South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-09
UNCLE
WIGGILY
THE STORY OF THE
COLLAR BUTTON.
By HOWARD n. GABIs.

''fouu try not % be lata won't
you. Uncle WiEgily2' asked Nurse
Jane Fuzzy Way. as she opened
the door Of the hollow stump bun
galow and let the rabbit gentleman
IN one afternoon.
late? Late for what7" he AJAX
ed. as ne stood his pink twtnkiing
nose in tte corner OF the hall-oh.
dear me, There 1 go again. I mean
he stood his red. white and blue
striped rheumatism crutch IN one
corner. Am I late for supper.
Nurse Jane7" asked the bunny gan
tleman. And yet 7 hardly think
that possible. as I smell nothing
cooking"
NO. you aren't late for supper"
said Nurse Jane. What I meant
was not 20 be late dressing. You
know we are going over 20 Mrs
TwistytaiTs house to spend the
evening Wen go right after tea,
SO don't be late dressing"
'Ohl do I have % dress up7"
asked Uncle Wiggily.
You wouldn't want TO go looking
as you are. would your" asked
Nurse Jane. with a sly little smile.
NO. OF course not. suppose
wouldn't" admitted the bunny. He
was all dirt and leaves. from having
crawled around in the woods look
ing for adventures.
"Then dress up properly" begged
Nurse Jane. Put on a clean shirt
and collar. and wear your new neck
tie"
All right I wiIl-for once"
promised the bunny. And now let
me have a cup Of carrot tea, for
my nerves are all in a futter."
''Why2" asked the muskrAt lady
as she began 10 MI the teakettle with
water. did anything happenT''
The Bushy Besr chased me"
answered the bunny. But man
aged TO get away"
~ should think that would make
your nerves Jumpy!" exclaimed
Nurse Jane. Have n cup OF tea
and then go get dressed. You'll
have time while I'm getting supper
Uncle Wiggiiy drank the carrot
tea. with a little maple sugar
sprinkled around the edges. and
then went 20 his room TO dress. He
had taken his clean shirt out OF the
drawer. and was just putting the
button in the back button hole, so
he could fasten his collar around his
neck when. all OF a sudden. u drop
pad TO the floor and rolled away
I mean the bunny gentleman's col
lar button dropped and rolled away
not his neck! Gracious!
neck I'm that careless way No, in
deed
whoa Whoa therel" cried
Uncle Wiggily. making believe he
was talking 20 Cup, the kind old
horse. Whoa there. collar but
toni"
But the collar button, instead OF
"whoaing." kept on rolling or trot-
ting or galIoping or pacing or am
bling or whatever collar buttons do,
and IL rolled away under the bureau.
- might have known iti" said
Uncle Wiggily with a sort OF groan.
IF there was only one tight place
IN all my room, that collar button
would pick out that tight place 70
roll into, And this one has done Il
Its away under the bureaui I
wonder n I can get It out?"
Uncle Wiggily first got down on
his paws and knees and peered un-
der the bureau. which was a very
low one He thought maybe the
collar button would see him. and
noticing the twinkle OF his pink rose
might take # for an electric light
and come out TO look at t. But
the collar button never moved.
Away back under the bureau IN the
dark Il stayed hiding.
Next the bunny tried to poke Il
out with his front paws. and then
with his hind paws. But he couldn't
reach far enough.
Il guess I'll have 20 crawl under
there!" said Uncle WiggiIy out loud,
and he was just going to squirm
his way beneath the heavy bureau
when all OF a sudden, a voice cried
No. you DON'T You can't get
away from me that way" and IN
bounced the Bad Bushy Bear. Il
saw you trying to hide from met"
said the Bear. But I caught you
In timel" and he shook the bunny.
II wasn't trying to get away from
you'll didn't know YOU were
around here" said the bunny. But
my collar button ia under that bu-
reau. and was going 10 crawl IN
der to get It. I can't dress myself
without a collar button"
Very we'll I'll crawl under and
get your collar button for you" Of
fe-ed the bear. Then I can be
sure you won't run away. I'll get
your button and then I'll take you
away 20 my den where I can nibbis
your ears
The Bear stopped down and be-
gan 20 crawl under the bureau Now
the Bear was fat and the bureau
was low and when the bad chap was
half way under Uncle Wiggily gave
him a hard shove. The Bear grunt-
ed and there ne was. stuck under
the bureau. Tie couldn't go ahead