Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-12

ping on his way through the fores'
with a basket of corn muffin CAKES
on his paw.
All of sudden, as Uncle Wigglly
was hopping past little woodland pool
of water, he heard quacking sound,
and Il voice said
~ m very sorry, my dears, but |
cant give you anything to eat just
now Be patient and III fly through
the woods and see if | can find any
thing for you.
s'Oh, but we re so hungry, Daddy!
cried some little voices.
"This is too bad!' thought Uncle
Wicgilv. thinking of his basket of
corn muffins. 81 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 a coat of the most beautiful
feathers-gr6en, red, purple, white and
yellow, all mixed up on his back, head
and wings, as though he had fallen
into a paint box.
"Oh, what a 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 muffins. There are more
here than Uncle Butter will need -
"Thank you, said the creature with
the beautiful and many colored feath-
ers. cit is very kind of you to feed
nv little ones, but, as it happens, L
, am not exactly a bird.
nulyn cd n htin ~
"'I am wood Duck was the an
swer, "and this is my wife. -
| The Wood Duck pointed one webbed
| foot ut his mate, who, though she han
some colored feathers, was not as gay
as was her husband.
"Well, if you aren t bird; | 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 eolors of the rain
bow. -
CAN right, call me the Painted Duck
if you like said the web footed crea
ture, with a quacking laugh. "And
| now what about those corn muffins?'
Uncle Wiggily took some of the muf
fins from the basket, and the littl(
Wood Ducks, as well as Mr.. and Mrs
Painted Duck, had all they wanted tc
eat. Then Mrs. Duck took the little
ducks for a swim in the pond, and Nh
Painted Duck walked a little way
through the forest with Uncle Wiggi
| ly.
The bunny was looking at the gay
feathers of his new friend when, al
of a sudden, out of the bushes jumped
the Fuzzy Fox.
"'Now for some ear nibbles!" barked
the Fox. Uncle Wiggily stood still
with fear, and the Painted Duck at hi.
side did not move, at first. 50 Yes
now for some fine ear nibNes,' barked
the Fox.
"IIere! You let Uncle Wiggily alone
if you pleascl,' suddenly quacked the
wood Duck, and with that he spread
out his wings and flapped them.
The Fox gave a howl, tucked his tai
between his hind legs and started tc
run away, crying as he went:
ooh! Oh! Oh! | never saw amy
thing like that! Uncle Wiggily has ;
wooden toy painted duck with him
But it comes to life and talks and flap'
its wings. Oh, there must be a fairy
inside ana she III pull out all my teetl
if / stay Oh, IN going to run!'
And run the Fox did, not nibblinl
Uncle Wiggily S ears at all.
"Ha! Hal" laughed the bunny. g.
did right in calling you painted Duck
my friend for you do look exactly lik'
toy, wooden, painted duck, will
your many colors. And that IS what tn,
! Fox thought you were until yoi
quacked and Tapped your wings. Oh
you scared him.iallrright! s.
~ IN glad / didlP'A quacked Sth
painted Duck. 81 IN glad | saved you
ears!'' And the bunny was also glad
And if the chocolate cake doesn t tr,
TO hide in the milk pitcher when tn
napkin ring rolls around the table afte
it, II tell you next about Uncle Wig
gily and the Sore Throat Bird.