE WIGGILY AND
SAMMIE'S SNAPPER.
by HOWARD II. GARIs

Now we come to Candlemas Day.
Half your pork and half your pay.''
Thus sang Uncle wiggiIy Longears,
the bunny rabbit gentleman. in the
burrow. or underground house. OF
Sammie and Susie Littletan the rab-
bit children. one day.
What does that mean. Uncle Wig
gily?" asked Sammie. who. with his
sister. was getting ready to go the
hollow stump school. where the lady
mouse teacher taught them their les
sons. What is Candlemas Day."
We'll, there is an old. old story
which says that il the bear. or ground
, hog. sees his shadow on Candlemas
Day We shall have six weeks more Of
winter. explained Uncle Wiggily.
THE idea is that il Mr.. GroundhoE.
or Mr.. Bear. comes out. after having
been asleep in his den for a long time.
and the sun shines and he sees his
shadow. he becomes frightened and
goes back TO stay for six weeks. dur
ing which We have snow and Ice.
But il the sun doesn't shine today.
and MIR. Grounding doesn't see his
shadow, he isn't frightened and he
only goes back to his den for a four
weeks sleep. So spring comes more
quickly. That's why ! said l hoped
the sun wouldn't shine today"
Sammie and Susie Littletail skipped
over the fields and through the woods
on their way to the hollow stump
school. and Uncle Wiggily went to
look for an adventure.
Over the fields and through the
woods went Uncle wiggily. twinkiinS
his pink nose like a strawberry lolly-
pop.
Pretty soon he was I'm front Of the
bears cave. The bushes in front of II
waved and moved. and out came Mr..
Stubtail. looking rather sleepy.
r'Ha! There he is! The sun isn't
shining-he won't see his shadow. he
will not he frightened and We shall
soon have spring." hought Uncle
WiGgily. real jolly like.
But, all OF sndden. there was
swapping. cracking noise. Mr.. Stub
tail, the bear gentleman. who was just
going to speak to Uncle Wiggily, gave
"a jump and a skip. and very much
frightened. indeed. back into his sleep
ing cave ne pOppeu.
Dear me-" exclaimed Uncle Wig
gily, all of a surprise. What happen
ed to scare my bear friend? I'm sure
he didn't see his shadow, for the sun
isn't shining. And yet"
Just then Mr.. Stubtail popped his
head out of the cave again.
Did you hear that, Uncle Wiggily =?
Did you hear that?" asked MIR. Stub
4.
my nose! Did you hear that?"
Crack! Bang" suddenly sounded
behind the bears den.
Crack! Crack! Crack"
"Oh, Sammie! Was that you making
the noise?" asked Uncle WiEGily.
You scared Mr.. Stubtail so that 1
thought he had seen his shadow and
that we'd have six weeks more win
ter. Was that you?"
why. yes" answered the rabbit
boy. Il guess II was You see, 1
made a popping snapper out of an old
paper bag and I was cracking 1t on
my way from school. That's what
made the noise. I'm sorry if 1 scared
you, Mr.. Stubtail."
"Oh, I'm not frightened now, as long
as know what il is" spoke the bear
gentleman. 'And I'm glad l didn't
see my own shadow"
$50 am l." said Uncle Wiggily. But
whether or not we have four or six
weeks more of winter, you will have
to wait and see. Anyhow, IL the ca
nary bird doesn't sprinkle perfume on
the paper rose to make 1t taste like
lollypop, I'n tell you next about Uncle
Wiggily and Susie's pie.
lCopyrght. ls0)