Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-12

are the better / like It"
Il think one pan full is quite
enough" spoke Nurse Jane. Il
can't imagine how it happened, that
made two"
We'll, ] suppose you must have
baked one batch of mullins and
then you got thinking of something
else and made up a second pan
full forgetting all about the first"
said Uncle Wiggily.
That's it," laughed Nurse Jane.
land now that we have more than
we need, I'll give you some to take
to Uncle Butter, the goat"
THAT will be fine!" exclaimed
Uncle Wiggily, and soon he was
forest with a basket of corn muf-
fin cakes on his paw
All of sudden, as Uncle Wiggily
was hopping past a little woodland
pool of water, he heard quacking
sound, and voice said:
I'm very sorry, my dears. but I
can't give you anything to eat just
now. Be patient and I'll fly through
the woods and see If l can find
anything for YOU"
"Oh, but we're SO hungry, Dad
dy!" cried some little voices.
"This is too bad!" though Uncle
Wiggily, thinking of his basket of
corn mullins. II wonder who these
creatures are?''
The bunny peered through the
bushes and saw two large birds
and some smaller birds. At least
Uncle Wiggily thought they were
birds, for one of them had coat
Of the most beautiful feathers -
green, red, purple, white and yell
low, all mixed up on his back, head
| and wings, as though he had fallen
into paint box.
"Oh, what pretty bird you are!"
cried Uncle Wiggily, as he hoped
out from behind a bush. And as
your little birds are hungry / will
give them some corn mullins.
There are more here than Uncle
Butter will need"
THANK you," said the creature
with the beautiful and many color
ed feathers. ut is very kind of you
to feed my little ones. but as it
happens, l am not exactly bird"
What are you?" asked the bum
ny.
II am wood duck" was the an
swer, land this is my wife"
The Wood Duck pointed one
webbed foot at his mate, who,
| though she had some colored feath-
ers, was not as gay as was her hus-
band.
"Well, II you aren't bird, l
shall call you the Painted Duck,
laughed Uncle Wiggily. For you
look just like a wooden duck from
a toy store, painted in all the col
ors of the rainbow"
IAN right, call me the Painted
Duck if you like" said the web
footed creature, with a quacking
laugh. "And now what about those
corn muffins."
Uncle Wiggily took some of the
mullins from the basket, and the
little Wood Ducks, as we'll as Mr.
and Mrs. Painted Duck, took the
| little ducks for a swim in the pond
and Mr.. Painted Duck walked a
little way through the forest with
Uncle Wiggily.
The bunny was looking at the
gay feathers of his new friend
when, all of a sudden, out Of the
bushes jumped the Fuzzy Fox.
Now for some ear nibbles!"
parked the Fox. Uncle Wiggiy
stood still with fear, and the Paint
ed Duck at his side did not move,
at first. Yes, now for some fine
ear nibbles." barked the Fox.
Here! You let Uncle Wiggily
alone if you pleased" suddenly
quacked the Wood Duck, and with
that he spread out his wings and
tapped them.
The Fox gave q howl, tucked his
tail between his hind legs and start
ed to run away, crying as he went:
"Oh! oh! oh! | never saw any
thing like that! Uncle Wiggily has
a wooden toy painted duck with
him. But 1t comes to life and talks
| be a fairy inside and she'll pull out
all my teeth If | stay! oh, I'm go
| ing to rum" And run the Fox did,
not nibbling Uncle Wiggily's ears
at all.
"Ha! Ha! laughed the bunny.
81 did right in calling you paint
ed Duck, my friend, for you do
look exactly like a toy, wooden
painted duck, with your many col
ors. And that's what the Fox
thought you were until you quack-
ed and tapped your wings. Oh,
you scared him all right"
I'm glad l did" quacked the
Painted Duck. I'm glad l saved
your ears!" And the bunny was
also glad. And If the chocolate
cake doesn't try to hide in the milk
pitcher when the napkin ring rolls
around the table after it, I'll tell
you next about Uncle Wiggily and
the Sore Throat Bird.