South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-11
Uncle Wiggily
UNCLE wIGGILY AND THE


SWAPPING TURTLE.
Uncle Wiggily. Why don't you put
on your bathing suit and come down
TO the duck pond ocean with me? p
asked Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy one
day after school had started again.
following the long vacation. AL
the animal boys and girls are at
their lessons now" went on Miss
Fuzzy WUzZy, so none OF them can
come 10 have an adventure with you.
Wouldn't you like 10 come for
dip? Soon IL Will be too late in the
season"
Why. yes. I think I'll 60" an
swered the bunny gentleman as he
thoughtfully gave his pink nose an
extra twinkle or two. "A dip in
the duck pond vii make me feel
quite clipper and Jolly"
You are nearly always that,
laughed Nurse Jane But perhaps
you may have an adventure"
Perhaps" said Uncle Wiggily.
He dressed himself in his bathing
suit and Nurse Jane put on hers.
Being a muskrat lady. and used 10
the water, Nurse Jane did not wear
much OF a suit. But as Uncle Wig
gilys fur was not made to shed
water, ne used a rubber suit. Il was
made from the leaves of the rub
Der plant.
Now we're all ready" cried
Nurse Jane. and in she spiashed
swimming under water all the way
across the pond.
Il can't do anything as fancy as
that" laughed Uncle Wigily, but
I'll splash around a bit"
So he did this, floating on his
back, doing the dog paddle and
then the overpaw stroke, though,
OF course. he was not as good at
this as was Miss Fuzzy Wuzzy.
All OF a sudden. Baby Bunny. who
had been let out of the hollow
stump school early. because she
had to take a music lesson-all Of
sudden Baby Bunty who had run
pointed with her paw at something
in the water and cried:
Look, Uncle Wiggily! It's some
thing big and black"
Uncle Wigily looked and so did
Nurse Jane.
"Oh. it's a large swapping tur-
tle!" cried the muskrat lady. "Oh,
don't like him. Wiggily. He might
snap my tail or my leg!" Out Of
the water she hurried.
"A swapping turtle. eh?" exchang-
ed the bunny as he went closer to
look. Il don't believe he'll harm
me-"
Indeed, I will not" answered
the swapping turtle, from down be-
meath the water Of the pond. And
l wish you would help me, Uncle
Wiggily."
What is the matter and how can
I help you?" asked the bunny.
well, a big stone has rolled on
my back" sadly complained the
swapping turtle. and try as hard as
have, I can't shake it off"
I'm afraid I'm not very good al
rolling stones off turtles in the wa
ter" said the bunny gentleman,
but at least I can try"
Take your red, white and blue
striped barber pole rheumatism
crutch." advised Nurse Jane. who
had come back 70 the edge OF the
pond, being no longer afraid. Per
haps you can poke the stone off
with that. Uncle Wiggily."
THAT is a fine ideal" exclaimed
the bunny He skipped out of the
pond. for he had only been stand
ing on the edge, and soon came
back with his rheumatism crutch.
Reacing over in the water. Uncle
Wiggily, after two or three pOkes
finally showed the stone off the
swapping turtles back.
"Oh. how good it feels to have
that off me-" Kissed the turtle. as
he folated 10 the top of the wa
ter He always spoke with a hiss,
though he was not exactly a snake.
However. he was a reptile, which
is what a snake is often called
You have done me a great favor.