Imperial Valley press., 1925-06-18

lean against the stump and rest him
self. But the poor old stump thought
otherwise.
Now. as it happened, one day
when Unclo Wiggilv was sitting
on the rock, resting himself with his
back to the stump, from hill top,
not far away the Fuzzy Fox saw
him. And the Fox saw that the bun
ny Gentleman was asleep, with his
eyes closed.
"Ah, ha. = whispered the Fox. Il
can creep upon him and nibblc has
ears.
Now .he stump. when il noticed
that Uncle Wiggilv was sitting with
lis back turned, and asleep ? the
stump said TO itself;
"Oh, dear, | wish | WASH I so
ugly, | wish | were the beautiful
tree used to be. Ihcm the bunny
would turn his face toward me, Oh,
f ! could only become something
bcautiful!''
And then, down on the ground
some voices murmured:
owe can help you TO become beau
t;ful, Mr.. Stump.
How, " asked the fantastic crea-
ture, looking at some vines, ferns,
and wild flowers growing at its
foot. How can you make me be
come beautiful
BY covering You WI our
selves - was the answer. Yet we
will not cover you completely, but
will leave enough of the stump
showing to make you into wonder
full picture
''Pleasc do, begged the stump. SO
the vines begin to grow, trailing up
ward around the stump. The ferns
spread like graceful green leaves
like water spraying from a fountain,
and tho flowers drew closer TO the
stump. Before Uncle Wiggily, could
awaken, the vines and ferns had
grown completely over him-dil but
a little place where his nose stuck
out 50 he would breath.
"'Therc, now, Mr.. Stump, ahisP-
cred the vines, the ferns andy the
flowers. "Wc have made YOU beau
tiful!'' and when the stump looked
into the brook, which was like u
mirror, he hardly knew himself, he
was so changed.
Along came the sly Fox on his
;iptocs. Closer aud closer TO the
stump he crcpt. But when he look
ed ho c0uId not see Uncle Wiggily,
for the bunny gentleman was hidden
bv the clinging vines and ferns.
"This is queer! - growlcd the
Fox. ~ though sure | saw a rabbit
sitting on a rock near the ugly
stump. But the ugly stump is no
longer here. Instead, is beautiful
clump of flowers and vines. And /
sec no rabbit. whose ears J may
nibbIe. Bah! Fooled again. y And
AWAY be ran.
The growing Of the Fox awaken
I'd the bunny. At first he did not
know where hc WAS, nor could he
imagine what had happened. BIT
gently he craHlcd out through the
ferns. vines and flowers, and when
hc looked at his favorite resting
place he said:
'Oh. what Il long sleep must
have had--likc Rip Van WmkIe s.
to have given the vines and flowers
chance to cover the ugly stump
and make it beautiful. ii is a
wonderful transformation. ] mmst
come and SIT here every day and
think beautiful thoughts!'
And Mr.. Longears did. And the
stump was happy, for no longefswas
1t ugly to look at, though under
meath thc vines, ferns and flowers
were still the broken and black jag
gcd silycrs Of wood and bark. Aud
for many days the Fox went stink.
ing about the stump. trying TO find
the bunny. but always the cliAgng
vines hid the bunny safely
And If the sunshine docsn I tickle
the nose on the face Of the clock and
make it sneeze, II tell you lext
about Uncle Wiggily and the bur.
aoc4. bgrgs.
.t .t '--